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Anthony Perkins was born April 4, 1932 in New York City, to Janet Esselstyn (Rane) and Osgood Perkins, an actor of both stage and film. His father died when he was five. Anthony's paternal great-grandfather was engraver Andrew Varick Stout Anthony. Perkins attended the Brooks School, the Browne & Nichols School, Columbia University and Rollins College. He made his screen debut in The Actress (1953), and was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar Friendly Persuasion (1956). Four years later, he appeared in what would be his most noted role, Norman Bates in Psycho (1960), memorializing him into film history forever.- Born in Florida in 1949, Brad Davis moved to Georgia after graduating from high school to pursue an acting career. From there, he moved to New York City, twice, to find work. By the early 1970s Davis was acting in off-Broadway plays while studying acting at the Academy of Dramatic Arts. His stage work led to his movie debut and to television shows such as the hit Sybil (1976) and the mini-series Roots (1977). His biggest success was in 1978 with the lead role in Midnight Express (1978) where he played Billy Hayes, a young American imprisoned in Turkey for drug smuggling. It won him a Golden Globe award.
Another memorable movie role in 1982 was playing the title character of Querelle (1982), a ruggedly lethal sailor who seduces and sets both men and women's hearts aflutter.
Davis contracted AIDS in 1979 apparently from his one-time cocaine addiction, but in response to the anti-AIDS hysteria in Hollywood, Davis kept his illness a secret for a number of years and continued to act. His later years had him finally revealing that he had AIDS by the late 1980s and he became an AIDS activist in bashing the Hollywood industry and US government for ignoring and shunning victims suffering from the hideous disease. Brad Davis died in 1991 at age 41. His widow, Susan Bluestein, continues his activist work in the fight against AIDS. - Writer
- Actor
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Renato Russo (born Renato Manfredini, Jr., was a Brazilian singer and songwriter. He was the lead singer of the alternative rock band Legião Urbana. A Brazilian film depicting his life and career was released in 2013, called Somos Tão Jovens (We Are So Young). He started his studies at an early age, at Colégio Olavo Billac. During this period he wrote an essay titled "Old house, in ruins". His father was an executive at Banco do Brasil, and the family moved to Forest Hills, Queens, New York in 1967, when he was assigned a job in the city. Renato and his family returned later to Rio de Janeiro and moved in with his uncle Sávio. At 18 years old, he came out as bisexual to his mother, and in 1988 he made it public by writing the song "Meninos e Meninas" ("Boys n' Girls") with the chorus stating, in English, "I like St. Paul, I like St. John, I like St. Francis and St. Sebastian, and I like boys and girls."- Music Artist
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Freddie Mercury was born on the Tanzanian island of Zanzibar. His parents, Bomi and Jer Bulsara, sent him off to a private school in India, from 1955 til 1963. In 1964, he and his family flew to England. In 1966 he started his education at the Ealing College of Art, where he graduated in 1969. He loved art, and because of that, he often went along with his friend Tim Staffell, who played in a band called Smile. Also in this band where Brian May and Roger Taylor.
When Staffell left the band in 1970, Mercury became their new singer. He changed the band's name into Queen, and they took on a new bass-player in February 1971, called John Deacon. Their first album, "Queen", came out in 1973. But their real breakthrough was "Killer Queen", on the album "Sheer Heart Attack", which was released in 1974. They became immortal with the single "Bohemian Rhapsody", on the 1975 album "A Night At The Opera".
After their biggest hit in the USA in 1980 with "Another One Bites The Dust", they had a bad period. Their album "Flash Gordon" went down the drain, because the movie Flash Gordon (1980) flunked. Their next, the disco-oriented "Hot Space", was hated not only by rock critics but also by many hardcore fans. Only the song "Under Pressure", which they sang together with David Bowie, made a difference. In 1983, they took a year off. But, in 1984 they came back with their new album called "The Works". The singles "Radio Ga Ga" and "I Want to Break Free" did very well in the UK but a controversy over the video of the latter in the USA meant it got little exposure and flopped. Plans to tour the USA were cancelled and the band would not recover their popularity there during Mercury's lifetime.
