A successful marriage takes a lot of hard work, compassion and compromise. While it was virtually unheard of years ago, more and more couples are getting divorced late in life. Here are 15 couples that almost stood the test of time.

WENN

When Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman met, it was a match made in heaven. The two actors tied the knot in 1982 but after 30 years of wedded bliss, Devito and Perlman announced their split in October 2012. Word on the street was Devito’s roving eye was to blame. All may be forgiven though because the couple was recently spotted together after enjoying a Hawaiian vacation. The “It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia” star said in a recent interview he and Perlman were working on their marriage. “Rhea and I are really close. Actually still together, just separate, but together.” At 68 and 64 they ought to be.

AP Photo/Dave Allocca, StarPix

This Black History Month, we celebrate some of pop culture’s most influential movers and shakers who have changed the landscape of the world of entertainment. From the first African-American billionaire to the one of the hardest working men in radio, African-Americans have pioneered various media outlets, some even simultaneously.

Here are only a few of pop culture’s African-American innovators in the areas of music, television and film. We threw in a bonus, above: Michael Jackson. Besides his singing career both with the Jackson 5 and as a solo artist, and his investments across the music industry (including The Beatles portfolio), he invented the moonwalk, a move that continues to mystify and inspire dancers good and bad around the world. Check out this slideshow for more on the late, great MJ.

From EurWeb.com

E! News has obtained the graphic autopsy results on “Soul Train” founder Don Cornelius, who died in February at the age of 75.

The documents reaffirm the coroner’s ruling issued then: the cause of death was a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head which entered through the right temple.

The autopsy report states that Cornelius had suffered an aneurysm about 15 years ago which caused him to develop seizures and “as time went on the decedent’s health continued to decline regardless of his medication.”

It notes that on Feb. 1 at approximately 3 a.m., the 75-year-old “Soul Train” host phoned his son and said, “I don’t know how long I can take this.” Moments later, Cornelius apparently shot himself.

His son later told investigators, “[I] found the back door open and detected the odor of smoke … then found him unresponsive on a chair. 911 was dialed.”

The report, which includes vivid depictions of Don Cornelius’ wounds, reveals that he had been “very depressed about his failing health” for the past six months.

For the complete story as well as a link to the Coroner’s report, visit EurWeb.com.

Source: Black Enterprise

When news broke that Don Cornelius, the iconic founder of Soul Train, committed suicide on Feb. 1, the nation reacted with shock and an outpouring of grief. Spontaneous Soul Train Lines broke out in New York’s Times Square and condolences flooded social media platforms as his legacy was celebrated. Still, the manner in which Cornelius died is a painful reminder that despite public perception being the opposite, suicide is a mental health issue that is pertinent to the African American community.

“The discussion of Don Cornelius is an opportunity to talk about suicide in the Black community and access to mental health services,” says Sean Joe, the Associate Professor of Social Work and Associate Director of the Program for Research of Black Americans at the University of Michigan.

Read how suicide is affecting the African American community at Black Enterprise.com.

More on Madame Noire!

• True Life: I Knew He Wasn’t Into Me When…
• Terrence Howard Says His Wife Is Ruining His Career
• Why Are You Hiding Your Boos? Celeb Women Who Are Always Acting Single
• Dealing With Drama?: How To Know When It’s Time To Go
• Does the Academy of Motion Pictures Need Affirmative Action?
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Before the death of Don Cornelius stirred pangs of “Soul Train” nostalgia in the American public, a group of black entrepreneurs already had begun working to revive Cornelius’ creation and carry it beyond line dances at parties and television reruns.

What, exactly, can be done with “Soul Train,” given that it lasted nearly four decades and is considered an American institution, even though there hasn’t been a new episode in six years? Will the soul of “Soul Train” carry on, or drift into history?

Soul Train Holdings LLC, the entity created by NBA legend and entrepreneur Earvin “Magic” Johnson when he bought the “Soul Train” library and brand last year, has a lot of ideas. Among them are bringing a “Soul Train” variety show back to television, CEO Kenard Gibbs told The Associated Press. There have been discussions with writers about taking “Soul Train” to Broadway, Gibbs said, and also in the works are film opportunities, potential book deals and, in 2013, the first “Soul Train” cruise.

Find out what’s next for Soul Train over at theGrio.com.

More on Madame Noire!

• True Life: I Knew He Wasn’t Into Me When…
• Terrence Howard Says His Wife Is Ruining His Career
• Why Are You Hiding Your Boos? Celeb Women Who Are Always Acting Single
• Dealing With Drama?: How To Know When It’s Time To Go
• Does the Academy of Motion Pictures Need Affirmative Action?
• Friends & Lovers: What To Avoid When Introducing Your Guy To Your Girls
• Wild Thang: African Print-Inspired Fashions for Head to Toe
• Why Did I Get Married?: The Trouble With Marrying Too Young

If you live in NYC and are a lover of “Soul Train” you may have been on of the thousands of fans that boogied on  down Broadway wearing afro wigs and bell bottoms on while recounting your favorite episodes in tribute to Soul Train’s late creator, Don Cornelius.

About 100 dancers descended on Times Square in a “flash mob” organized through the Internet. As startled tourists looked on, they recreated one of the show’s “Soul Train lines” in which people would take turns dancing toward a TV camera while showing off their most outrageous moves.

“Don Cornelius was a big influence in my life, and I just wanted to pay tribute,” said disc jockey Jon Quick, as he held up a speaker blasting disco grooves. “He was playing the music that nobody else wanted to play. He was an amazing man.”

Cornelius, 75, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on Wednesday. He had suffered from health problems, a difficult divorce, and had pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor spousal battery charge in 2009.

Read full story here…

Has the sad news about Don Cornelius got you thinking about the glory days of Soul Train? I know it has us reminising via YouTube. But no need to search aimlessly. Check out the collection of hip-hop soul performances collated by the editors at HipHopWired to get a dose of the good ol’ times.

Read More at Hip Hop Wired

TMZ.com is reporting that Soul Train legend and host Don Cornelius has been found dead in his Los Angeles area home. According to TMZ.com, “cops discovered the body at around 4 AM PT.  Law enforcement sources tell us … Cornelius died from a gunshot wound to the head and officials believe the wound was self-inflicted.”

The Chicago Native founded and produced Soul Train from 1971 to 1993.

If there was anything indicating that Cornelius was miserable, it can be found in the letter he wrote in 2009 asking the L.A. County Superior Court to speedy things up and finalize his divorce. In the letter, he stated: ”I am 72 years old. I have significant health issues. I want to finalize this divorce before I die.”

Friends say that Cornelius suffered immensely from his health issues and believe that his death was a way for him to relieve himself of the pain. No suicide note was found at the scene.