# Ric Ocasek - The Cars, RIP **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [September 16, 2019, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297 "2019-09-16T00:53:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/41 "2019-09-16T16:46:33Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Speaking of videos…the woman in “Drive” (Riks supermodel wife?) does a fantastic job. Yes, that was Paulina Porizkova – she and Rik met during the filming of that video, and it was one of her first acting jobs. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/42 "2019-09-16T17:19:05Z")
So weird, he was in today’s Washington Post crossword online. I would imagine those are done well in advance. My memories of the Cars will probably forever be tied to movement class at the 1984 Governor’s School for the Arts. Weeks of Jane Fonda workout to the tune of the Cars and some other artists. I’m getting tired just writing about it. RIP, Ric. ---
**Author:** ![Quintas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/48db29/32.png) [@Quintas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quintas)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/43 "2019-09-16T18:44:56Z")
he couldn’t keep it…going ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/44 "2019-09-16T19:28:48Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Speaking of videos…the woman in “Drive” (Riks supermodel wife?) does a fantastic job. Disagree. She’s horrible. She’s completely wrong for the part, and ruins an otherwise great video. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/45 "2019-09-16T19:47:10Z")
Todd Rundgren re-formed the Cars as the New Cars in 2005 with original members Elliot Easton and Greg Hawkes, along with musicians Kasim Sultan and Prairie Prince. They toured playing Cars covers and some of Rundgren’s own material and recorded some new tracks. Ric Ocasek didn’t participate, but gave his blessing to Easton and Hawkes. He later appeared on the Colbert Report and Stephen Colbert asked Ocasek if there was anyone he wanted to put “on report.” Ocasek humorously replied, “Todd Rundgren.” ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/46 "2019-09-16T19:58:00Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > .next it will be the surviving rappers/ hip-hop pioneers I mean ice-ts almost 60 himself …cube and dres in their 50s … Flavor Flav is 5 months apart in age from Mike Pence. Think about that. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Dale\_Sams](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/779978/32.png) [@Dale\_Sams](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dale_Sams)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/47 "2019-09-16T20:33:42Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > Disagree. She’s horrible. She’s completely wrong for the part, and ruins an otherwise great video. Well, i’d been with a couple of manic-depressive women in turbulent relationships and I thought she nailed it…but I respect your opinion. ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/48 "2019-09-16T21:40:36Z")
The car parts at the beginning of _You Might Think_ were initially rendered at CMU as part of a graphics design package. Dancing clutch plates were all over the Computer Science world back then. And their stuff started showing up in music videos. One of the articles I read about his death specifically mentioned that he and Orr were older than the usual rock newbies when they started. So it’s not like a ton of 80s people are on the verge of dropping. You’re always dancing down the street With your suede blue eyes ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/49 "2019-09-16T21:49:40Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > One of the articles I read about his death specifically mentioned that he and Orr were older than the usual rock newbies when they started. So it’s not like a ton of 80s people are on the verge of dropping. I was surprised how old Orr was when he died. Ocasek also lowered his age by 5 years for publicity purposes. ---
**Author:** ![Baron\_Greenback](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/baron_greenback/32/48_2.png) [@Baron\_Greenback](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baron_Greenback)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2019, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/50 "2019-09-16T22:40:15Z")
> [@ftg](#): > > One of the articles I read about his death specifically mentioned that he and Orr were older than the usual rock newbies when they started. So it’s not like a ton of 80s people are on the verge of dropping. Debbie Harry is _checks notes_ 74. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/51 "2019-09-17T01:18:54Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Debbie Harry is _checks notes_ 74. :eek: And, from that same New York 70s scene, \*all \*of the Ramones have died. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/52 "2019-09-17T02:57:17Z")
> [@Dale\_Sams](#): > > Speaking of videos…the woman in “Drive” (Riks supermodel wife?) does a fantastic job. I hope the widow Porizkova is holding up okay. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/53 "2019-09-17T03:00:00Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > And, from that same New York 70s scene, \*all \*of the Ramones have died. Marky is still with us. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/54 "2019-09-17T03:05:35Z")
> [@Quintas](#): > > he couldn’t keep it…going He kept it going till the sun went down. He kept it…going. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 3:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/55 "2019-09-17T03:26:27Z")
You might think I’m delirious The way I run you down But somewhere, sometime, when you’re curious I’ll be back around Oh I think that you’re wild And so uniquely styled You might think it’s foolish This chancy rendezvous You might think I’m crazy But all I want is you ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/56 "2019-09-17T04:19:21Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > Marky is still with us. True. I should have said all the original Ramones are dead. Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/57 "2019-09-17T13:48:46Z")
The ME has determined that Ocasek died of “natural causes,” probably a heart attack. While dying alone like that is very sad, I’m very glad it wasn’t suicide. RIP Ric. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/58 "2019-09-17T14:08:20Z")
> [@Baron\_Greenback](#): > > Debbie Harry is _checks notes_ 74. :eek: Soon turned out had a hip of glass. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/59 "2019-09-17T14:37:57Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Soon turned out had a hip of glass. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![MrAtoz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@MrAtoz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrAtoz)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297/60 "2019-09-17T14:44:39Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > The ME has determined that Ocasek died of “natural causes,” probably a heart attack. While dying alone like that is very sad, I’m very glad it wasn’t suicide. > > RIP Ric. HuffPost quotes Paulina Porizkova’s [Instagram](https://www.huffpost.com/entry/ric-ocasek-paulina-porizkova-the-cars_n_5d7ff10de4b00d69059d336c) message that he was recovering from surgery when she found him unresponsive that morning. She and Ric separated a couple of years ago, but they were still amicable, and it seems that she and their sons were at least nearby when he passed on. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ric-ocasek-the-cars-rip/840297.md?page=4)