In April 1985, Mercury released his first solo album, the less rock-oriented and more dance-oriented "Mr. Bad Guy". The album is often considered now to have been a flop, but it actually wasn't. It peaked at number six in the UK and stayed on the chart for 23 weeks, making it the most successful Queen solo project. The band got back together again after their barnstorming performance at Live Aid (1985) in July 1985. At the end of the year, they started working on their new album, "A Kind Of Magic". They also held their biggest ever world tour, the "Magic Tour". They played Wembley Stadium twice and held their very last concert in Knebworth, in front of 125.000 people.
After 1986, it went silent around Queen. In 1987, he was diagnosed with AIDS but he kept working at a pace. He released a cover of the 1950s song "The Great Pretender", which went into the UK top ten. After that, he flew to Spain, where he made the magnificent album "Barcelona", together with Montserrat Caballé, whom he saw performing in 1983. Because Mercury loved opera, he became a huge fan of her. For him, this album was like a dream becoming reality. The single "Barcelona" went huge, and was also used as a theme song for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona.
After "Barcelona", he started working with the band again. They made "The Miracle", which was released in early 1989. It was another success, with hits such as "Breakthru", "I Want It All", "The Invisible Man" and the title track. At this point, Mercury told the band he had AIDS, meaning that a tour of the album was out of the question. After Mercury told the band, he refused to talk about it anymore. He was afraid that people would buy their records out of pity. He said he wanted to keep making music as long as possible. And he did. After "The Miracle", Mercury's health got worse. They wanted to do one more album, called "Innuendo." They worked on it in 1990 and early 1991. Every time when Mercury would feel well, he came over to the studio and sang. After "Innuendo" was released in January 1991, they made two video clips. The first one was the video clip of "I'm Going Slightly Mad", shot in March 1991. Because Mercury was very thin, and had little wounds all over his body, they used a lot of make-up. He wore a wig, and the clip was shot in black and white.
Mercury's final video clip was released in June 1991. The clip, "These Are The Days Of Our Lives", later turned out to be his goodbye song, the last time he appeared on film. You could clearly see he was ill, but he still hadn't told the world about his disease. Rumours went around that he some kind of terrible disease. This rumor was confirmed by Mercury himself, one day before he passed on. His death was seen as a great loss for the world of popular music.- Actor
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Most remembered for his extravagant costumes and trademark candelabra placed on the lids of his flashy pianos, Liberace was loved by his audiences for his music talent and unique showmanship. He was born as Wladziu Valentino Liberace on May 16, 1919, into a musical family, in Wisconsin. His mother, Frances Liberace (née Zuchowski), whose parents were Polish, played the piano. His father, Salvatore Liberace, an immigrant from Formia, Italy, played the French horn for the Milwaukee Symphony. His siblings, George Liberace, Angie Liberace and Rudy Liberace, also had musical ability. Liberace's own extraordinary natural talent became evident when he learned to play the piano, by ear, at the age of four. Although Salvatore tried to discourage his son's interest in the piano, praises from Ignacy Jan Paderewski, a famous Polish pianist, helped the young musician follow his musical career.
As a teenager, Liberace earned wages playing popular tunes at movie theaters and speakeasies. Despite being proud of his son's accomplishments, Salvatore strictly opposed Liberace's preference for popular music over the classics. Pianist Florence Bettray Kelly took control of Liberace's classical training when he was 14.
He debuted as a soloist with the Chicago Symphony, under the direction of Dr. Frederick Stock. At age 17, Liberace joined the Works Progress Administration Symphony Orchestra. He received a scholarship to attend the Wisconsin College of Music. In 1939, after a classical recital, Liberace's audience requested the popular tune, "Three Little Fishes". Liberace seized the opportunity and performed the tune with a semi-classical style which the audience loved. Soon, this unique style of playing the piano got Liberace bookings in large nightclubs.
