Blog

Conan O’Brien is grieving the loss of his parents, Dr. Thomas O’Brien and Ruth Reardon O’Brien, who passed away within three days of each other. Thomas was 95, and Ruth was 92.

Thomas died on Monday, following a period of declining health, according to The Boston Globe. Ruth passed away on Thursday at the couple’s home in Brookline, Massachusetts, as noted in an obituary shared by the Bell-O’Dea Funeral Home.

A Legacy of Achievement

Dr. Thomas O’Brien, born on January 28, 1929, in Worcester, Massachusetts, had an illustrious career in medicine. After graduating cum laude from Harvard Medical School in 1954 on a full scholarship, he dedicated over six decades to groundbreaking research in antimicrobial drug resistance. He served as the inaugural director of the infectious diseases division at what is now Brigham and Women’s Hospital and was an associate professor at Harvard Medical School.

Ruth Reardon O’Brien, born on December 16, 1931, in Worcester, Massachusetts, was a trailblazer in law. She graduated from Yale Law School in 1957, one of only four women in her class, and served as vice president of the student government. She began her career clerking for Chief Justice Raymond Wilkins of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court. Later, as a real estate attorney at Boston’s Ropes & Gray law firm, Ruth made history in 1978 as the firm’s second female partner.

A Lifetime of Love and Family

Thomas and Ruth met through her brothers and were married in 1958. Together, they raised six children, including comedian and former late-night host Conan O’Brien.

Conan shared fond memories of his father with The Boston Globe, describing him as a man with a remarkable sense of humor. “He was often the funniest guy in the room,” Conan recalled. “When he laughed, his whole body would convulse, and he’d almost hug himself.”

He also praised his father’s zest for life: “He had an insatiable curiosity for ideas, people, and the unpredictable beauty of life. He wanted to go everywhere, meet everyone, and experience everything.”

A Family Remembered

In addition to Conan, Thomas and Ruth are survived by their sons Justin, Neal, and Luke; daughters Kate and Jane; and nine grandchildren.

Their lives were marked by incredible accomplishments, deep love, and a commitment to their family, leaving behind a legacy that will continue to inspire those who knew them.

Michael Moore, the Oscar-winning filmmaker behind documentaries like Bowling for Columbine and Sicko, declared on Friday that he will not “tamp down” the growing anger against what he describes as America’s “profit-driven and murderous health insurance system.” His comments come in the wake of Luigi Mangione’s alleged killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in Manhattan earlier this week.

Mangione, who was named as the suspect in the shooting, reportedly left behind a manifesto expressing frustration with the U.S. health care system. The manifesto, shared by journalist Ken Klippenstein, pointed to Moore’s work and that of author Elisabeth Rosenthal as critiques of the perceived corruption in the health insurance industry.

Moore’s Response to the Incident

In a detailed Substack post titled “A Manifesto Against For-Profit Health Insurance Companies,” Moore acknowledged being referenced in Mangione’s writings. “It’s not every day my work gets such a passionate endorsement from a killer,” he wrote, adding humor to an otherwise grim topic. “My phone hasn’t stopped ringing — which is ironic, since my phone doesn’t have a hook.”

Sicko, Moore’s 2007 documentary, delves into the U.S. health insurance system, comparing it to universal health care models in countries like Canada, the U.K., and Cuba. The film was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary and has remained a cornerstone of criticism against for-profit health care.

Moore revealed that many media outlets had asked him to condemn the murder of Thompson. In his post, he clarified his stance: “I do not condone murder, but I will not denounce the anger being expressed toward the health insurance industry.”

A Justified Outrage

According to Moore, the outrage isn’t about the killing of a CEO but about the broader harm inflicted by the U.S. health care system. “This anger stems from decades of mass death and suffering — from physical pain to financial ruin — caused by a system that prioritizes profit over people,” Moore stated. He criticized politicians and the government for enabling this system, which he described as “broken, unethical, and rapacious.”

While condemning murder, Moore emphasized that his primary target is the health care industry itself: “I condemn America’s vile and immoral health care industry, its CEOs, and the politicians who sustain this corrupt system instead of dismantling it.”

