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Home > Past Buzz > Fame Cast Mourns Actor Missing After Tsunami
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Ruth Gillespie - THE STAGE ONLINE
Cast members of Fame the Musical are mourning the loss of actor and musician Ross Baker, among more than 100 British tourists still unaccounted for following the tragic tsunami disaster.
Producer of the UK tour Adam Spiegel paid for Baker's brother and cousin to fly to the Thai resort of Koh Phi Phi, where the actor had been holidaying. However, upon arrival they were informed by the British authorities there was little hope of finding him alive.
A spokesman said: “Everyone in the Fame company is hugely shaken by the news that Ross is still missing. Our thoughts are with Ross' family and we will support them in any way we can.”
Lord Attenborough also confirmed last week that his 14-year-old granddaughter Lucy had “died at the scene” when the tidal wave struck the Thai resort of Phuket. His elder daughter Jane and her mother-in-law Jane Holland are currently still missing.
Leading entertainment manager Jonathan Shalit has called on the theatre industry to work together in partnership with the Disaster Emergency Committee on fund raising initiatives for victims of the tsunami disaster.
Working in an advisory role for the DEC, he has asked venue managers, producers and individuals to donate money from bucket collections and additional charity performances to the committee directly.
He said: “The DEC is totally overwhelmed by the support it has received. The important thing to understand is that this is the official way to give money.”
The DEC is the umbrella organisation which launches and coordinates the UK's National Appeal in response to major disasters overseas. Donations should be made to the Co-operative Bank, DEC Tsunami Earthquake Appeal, Account Number 65144286, Sort Code 08-02-28.
Meanwhile Cliff Richard, Russell Watson, Robin and Barry Gibb and Boy George are collaborating to produce a charity single called Grief Never Grows Old, expected to raise more than £2 million for relief operations.