By 1940, Liberace was traveling with his custom-made piano, on top of which he would place his candelabrum. He then took Paderewski's advice and dropped Wladziu and Valentino to become simply Liberace. South Sea Sinner (1950), a movie with Shelley Winters, was Liberace's film debut. He played a honky tonk pianist in the movie, which opened in 1950.
In 1952, The Liberace Show (1952), a syndicated television program, turned Liberace into a musical symbol. It began as a summertime replacement for The Dinah Shore Show (1951), but after two years, the show was one of the most popular on TV. It was carried by 217 American stations and could be seen in 20 foreign countries. Sold-out live appearances at Madison Square Garden enhanced the pianist's popularity even more. Soon, Liberace added flamboyant costumes and expensive ornaments to his already unique performances. His second movie, Sincerely Yours (1955), opened in 1955, and Liberace wrote his best-selling autobiography, "Liberace", in 1972. His first book, "Liberace Cooks", went into seven printings.
In 1977, Liberace founded the non-profit "Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts". The year 1978 brought the opening of "The Liberace Museum" in Las Vegas, Nevada, which serves as key funding for the Liberace Foundation. The profits from the museum provide scholarship money for financially needy college musicians. He continued performing until the fall of 1986, despite suffering from heart disease and emphysema during most of the 1980s. A closeted homosexual his entire life, Liberace was secretly diagnosed with AIDS sometime in August 1985, which he also kept secret from the public until the day he died. His last concert performance was at Radio City Music Hall on November 2, 1986. He passed away in his Palm Springs home on February 4, 1987 at age 67.
Liberace was bestowed with many awards during his lifetime including: Instrumentalist of the Year, Best Dressed Entertainer, Entertainer of the Year, two Emmy Awards, six gold albums, and two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In The Guinness Book of World Records, he has been listed as the world's highest paid musician and pianist. Liberace was an extremely talented and versatile man. He not only played the piano, but sang, danced and joked during his performances. In fact, one of Liberace's biggest accomplishments was his ability to turn a recital into a show full of music, glitter and personality.- Being born and raised in Edinburgh, Charleson attended the Royal High School and then went on to attend Edinburgh University. He initially studied architecture but switched to an MA degree after cultivating an interest in acting. He won a place at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art after graduating from Edinburgh.
- Luis Roberto Galizia was born in 1951 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor, known for Kiss of the Spider Woman (1985), Maldita Coincidência (1979) and O Olho Mágico do Amor (1982). He died in February 1985 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Klaus moved to New York City in the mid-70s where he worked as a pastry chef and a night club singer. A performance of his was attended by 'David Bowie' who hired Nomi as backup for his Saturday Night Live (1975) performance.- Arthur Ashe grew up in segregated Richmond, Virgina where he decided to make a career out of tennis where he won his first U.S. Open in 1968, the first ever won by a black player. Ashe firmly established his stardom in 1975 after beating Jimmy Connors to take the Wimbledon title. As a tennis professional, he won three Grand Slam singles titles and led the U.S. to four Davis Cup victories. Over his career he won 33 singles tournaments on five continents. A sudden heart attack in 1979 ended his playing career where he underwent quadruple bypass surgery and then double bypass surgery in 1983 where he contracted AIDS from tainted blood during the surgery. Ashe kept his illness a secret until a newspaper leaked the story in early 1992 where he finally admited that he had AIDS and became an outspoken advocate for more research funding and created the Arthur Ashe Foundation for the Defeat of AIDS. He died just two days after completing his memoirs "Days of Grace."
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One of the most important Brazilian directors of all time, Leon Hirszman is best remembered for the realistic manner of dealing with social and political themes in his works, from documentaries to feature films. His career started with a segment filmed for Cinco vezes Favela (1962) and The Deceased (1965) marked as his first feature film, an adaptation of Nelson Rodrigues classic play, and also marked as José Wilker's acting film debut. _São Bernardo (1972) was a major turning point in his career, a film lauded by audiences and critics, winning multiple awards and Hirszman name became well-known in film circles.
