Tuesday, August 21, 2012

RIP Did You Know .... Gone Too Soon!


Ray VitteI'm currently doing research on Ray Vitte and his family, when he passed his wife was three months pregnant with this son E. Gehah G. Vitte, who never got the chance to know his father.  The police on duty that night story had so many holes in it.
With that said, earlier I printed a story and did not give proper credit to it's author, so I'd like to apologize to Brenda John and share her words, I found what she had to say and contribute very riveting to say the least.

I wrote this short article about Ray Vitte to counter some grave misinformation that a supposedly eye witness had written claiming that Mr. Vitte was arrested at a third rate motel in LA high on drugs and have fought with the LAPD. None of which was accurate or true.

In early 1999, in March to be exact, I had tried to obtain a copy of Ray Vitte's death certificate, but strangely it had a "security hold" on it by orders of the LAPD and Coroners Office.

"Ray Vitte's death was not at all attributed to drug usage. Both the autopsy and the subsequent toxicology studies showed no indication. Ray Vitte did not die in a third rate motel. He in fact died at his Studio City apartment that he shared with his wife, Ernesta Vitte, After suffering what seemed to be a psychotic breakdown that lasted for eleven hours inside his Studio City. According to the coroner's report,Ray Vitte died of liver degeneration as well as heart failure. As to be expected, his family disputes those findings and instead believes that Mr. Vitte died as a result of the physical struggle he had with the police authorities the evening of his death. There has never been a clear explanation for why Ray Vitte had been screaming and shouting during the day and the evening the police were called to his residency in Studio City. His wife was not at home when the police arrived, so she could offer no explanation for his behavior that night. Though there is some indication that Ray Vitte has been suffering from an undisclosed medical problem. Earlier in the month (February 11, 1983 to be exact), Mr Vitte had been hospitalized for an indefinite period to determine the cause of a lingering fever."

I had the pleasure of speaking to Mr. Vitte's widow Ernesta on two occasions. By the way, the attorney who represented Mrs. Vitte in her lawsuit against the LAPD, was none other than the late Johnny Cochran.

Respectfully,

Brenda John
BrendaJohn.917@gmail.com


****************************************************************************** Birth Place: New York City, New York, USA
Birth Date: November 20, 1949
Death Day: February 20, 1983
Occupation: Actor

Ray's resume' in film

The Quest(1983)
Grambling's White Tiger (1981)
Heart Beat (1980)
Nine to Five (1980)
The Man in the Santa Claus Suit (1979)
A Force of One (1979)
Up in Smoke (1978)
Thank God It's Friday (1978)
Car Wash (1976)
America, You're On (1975)
Sky Heist (1975)
Airport 1975 (1974)

** I created this weekly tribute dedicated to the stars who for one reason or another did not receive the send off through the media that they deserved. Please join me every Tuesday as I continue to celebrate 'LIFE'. Ray Vitte's star was on the rise, but was interrupted. People will live on as long as we remember them.  Thank you Ray for your contribution to this world and through your artistry, you will live on forever.  Thanks again Ms. John for your great story and for correcting me. kk **

39 comments:

  1. Call me weird, but stories like this really intrigue me. I look forward to your blog on Tuesdays because I know that you're going to introduce me to people that I probably do not know but have seen or might want to know.
    Lori

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  2. this guy was extrememly good looking, I remember seeing Thank God It's Friday as a kid, and his smile was so warm and captivating. please continue to do your reporting, when I heard that he did, I always suspected foul play.
    Dena

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  3. thanks for posting the article on Ray Vitte. I wonder what really happened to him. Even if he was shooting religious chants in the privacy of his own home, that should be allowed. Something doesn't smell right.
    Tionne

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  4. I never heard of this guy, so I'm always intrigued by your topics in this industry. Please continue enlighten the education is a wonderful thing.
    Everrett

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    1. Fuck the L.A.P.D. They've been covering up investigations for decades. They're just gangs behind badges.. Rest In Peace Raymond Vitte.. You will always be remembered brother..

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  5. How beautiful was he. I loved him a life interrupted. Please continue to bring us these stories. I appreciate you.
    Melonie

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  6. wow I always wondered what happened to that guy. he was such wonderful actor with so much promise.
    Kim D.

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  7. As the admin of this web page is working, no doubt very
    shortly it will be famous, due to its quality contents.
    My web-site : further

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  8. He was also cast in "That's My Mama" as Freddie Hampton, one of Clifton's old Army buddies & person who talked him into moving out as a roomie. It's a great episode.
    Find it on YouTube under the user crybaby587.

    R.I.P.

    Atx Lady

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  9. He always populated the supporting cast of 70s movies, lending that jovial brother persona that nearly everyone recognizes as someone in their lives. He could have been cast as Richard Pryor's younger brother if such a movie script had ever called for it. - stillandre@yahoo.com

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    1. So here it is 2021, I just rewatched, TGIF I didn't know he died in police custody. This is horrible. Its obvious from all the comments people looked forward to him having a long career. We need to start getting answers for all those who have died mysteriously

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  10. Thank God It's Friday was the best movie ever with Ray Donna Summer sizzling in chemistry on screen ...just so funny with Ray Star actor Jeff Goldblum special appearance by The Commandors--all that Star Power Ray Vitte STOOD OUT STRONG, his death was a shock!

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  11. What a talent. After all these years, I still think about his performance in Thank God it's Friday and Car Wash.

