Latest news with #Alaimo
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
George Wendt Was the Second 'Cheers' Actor to Die This Month
The entertainment industry lost one of its most beloved actors when Cheers star George Wendt — "NORM!" — passed away at age 76 earlier this week. Sadly, the fan-favorite character actor was actually the second Cheers star to die this month. News broke on Wednesday, May 21, that actor Michael Alaimo died on May 2 at age 86. The actor — who appeared in such iconic '90s films as Space Jam, The Sandlot, Air Bud and more — portrayed Vinnie Claussen on the 1985 Cheers episode "2 Good 2 Be 4 Real." The Season 4 episode features Alaimo's character attempting to woo Rhea Perlman's no-nonsense Carla Tortelli at the bar after sending her a letter in the mail. The ruse of the episode, however, is that the rest of the Cheers bartenders and bar patrons, feeling sorry for Carla's single status, create a fictional suitor for the blunt barmaid, causing her to turn down actual potential love interests like Vinnie. Alaimo's daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed her father's death in a statement to Variety on Wednesday. While she did not cite a cause of death for the actor, she told the outlet that her dad "passed away peacefully." The statement of Alaimo's death echoes that of Wendt's family's own announcement of his passing. Wendt — who starred in every episode of Cheers and earned six Emmy nominations for his portrayal of beloved barfly Norm Peterson — died peacefully in his sleep at home on Tuesday, May 20. 'George was a doting family man, a well-loved friend and confidant to all of those lucky enough to have known him. He will be missed forever," the actor's publicist said in a statement on Tuesday. "The family has requested privacy during this time." Wendt is survived by wife Bernadette Birkett, as well as their three children and his two stepchildren. He was also the uncle of fellow actor Jason Sudeikis. Wendt's longtime Cheers co-stars paid tribute to the iconic star following the announcement of his death — including Perlman, Ted Danson (who played bar owner Sam Malone), and John Ratzenberger, who portrayed Norm's best friend Cliff Claven on 11 seasons of the hit sitcom. Danson, 77, shared a particularly poignant statement about the passing of his longtime friend and co-star. 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us,' the Good Place alum told the New York Post in a statement via his rep. 'I am sending all my love to Bernadette and the children. It is going to take me a long time to get used to this. I love you, Georgie.'
Pink Villa
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Space Jam Actor Michael Alaimo Passes Away at 86, Day After Fellow Cheers Star George Wendt's Demise, Know Who He Was
Trigger Warning: This article contains references to an individual's death. Michael Alaimo, a longtime character actor known for his roles in Space Jam, Cheers, and dozens of other films and TV shows, died on May 2 in Burbank, California. He was 86. His daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed the news on May 21, saying he passed away peacefully. No cause of death was shared. Michael Alaimo's career spanned more than 60 years, and while he wasn't a household name, he was a recognizable face to generations of viewers. 'He passed away peacefully,' Gabriella said in a statement to Variety. Alaimo's death came just one day after the passing of Cheers star George Wendt, who played Norm Peterson on the hit sitcom. Wendt died peacefully in his sleep on May 20 at the age of 76. He was remembered as 'a doting family man' and 'a well-loved friend' by his publicist. Ted Danson said in a statement, 'I am devastated to hear that Georgie is no longer with us... I love you, Georgie.' Michael Alaimo is remembered by many for his guest appearance on Cheers in the 1985 episode 2 Good 2 Be 4 Real. He played Vinnie Claussen, a man who tries to woo Carla Tortelli, played by Rhea Perlman. The episode became popular among fans of the series. Alaimo's TV work extended far beyond Cheers. He had roles on several classic shows from the 1980s and 1990s, including Hill Street Blues, Dynasty, Night Court, Mr. Belvedere, The Paper Chase, ALF, The Wonder Years, and Scrubs. In 2004, he played Mr. Radford on Scrubs, and in 1997, he appeared on The Drew Carey Show. Alaimo's film work included roles in Space Jam (1996), where he played the team doctor opposite Michael Jordan. He also had parts in Mr. Mom (1983) with Michael Keaton and She's Out of Control (1989) starring Tony Danza. Earlier in his career, Alaimo appeared in films like The China Syndrome (1979), Graffiti (1969), and Come Play with Me (1968). Some of these low-budget genre films gained cult followings over the years. Michael Alaimo is survived by his wife, Louise; daughters Gabriella and Giovanna; son-in-law David; and granddaughters Isabella and Malia.