With They Don't Wear Black Tie (1981), by following the current wave in politics and social economical issues such as the strikes for better working conditions in automobile plants which happened in the late 1970's during the military regime, intertwining its story with a family's division, Hirszman conquered audiences and the critics again with his memorable sequences and a power driven story. The film won three awards at the Venice Film Festival and was nominated for the Golden Lion as well. This adaptation of Gianfrancesco Guarnieri celebrated play - who also acted in the leading role - was a massive hit. Around the making of this film, Hirszman was filming the real events that also inspired this film in ABC da Greve (1990), which was released a few years after his death.
During the last year of his life, he managed to release three different projects: his final feature films A Barca do Sol (1987), and Em Busca do Espaço Cotidiano (1987) and the short documentary Imagens do Inconsciente (1987). He died on September 15, 1987 due to complication of AIDS, having been diagnosed in 1986 due to a blood transfusion. Along with ABC da Greve (1990), the documentary Bahia de Todos os Sambas (1996) was released posthumously.- Herbert De Souza was born on 3 November 1935 in Bocaiúva, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was a writer, known for A Terra Queima (1984), Aqui Agora (1991) and Por Toda Minha Vida (2006). He died on 19 August 1997.
- Chico Mario was born on 22 August 1948 in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was a composer, known for Três Irmãos de Sangue (2006) and A Terra Queima (1984). He died on 14 March 1988 in Montevideo, Uruguay.
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Cazuza was born on 4 April 1958 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an actor and composer, known for Closer (2004), The Emerald Forest (1985) and Ashes of Paradise (1997). He died on 9 July 1990 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.- Writer
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Henfil was born on 5 February 1944 in Ribeirão das Neves, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He was a writer and director, known for Tanga (Deu no New York Times?) (1987), Estúdio A... Gildo (1982) and O Evangelho Segundo Teotônio (1984). He died on 4 January 1988 in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.- Though born in England in May of 1952, Antony Hamilton was adopted by an Australian military man and his wife and grew up in Adelaide, Australia. A classically trained dancer, he danced with the Australian ballet before his outstanding good looks led him into a modeling career. He modeled in Europe and, while studying acting, in the U.S. After being "introduced" (according to the film credits) in _Samson and Delilah (1984)_ he was offered the co-starring role in the TV series Cover Up (1984) as a replacement for the late Jon-Erik Hexum. As Hexum was an acting school classmate of Hamilton's, the actor hesitated to profit by Hexum's death, but eventually agreed to take the role. Around that same time, Cubby Broccoli tested him as the new James Bond when Pierce Brosnan was at first unable to get out of his "Remington Steele" contract to play the role. According to some reports, Broccoli decided against a blond Bond; in other reports, it was agreed by both Hamilton and Broccoli that Hamilton's known homosexuality would work against him in the role. Whatever the reason, Hamilton continued in television and films until his death from complications due to the AIDS virus in March of 1995.
- Michel Foucault was born on 15 October 1926 in Poitiers, Vienne, France. He was a writer, known for Moi, Pierre Rivière, ayant égorgé ma mère, ma soeur et mon frère... (1976), Obliteration Systems (1979) and La Force de l'Ordre (2007). He died on 26 June 1984 in Paris, France.
- Timothy Patrick Murphy was born on 3 November 1959 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor, known for The Love Boat (1977), Dallas (1978) and Sam's Son (1984). He died on 6 December 1988 in Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
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This African American actor attended Penn Hills High School in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He started his junior year at 6' 5" and finished it at 6' 9"! He played basketball throughout his high-school years and won a scholarship. He averaged 18 points a game and 10 rebounds! He played basketball during college, but not when it would interfere with his major at George Washington University in Washington, DC, which was Theatrical Arts. During his college years, he met Jay Fenichel with whom he would later make musical productions. Upon graduation, Fenichel moved to Los Angeles and Hall moved to Venezuela to play basketball.