A Call for Action

Moore concluded his post by reiterating the need for change, advocating for universal health care as a solution. He offered a free link to Sicko and called for the complete dismantling of the current system:

“Throw this entire system in the trash. Tear it apart and replace it with something humane, universal, and compassionate — a system that values human life over profits, like every other civilized nation on Earth.”

Moore’s remarks underscore his longstanding critique of the American health care industry, reinforcing his commitment to push for systemic reform even in the face of controversy.

Miley Cyrus, Elton John, Finneas, and Lainey Wilson Among Notable Nominees

Oscar, Grammy, and Emmy winner Atticus Ross and the composers behind Emilia Pérez have emerged as leading contenders for the 2025 Society of Composers & Lyricists (SCL) Awards, which honor outstanding achievements in music for visual media.

Ross garnered two nominations for his work on Shogun and an additional nod for the song “Compress/Repress” from Challengers. Meanwhile, Clément Ducol and Camille earned three nominations for their contributions to the Netflix film Emilia Pérez, starring Zoe Saldaña and Selena Gomez. This includes two bids for Outstanding Original Song in a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production.

Many of the nominees, including Ross, Ducol, and Camille, are also contenders for the upcoming Academy Awards. Nine of the 15 songs shortlisted for the Oscars are SCL nominees, along with six of the shortlisted scores.

The 6th annual SCL Awards will take place in Los Angeles on February 12, 2025, hosted by singer-songwriter Colin Hay.

Additional Nominees Highlight Musical Excellence

Nominees include:

• Miley Cyrus for “Beautiful That Way” from The Last Showgirl.
• Elton John and Brandi Carlile for “Never Too Late” from Elton John: Never Too Late.
• Robbie Williams for “Forbidden Road” from Better Man.
• Abigail Barlow and Emily Bear for “Beyond” from Moana 2.
• Lainey Wilson for “Out of Oklahoma” from Twisters.
• Finneas for Disclaimer.
• Diane Warren for “The Journey” from The Six Triple Eight.

Additionally, composer Harry Gregson-Williams and director Ridley Scott, known for their collaborations on films like Gladiator II and The Martian, will receive the Spirit of Collaboration Award. Composer Jeff Beal will be honored with the SCL Jury Award.

Judging Process and Voting Timeline

SCL Awards nominees and winners are determined exclusively by the organization’s composer and songwriter members. Voting for winners will open on January 27, 2025, and close on February 3, 2025.

Key Categories and Nominations

Outstanding Original Score for a Studio Film

• Clément Ducol, Camille – Emilia Pérez (Netflix)
• Hans Zimmer – Dune: Part Two (Warner Bros.)
• Harry Gregson-Williams – Gladiator II (Paramount)
• John Powell, Stephen Schwartz – Wicked: Part 1 (Universal)
• Kris Bowers – The Wild Robot (DreamWorks Animation)
• Volker Bertelmann – Conclave (Focus Features)

Outstanding Original Song for a Dramatic or Documentary Visual Media Production

• Andrew Wyatt, Lykke Li, Miley Cyrus – “Beautiful That Way” (The Last Showgirl)
• Bear McCreary – “Old Tom Bombadil” (The Rings of Power)
• Diane Warren – “The Journey” (The Six Triple Eight)
• Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin – “Never Too Late” (Elton John: Never Too Late)
• Nicholas Britell, Steve McQueen – “Winter Coat” (Blitz)

Outstanding Original Song for a Comedy or Musical Visual Media Production

• Abigail Barlow, Emily Bear – “Beyond” (Moana 2)
• Clément Ducol, Camille – “Mi Camino” (Emilia Pérez)
• Lainey Wilson, Luke Dick – “Out of Oklahoma” (Twisters)
• Trent Reznor, Atticus Ross – “Compress/Repress” (Challengers)

Additional Categories

• Outstanding Original Score for Television
• Outstanding Original Title Sequence for Television
• Outstanding Original Score for Interactive Media
• David Raksin Award for Emerging Talent

The full list of nominees showcases an impressive array of musical talent across various forms of visual media.

For more details, visit the official SCL website.