Metro
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
Beloved Cheers and Space Jam actor Michael Alaimo dies aged 86
Michael Alaimo, a seasoned character actor whose screen and stage career spanned more than sixty years, has died at the age of 86. His daughter, Gabriella Alaimo Thomas, confirmed his death, noting he passed away peacefully on May 2 in Burbank, California. No cause of death was disclosed. Alaimo built a long, varied résumé in Hollywood, marked by memorable turns in film, television, and theater. Though never a household name, he became a familiar face to generations of viewers, thanks to a steady stream of supporting roles. One of his most widely seen performances came in the 1996 cult hit Space Jam, where he appeared opposite Michael Jordan as the team doctor. Earlier in his career, Alaimo had roles in socially resonant films like The China Syndrome (1979), a nuclear meltdown thriller that mirrored real-world anxieties. He also worked on a variety of genre films in the late 1960s and early 70s, including Graffiti (1969) and Come Play with Me (1968), often appearing in low-budget, adult-oriented features that later developed cult followings. On television, Alaimo made appearances on numerous iconic shows throughout the 1980s. He guest-starred on Cheers in a 1985 episode titled 2 Good 2 Be 4 Real, playing the role of Vinnie Claussen. The appearance came during the show's acclaimed fourth season. More Trending Other TV credits included Dynasty, Night Court, Hill Street Blues, ALF, Mr. Belvedere, and The Paper Chase. He also played Mr. Radford on Scrubs in 2004, along with parts on The Drew Carey Show in 1997 and The Wonder Years in 1992. Alaimo also appeared in films including the 1989 Tony Danza comedy She's Out of Control and 1983's Mr. Mom, which starred Michael Keaton and the late Teri Garr. The actor is survived by his wife Louise; daughters Gabriella and Giovanna; son-in-law David; and granddaughters Isabella and Malia. This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates. If you've got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@ calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we'd love to hear from you. For more stories like this, check our entertainment page. Follow Entertainment on Twitter and Facebook for the latest celeb and entertainment updates. You can now also get articles sent straight to your device. Sign up for our daily push alerts here. MORE: Dropout Kings singer Adam Ramey dies aged 32 after 'painful battle with addiction' MORE: Ted Danson 'devastated' after Cheers co-star George Wendt dies aged 76 MORE: Doctor Who and Coronation Street star Michael McStay dies aged 92 as family pay tribute
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Yahoo
Texas charter school deploying AI software that can detect guns via camera feed; how it works
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Artificial intelligence is integrating into the daily lives of Texans more and more as the state is believed to be poised as one of the nation's leaders in AI and technology. One company, founded in 2018 by a group of Navy SEALs, is using AI to expand safety against the threat of firearms in schools. ZeroEyes uses AI to detect the presence of guns spotted by surveillance cameras. It was the first AI-based gun detection video analytics platform to earn the full U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation. RELATED | Schools are turning to artificial intelligence to spot guns On Tuesday, Ki Charter became the first charter school system in Texas to deploy the software. 'We serve a student population that requires an exceptional level of care and security, and I was initially skeptical of ZeroEyes, but after seeing the technology in action, I knew we needed it,' Superintendent Jerry Lager said in a press release. 'Our largest campus spans 65 open acres, making security a complex challenge. ZeroEyes provides that extra layer of protection, ensuring our students and staff are in a safe environment.' Ki Charter has campuses in San Marcos, Liberty Hill, Austin, Temple, Arlington, Fort Worth, Denton, and Kingwood, and serves over 6,500 students annually. According to its website, the school system 'is the premier educational provider for students who reside in residential facilities (RFs) and day centers.' Ki Charter 'reduces learning gaps to help students learn behavioral management strategies and improve their communication skills,' per its website. Co-founder Sam Alaimo said it took about two years to build the algorithm that ZeroEyes uses. The software is layered onto existing digital security cameras to detect guns. If a gun is identified by the software, images are shared with the ZeroEyes Operations Center, which Alaimo said was modeled after the military's Tactical Operations Center. The operations center is the industry's only U.S.-based, fully in-house operations center, which is staffed 24/7 by specially trained U.S. military and law enforcement veterans, according to the company. If experts in the operations center determine a threat and notify law enforcement and school security, they include information like a visual description, gun type, and last known location when sending those alerts. Alaimo broke down the process: '[The] algorithm says, 'I think it's a gun.' Human verifies it's a gun, hits dispatch. Client gets the alert.' That happens in just a few seconds. 'So in the real world, on schools, subway platforms, shopping malls, you name it, once that gun is exposed in front of a client camera, within about three to five seconds, that client will get that image, as well as local law enforcement. And what we're trying to do is cut through the fog of war,' Alaimo said. 