After a year, Hall lost interest and relocated to Los Angeles, California. Along with Fenichel, the duo put together two night-club acts/musicals. One was a semi-autobiographical two-man musical, "In Five," and the other was a two-man show called "The Worst of Friends," both of which played in night clubs throughout the LA area. They also had a promotional business where they did promotional acts in department stores for new products.
While working on the set of the series 227 (1985), he met his co-star, Alaina Reed-Hall, who played Rose Lee Holloway. They married--both on the set, and in real life. Predator 2 (1990) was released December 1990, and in April 1991, he died of AIDS, which he contracted through a blood transfusion a few months before.- Director
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After school, Jarman studied history and art history at King's College. In 1963 he began studying art in Pop Art London. In the general mood of optimism from the mid-1960s onward, he began to openly confront his homosexuality. Jarman took over the set design for Ken Russell on the films "The Devils" (1971) and "Savage Messiah" (1972). Then he began making experimental films himself - initially in Super 8 format. Jarman presented his first feature film in 1976 with "Sebastiane", an openly homosexual film adaptation of the life of the early Christian martyr Sebastian - in Latin! This was followed by "Jubilee" (1978), a sarcastic allusion to the crown jubilee of Elizabeth II the year before.
Jarman then turned to Shakespeare, which he filmed in the punk revue "The Tempest" (1979) and in the erotic-themed work "The Angelic Conversation" (1985). With "Caravaggio" (1986), Jarman approached the passions depicted in the Renaissance painter's paintings and which the director re-staged. At the end of 1986, Jarman learned of his HIV infection. The films "The Last of England" (1987) and "War Requiem" (1989) were made under the sign of the AIDS threat and the Falklands War, which deal with the themes of death and destruction. His films about the ambivalent historical figures of "Edward II" also deal with homosexual dramas. (1991) and "Wittgenstein" (1992). When Jarman slowly went blind, he made "Blue" in 1993, a film that only shows a blue screen and otherwise lives from its texts and sounds from the "off".- Director
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The son of a Shipley chemist he was initially connected with the stage first with the post war Shipley Young Theatre then with the Bradford Civic Theatre where he came into contact with the Bradford born author J B Priestley who recognising his potential commissioned him to write a TV documentary. from where it was a short step to directing films. His close association with another novelist, John Osborne resulted in him directing Look Back in Ange in 1959 and The Entertainer in 1960 where the location scenes were shot in Morecambe where his parents had made their home in retirement. Following the great success of Tom Jones, particularly in America and his marriage to Vanessa Redgrave having ended he moved there and co wrote the film Dead Cert. The last film he made was The Hotel New Hampshire.- Writer
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Colin Higgins was born on 28 July 1941 in Nouméa, New Caledonia, France. He was a writer and director, known for 9 to 5 (1980), Harold and Maude (1971) and Foul Play (1978). He died on 5 August 1988 in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Art Department
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Keith Haring was born on 4 May 1958 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a director, known for Beautiful Boy (2018), Love Is Strange (2014) and Tokyo Pop (1988). He died on 16 February 1990 in New York City, New York, USA.- Actor
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- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paulo Villaça was born in 1933 in Bauru, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor and director, known for The Red Light Bandit (1968), O Morro dos Ventos Uivantes (1967) and Killed the Family and Went to the Movies (1991). He was married to Marília Pêra. He died on 24 January 1992 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.- Actor
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Sylvester was born on 6 September 1947 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Hit and Run (2012), What to Expect When You're Expecting (2012) and Trading Places (1983). He died on 16 December 1988 in San Francisco, California, USA.- Ryan White was born in Kokomo, Indiana in 1971. A hemophiliac, Ryan regularly needed injections of blood products to survive. In 1985 at the age of 13, it was discovered that Ryan contracted the AIDS virus, sometime during the previous year, from tainted blood. His case got national attention when his school expelled him when they learned about his disease. Not wanting to lie down and die that easily, Ryan and his parents took the school to court, where they won the right for him to return to class. As a result of Ryan's courage and outspokenness to take on his own school board, be became one of the USA's most visible spokesperson on the AIDS crisis. During 1985-1989, he appeared at schools and AIDS fundraisers throughout the country and gave moving testimony before the President's Commission on AIDS. He was befriended by many celebrities, including Michael Jackson, Elton John, Phil Donahue and Elizabeth Taylor, AIDS activists themselves. Despite overwhelming international attention, Ryan never lost his sense of priorities with his schoolwork or life in general. AIDS finally claimed Ryan's life on April 8, 1990 at the age of 18.
