Help END the WAR on MEDIOCRITY!

BUY a STEVE CANYON DVD today!

Click Image Below to Order These Exclusive Items From Our Store!
Order The Complete Steve Canyon On TV Volumes 1, 2 and 3
NOTE: ALL FOUR DVDS NOW IN STOCK!
NOW SHIPPING!

(NOTE: 3 Volume Box-Set now OUT OF STOCK...
BUT you can now get all three DVD Volumes
TOGETHER as a "3-Pak"!)

Note that we now have a NEW CONSOLIDATED SHOPPING CART!

NOW EASIER TO NAVIGATE!
Click here if you'd rather order from us on Amazon.com!
Click here if you'd rather order from us on Ebay!
HELP SUPPORT THE COMPLETE STEVE CANYON ON TV RESTORATION PROJECT! Buy a DVD NOW!- they are in LIMITED QUANTITIES and MIGHT NOT BE REISSUED! NOTE all collectible Hats now SOLD OUT! (until further notice)...you can also purchase from us on ebay and on Amazon.com! Be sure to leave feedback or write us a review!

Friday, May 06, 2016

Abel Fernandez - July 14, 1930 - May 3, 2016

Abel as Airman Featherstone in Steve Canyon.

I'm still in shock, I didn't expect him to leave us so soon. Going to keep this brief for now:

Abel Gonzalez Fernandez passed away early Tuesday evening, May 3, 2016 at Presbyterian Hospital in Whittier, California, from advanced lung cancer. He had been having trouble breathing earlier that day, and was moved from SoCal Post Acute Care to nearby Presbyterian Hospital mid-afternoon.

I last spoke to him this past weekend and he was in good spirits. As usual, he said "hasta luego" and (as usual) I replied "hasta la vista.....baby!" and he laughed while hanging up the phone.

He was a paratrooper in the 11th Airborne Division at the end of WWII, a pro boxer and actor and stuntman...and my good friend for the last 7 years, and I miss him already. 

Here's a clip from an extensive interview Laura Barltrop and I recorded with him on Monday, September 13, 2010, in Pasadena, California, where Abel talks about his heroes when he was growing up:




If you want to read more about Abel, here is his wikipedia link:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abel_Fernandez 

and his Imdb link: 
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0273359/

There will be a service the evening of Monday, May 16th from 5pm to 9pm at the Guerra-Gutierrez Mortuary, 6338 Greenleaf Avenue, Whittier California, 90601. Please drop me a line at stevecanyontv@gmail.com  if you would like to attend.

Godspeed, Abel, and thanks for everything.

John Ellis
Hollywood, CA

P.S. Note that I am STILL mailing V3 + slipcases out to the remaining (mostly foreign) pre-orderers (as we are broke and fighting a battle to stay afloat) ... slowly but surely am shipping them...please remain patient...thank you.

3 comments:

Unknown said...

God bless you Abel. You'll always be with us through your film and television work and especially Steve Canyon.

Unknown said...

I've been trying to get in touch with John Ellis for the past few days as I found out Abel Fernandez had passed away and saw nothing posted at first. I'm glad you were finally able to verify his passing as I too was shocked. Also how he had lung cancer! He didn't smoke that was the thing about the other Untouchables all of them did. I live in Kissimmee, Florida and will not be able to attend the service or funeral. We used to write to each other as I am a bus driver for tourists who visit Walt Disney World. I am also 60 miles from Kennedy Space Center. I too will miss Abel.

theo j. said...

Hi, John---I just read your posting of Abel Fernandez' passing. Hard as it had to be, everyone who appreciated his work is grateful to you for the update. He was one of those 'real people' who helped make STEVE CANYON (and everything else he performed in) seem more grounded in reality. Thanks again---Theo