'It's like a pure situational awareness tool.' Alaimo said ZeroEyes helped prevent a potential tragedy in Texas last year when three people showed up at an elementary school with AK-47s. 'This is what we're in the business of detecting,' Alaimo said. 'We detect guns every single week at this point, and it's an interesting position to be in, because when we send an alert like this, and people get arrested, there is no mass shooting. So we can't quantify how many mass shootings didn't happen as a result of our software working.' Alaimo said the company was founded after the 2018 Parkland, Florida, mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. 'We were all kind of commiserating on, hey, we need to do something meaningful again. We want to be of service again,' Alaimo said. 'And in 2018, the Parkland shooting happened, and that was when America did a bit more introspection after one of these massive shootings, and decided that we wanted to do something about it.' 'So we all quit our jobs and decided to found ZeroEyes with the intent to keep kids safe from mass shootings,' Alaimo continued. 'And we started the company, bootstrapped it. It took about two years to build the algorithm, and we finally had it ready to go to market in 2020.' Alaimo said the software had 'a lot of good traction with K-12' at the time, but the COVID-19 pandemic derailed the company's plans because of schools going into lockdown. At that point, ZeroEyes went into the commercial space, which Alaimo said was 'a good move.' 'We found that, you know, identifying guns in subway platforms and in grocery stores and on Navy bases actually made us better at identifying guns in a school environment,' he said. 'So… there's a lot of ways that training the algorithm in very diverse environments strengthens it.' In 2021, ZeroEyes founders were able to get back to their passion of 'keeping kids safe.' Now, the software is deployed across 46 states in K-12 schools, in higher education, and in various commercial spaces. The cost of implementing the software depends on the needs of the client. Pricing is primarily based on the number of camera streams that will have ZeroEyes installed, according to its website. 'It usually goes between 20 and $60 per camera stream per month, higher if it's a small [number of cameras], what, like, 25 camera streams for one year, and much, much lower if it's a large number of cameras over, over three or five years,' Alaimo explained. Alaimo said because it's a new technology that not many schools have the money budgeted for, ZeroEyes has grant writers on staff to help schools find the money to pay for it. The company also works with legislators and will lobby governments, he said. 'Money shouldn't be the reason why a school does not have our software. So for that reason, we actually have grant writers on staff to help schools find the money,' Alaimo said. 'And that's one of the reasons we try to work with legislatures as often as we can, because once they know we exist, then it's like, all right, how do we get money to get them out there?' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Yahoo
New A.I. technology brings proactive approach to school safety
FRANKLIN, La. (KLFY) — St. John Elementary is taking a new approach to school safety with the help of a new artificial intelligence. The artificial intelligence software is called Zero Eyes and is said to help be proactive in gun protection and situational awareness when it comes to mass shootings and gun-related violence, according to their website. News 10 spoke with Sheri Higdon, St. John Principal, about how they found out about the program. She said a parent of one of their students heard about it through a police convention in Florida. When they learned more about what Zero Eyes is and the good it can do, they were all in. 'The reason we chose Zero Eyes is because it is proactive. It's not reactive. You know, you don't have to wait till a shooting occurs before you get an alert.' Higdon said. Lafayette man killed in Thursday night shooting Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Founded in 2018 by a team of military veterans, Zero Eyes has prevented multiple potential shootings on school campuses in 46 different states. Co-founder Sam Alaimo said Zero Eyes' algorithm is able to identify weapons through the cameras and an alert is sent to a team of professionals who can verify if it indeed is a possible threat and if authorities need to be notified. 'We have and it will be done in multiple pathways. We have a direct in line with the 911 dispatch center. We call primary or secondary tertiary points of contact at the school. We have a mobile app. We send text message. We also send notification via a desktop dashboard and the video management system.' Alaimo said. During school threats, law enforcement get a lot of calls with contradictory information. This makes it difficult to know the situation. Zero Eyes prevents that from happening as it can identify the shooter, the weapon, and their location in seconds. 'Once that gun is seen in front of a camera within about 3 to 5 seconds, they're going to have an alert in their hands of the shooter. Picture of the shooter, the exact location of the shooter and the exact time they were there.' Alaimo said. With artificial intelligence software such as this advancing and aiding school safety, there will be no surprise if we see more technology like this in the future. Senate vote-a-rama on Trump budget bill kicks off Traffic stop in Evangeline Parish uncovers drugs and firearm History of making boudin New A.I. technology brings proactive approach to school safety A Warm & Windy Saturday With Strong to Severe Storms Possible Saturday Night… Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