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Rick Aviles was born on 14 October 1952 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Waterworld (1995), Ghost (1990) and The Cannonball Run (1981). He died on 17 March 1995 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Gia Carangi was born on 29 January 1960 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for Blondie: Atomic (1980). She died on 18 November 1986 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Tina Chow was born Bettina Louise Lutz to a Japanese mother and a German-American father in 1951. In her teens, she and her sister, Adelle Lutz, enjoyed success as models for Japanese cosmetics giant Shiseido's advertising campaign. This was a primer for Tina's future status as a major fashion icon of the 1980s.
She married restaurateur Michael Chow in 1972, and had two children with him: China Chow (born in 1974), who is now an up-and-coming actress, and Maximillian Chow (born in 1977).
Throughout their marriage, Tina helped Michael run his successful restaurant chain, "Mr. Chow's", and enjoyed the benefits of fame and celebrity. The couple lived an elite and exciting nightlife, and were considered to be quite prominent in the New York art world (artist friends included the late Keith Haring, Andy Warhol and Jean Michel Basquiat). - Actor
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Rock Hudson was born Roy Harold Scherer, Jr. in Winnetka, Illinois, to Katherine (Wood), a telephone operator, and Roy Harold Scherer, an auto mechanic. He was of German, Swiss-German, English, and Irish descent. His parents divorced when he was eight years old. He failed to obtain parts in school plays because he couldn't remember lines. After high school he was a postal employee and during WW II served as a Navy airplane mechanic. After the war he was a truck driver. His size and good looks got him into movies. His name was changed to Rock Hudson, his teeth were capped, he took lessons in acting, singing, fencing and riding. One line in his first picture, Fighter Squadron (1948), needed 38 takes. In 1956 he received an Oscar nomination for Giant (1956) and two years later Look magazine named him Star of the Year. He starred in a number of bedroom comedies, many with Doris Day, and had his own popular TV series McMillan & Wife (1971). He had a recurring role in TV's Dynasty (1981) (1984-5). He was the first major public figure to announce he had AIDS, and his worldwide search for a cure drew international attention. After his death his long-time lover Marc Christian successfully sued his estate, again calling attention to the homosexuality Rock had hidden from most throughout his career.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Elizabeth Glaser was born on 11 November 1947 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for And the Band Played On (1993), Convention '92 (1992) and Wogan (1982). She was married to Paul Michael Glaser. She died on 3 December 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
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Kenneth Nelson was born on 24 March 1930 in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Hellraiser (1987), The Boys in the Band (1970) and Nightbreed (1990). He died on 7 October 1993 in London, England, UK.- Handsome, talented and a man who defined a generation with his presence and acting in movies and TV series, Lauro Corona was one of a kind. And one who's gone too soon at an early age leaving a mark to his fans with his brief career.
Corona was born on 6 July, 1957, in Rio de Janeiro. At 16, he began as a salesman working at his mother boutique. By the late 1970's he was doing plays and was discovered by actor Paulo José and a famous theater director who loved his talent and knew he could do more. Next thing he knew a TV show came his way, the massive hit Dancin' Days (1978) where he played Beto. That was his first soap opera and very first TV appearance and soon after he was the talk of the town and the crush of many girls. From then on, he was a constant presence on TV with several shows, which includes Baila Comigo (1981) and Marina (1980).
