Kim Manners--We will miss you

[growyourwings]

Via missyjack :

Jim Beaver just posted on his MySpace.

Jim is in mourning for one of the best friends and best directors he's ever known--Kim Manners, who died last night from lung cancer

I'm like...in total and complete SHOCK.  I had no idea he was ill.  If it weren't for the Jim Beaver source, I'd so be doubting this right now.  I'm still not so sure.  Although Kim's Wikipedia entry has 25 Jan 2009 as a death date.

ETA:  From Wikipedia:  After directing the first episode of the fourth season, he learned he had lung cancer. He died in Los Angeles, California, on January 25, 2009.

I am still having trouble even absorbing this fact.  I kept hoping we'd get Kim on a panel some day at a convention.  He was my favorite SPN director.

When I first read Jim's words I kept thinking--who is this "other guy" with the name of Kim Manners?  Because my brain just couldn't wrap around the idea that it was our Kim Manners.





ETA2:  Still trying to absorb this.  mrsr58  posted this interview with Kim that I've included below.  One of the inner circle, original members of the SPN family.  M used the right words to describe this--I'm crushed.  I keep remembering hearing Jensen talk about their first experience having Kim direct "Dead in the Water" (which I just re-watched yesterday.)  Jensen was so expansive in his appreciation of Kim's talent.

Also Kim's entry from Super-Wiki.

ETA3:  And a post by missyjack on Kim from a while back. 

From that post:  "It became clear through interviews with the cast and crew that Kim was an incredible influence and presence on that series behind the scenes. It was the first time that I became aware of the way a director and producer could shape a show."

I totally agree with MJ's statement.  It was also the first time I became aware of the influence of a director.

And here's missyjack's first post of this news.