    I miss him

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  12. Thanks for this blog, I happened to have met Mr. Vitte years ago when I was a teenager. My next door neighbor Ms. A Jarvis was friends with his father and they came for a visit, all us kids were excited because we had recognized him from the movie Car Wash. He was a nice guy, I cringed when I read the article. Hoping his family will find some peace and answers. God Bless.

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  13. Thanks for this blog, I happened to have met Mr. Vitte years ago when I was a teenager. My next door neighbor Ms. A Jarvis was friends with his father and they came for a visit, all us kids were excited because we had recognized him from the movie Car Wash. He was a nice guy, I cringed when I read the article. Hoping his family will find some peace and answers. God Bless.

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  14. Appreciate the detail on this story. I just watched "Thank God It's Friday" and I would have sworn the actor playing the D.J. Was Denzel Washington. Same voice, same face, same body moves. I am still not convinced.

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  15. There is so much weirdness in this case. I've been researching this for the last five years, and have found out some bizarre things about Vitte's career. For example he was in William Friedkin's controversial movie "Cruising". He's listed in the credits but the scenes he was in were too controversial and were cut and destroyed. There was also an article that one of his friends wrote during the height of Vitte's career (1976-1980), called "Pyramid Power". If anyone studies occult science and Illuminati symbolism, this case gets weird.

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  16. I always thought that Mr. Vitte died of cancer. I remember reading an article in Jet when I was younger about his death. It really is a sad story to hear about his death in that way.

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  17. Hi, I ran across this blog post from searching at goggle for Ray Vitte. I never forget a face and I saw him in a re-run of an episode of "Starsky and Hutch" from 1976 and instantly recognized him from his role in "Up in Smoke." He and another guy we going to play a game of basketball against S&H in exchange for some information. I did the search at google because I was wondering what happened to him. The events of his death seem very tragic and sad.

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  18. Currently watching an episode of What's Happening where his character is Gene Walker. He is speaking with Raj's mother about becoming a border in her home. I decided to google him and found out he passed so many years ago. I had no idea he died in such a controversial way.

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  19. I was just thinking about this man today and had no idea he had passed away and 32 years ago no less...
    RIP Ray...

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  20. JUST WATCHED WHAT'S HAPPENING...HE WAS IN IT

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  21. How are his wife and son?

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  23. I remember Ray Vitte from the TV sitcom "What's Happening" and the movie "Carwash". He was indeed a handsome young man and very funny. It is sad that he had to leave this earth before he extended more of his artistry with the world.

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  24. I remember Ray Vitte from the TV sitcom "What's Happening" and the movie "Carwash". He was indeed a handsome young man and very funny. It is sad that he had to leave this earth before he extended more of his artistry with the world.

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  25. I remember Ray Vitte from the sitcom "What's Happening" and the movie "Carwash". He was indeed a handsome young man and very funny. It's sad that he had to leave this early so soon.

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  26. I CAN RECALL AS LIL LIL HAMSTERS MY SISTER AND I WATCHED THAT EPISODE OF " WHATS HAPPENING AN WE THOUGHT HE WAS SUPER CUTE!! I REMEMBER HEARING HE DIED DUE TO DRUGS! HOWEVER, GONE WAY TOO SOON, I HAVE WATCHED CAR WASH AT LEAST 300 times OR MORE FRFR AND MY CHILDHOOD CRUSH LED ME TO LOOK UP DETAILS OF HIS DEATH AN BOI BOI OH BOYYYY LAPD WOW!!! AN the late GREAT JOHNNY C GONE..... SHIDDD WE WILL NEVA KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!! RIGHT HEART FAILURE AN LIVER DEGENERATION AN LAPD ALL JUST SO HAPPEN TO COLLABORATE THAT DAY 2-20 YUP YUP FOOL TALKIN FOOL AINT LISTENINGGGGGGG! RIP HANDSOME HOPEFULLY ONE DAY THE WORLD THAT KNEW U AN YO FAMILY WILL RECEIVE PROPER CLOSURE ONCE THE TRUTH IS REVEALED

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  27. Great reporting--please continue your research!

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  28. You forgot "What's Happening" on his resume. He played Gene Walker or "Rabbit" on 3 episodes. It is still one of my favorite shows.

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  29. You forgot "What's Happening" on his resume. He played Gene Walker or "Rabbit" on 3 episodes. It is still one of my favorite shows.

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  30. Thank you so much for this blog...I always wondered what happened to Mr.Vitte....he was an outstanding actor and so handsome!!! I pray his wife and son are doing great.

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  31. Gone way too soon! I would love for them to reopen his case. And make those police officers, who more than likely killed him, pay for their sins, and his wife and only child be financially compensated.

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  32. People that care about what happened to him should start demanding a reopening of case with thourogh on going investigations. There is no way someone at that age dies.
    But he definetely died at the hands of lapd. They even used excuses for GEORGE FLOYD, that he had medical issues, or had drugs in his system, the bottom line, is he was murdered by the police. Did the same thing happen to Ray.... Donna Summer, bring out the truth, you and him had such chemistry in the movie

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  33. Sorry i meant to say , Donna Summer help bring out the truth,
    By requesting to reopen case for investigation

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    1. Donna Summer has been dead since 2012. Your point that this case needs to be reopened is valid.

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  34. I remember when Ray Vitte died, it was all over the news...as I recall...wasn't it due to a choke hold that later became illegal? Could have sworn that was the cause.

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  35. One of his last tv acting appearances was on an episode of Gimme A Break back in season 1 episode 2 1981.

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