His film debut was as one of the leads in Sergio Rezende's O Sonho Não Acabou (1982) , a testament about Brasília's youth in the early 1980's with a generation of sex, drugs and rock n'roll in the final years of the military regime - in fact, in one of the most memorable moments of the film Corona appears next to president João Figueiredo's guards, a moment that was captured with the real politicians and soldiers who didn't know they were being filmed, a very bold move by the director, crew and the actor. Then, he made only one movie Swingin' Betty (1984), a huge hit - possibly the film people remember him the most.
The miniseries Memórias de um Gigolô (1986), the TV series Direito de Amar (1987) were also great moments in his career and he also presented the Globo de Ouro, a musical program that brought artists performing their classics or latest hits. That program showcased his talents as a great host.
But the last memory people have of him was as the Portuguese Manuel Victor in Vida Nova (1988), which ended up being his last TV show and one that he didn't manage to end. By the middle of the show, he discovered he had AIDS. He never told the network about that - since then revealing about such condition was a career killer - only said that he was really sick and needed to stay away from the show. Concerned about his health, the creators decided to give an alternate ending for his character, even though the show was in its middle and he was one of the main characters- a memorable scene where he kisses goodbye to his girl, enters the car and reads an off-screen poem by Fernando Pessoa, and then he goes back to his native land.
A few days after his 32nd birthday he passed away from complications of AIDS - news that wasn't revealed immediately due to his family concerns. He was one of the first famous victims of this deadly disease in Brazil. Fans and nostalgic TV buffs always remember him with care, love and fondness. - Actress
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Sandra Bréa was born on 11 May 1952 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was an actress, known for O Bem-Amado (1973), Corrida do Ouro (1974) and Felicidade (1991). She was married to Arthur Guarisse, António Guerreiro and Eduardo Espínolla Netto. She died on 4 May 2000 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.- Actor
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Guido Brunini was a Brazilian singer born on 28 May, 1963. Son of Guido Vieira Brunini and Liana Smith Brunini, he had a true passion for music both as a singer and a pianist, and also had an artistic vein for acting as well. On the plays Guido appeared he usually performed songs while his career didn't took off. As a TV actor he is best remembered for Bambolê (1987), his only on screen appearance.
His life and career were tragically cut short just when he was rising to prominence. On his early 20's he discovered to be HIV positive and despite the failing health in the following years he insisted on performing in shows and finally succeed it in recording his first and only album. The prejudice faced by HIV/AIDS patients were alarming at the time and Brunini had to hide from the record company that produced his album the fact he had the disease but to no avail. An unknown artist at the time and with an album with limited copies, the record company prevented its release - which only didn't happen completely because Guido's mother bought all the copies herself to distribute it to friends. The song "Imagens", a cover from "Someone" by The Rembrandts was used on the soundtrack of the TV series Pátria Minha (1994) and became the song he is mostly associated with thanks to his beautiful vocals, the strings and harmonica arrangements used in it as well.
Brunini died at the age of 32 on the following year of his album debut.- Director
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Robert Mapplethorpe was born on 4 November 1946 in Queens, New York, USA. He was a director, known for Breathless (1983), Lady (1984) and Patti Smith: Still Moving (1978). He died on 9 March 1989 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.- Actor
- Production Manager
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Born John Curtis Estes on August 8, 1944, in rural Pickaway County, Ohio, the youngest of four children, porn legend John Holmes was raised by a religious fanatic mother named Mary and an abusive alcoholic stepfather named Harold Bowman. He was a bible student, but at the age of 16 dropped out of school, left home and enlisted for a hitch in the US Army, where he was stationed in West Germany for three years. After his discharge he moved to Los Angeles in 1964 where he married a young nurse, and worked odd jobs such as taxi driver, door-to-door salesman, postal clerk, temp worker, coffee vat attendant, ambulance driver and forklift driver.
In the late 1960s he gravitated to the underground porno industry. One story was that a female neighbor was making porno loops and advised Holmes he could make good money. Unfortunately, his first check bounced and, after that, he always insisted on payment in cash. Another story is that in 1967 Holmes was frequenting a men's card playing club in the Los Angeles suburb of Gardena when a photographer for an underground magazine noticed his large "member" while standing next to him at a restroom urinal and gave Holmes his business card, telling him he could get plenty of work in still photo magazines. By 1969, with the advent of X-rated porn films, Holmes moved into the movie business. His tall, slim build, curly light brown hair, a light mustache and bright blue eyes made him an instantly recognizable star. John was not lacking for work, bringing not only a professional attitude but also his legendary endowment (12-5/8" long, according to a Screw Magazine interview, while other stories put it at 13-1/2" long). His enormously long penis got him starring roles in over 2,000 loops, stag films and adult features in a career that spanned nearly 20 years (with a peak of a $3,000-a-day salary). His lucrative off-screen penis-for-hire business took him around the world.
His most famous character is probably Johnny Wadd, a lusty, always-on-the-make private detective he played in several crude porno films like Tell Them Johnny Wadd Is Here (1976), The Jade Pussycat (1977), China Cat (1978), Liquid Lips (1976) and Blonde Fire (1978), the last of which is considered the best of the so-called "Wadd films". Better still were the big-budgeted pictures that co-starred some of the adult film industry's top leading ladies, including Marilyn Chambers, Seka, Annette Haven and even a young--and underage--Traci Lords.
In the late 1970s Holmes developed a serious drug habit to cocaine (both snorting and freebasing), which prevented him from performing in the on-screen sex he was famous for, resulting in his dropping out of the adult-film business. By late 1980 he was broke, most of the huge amounts of money he made having gone to feed his drug addiction. He was reduced to making money by robbing people's houses and stealing cars, as well as delivering drugs for the local gangsters. The lowest point in his life was when he was implicated in four grisly, drug-related murders on July 1, 1981. He was allegedly present at the drug-related torture and murders at a house in the hills above Hollywood of William Deverell, Ronald Launius, Joy Miller and Barbara Richardson--a group suspected by many in the drug underworld of specializing in ripping off drug dealers--by a gang of killers sent by a powerful local gangster named Eddie Nash. A fifth victim, (Susan Launius, Ronald Launius' estranged wife), barely survived the attack and had no memory of the event. The bloody crime made lurid headlines throughout Southern California and became known as The Wonderland Murders, after the street in the wooded Laurel Canyon neighborhood of Los Angeles where the killings took place. Holmes was implicated in the crime but refused to tell police what he knew and went on the run for nearly six months with his teenage mistress, Dawn Schiller, before he was arrested while hiding out in Florida and returned to Los Angeles. The L.A. authorities, angered by Holmes' refusal to cooperate with the investigation, charged him with committing all four murders. After a three-week, public trial, Holmes was acquitted on June 26, 1982. Although found not guilty of the murders, he remained in jail on previous burglary and contempt-of-court charges until his release in November 1982. The true nature and details of the Laurel Canyon murders remains unsolved to this day.
After his release from prison, Holmes tried to clean up his act and continue his porno career with a new generation of porno stars. His cocaine addiction continued off-and-on, and although work in the porno business was still plentiful, it was no longer as lucrative as it had been, given the explosion in the use of cheaply made videotapes that saturated the market. In addition, Holmes was no longer the powerhouse star that he had once been. He was diagnosed with AIDS late in 1985 but continued working--without telling producers or his co-stars--until 1986, when his increasingly gaunt and frail physical appearance sent up "red flags" in the industry and he could no longer find work.
During the last five months of his life, John Holmes received treatment and stayed at the local VA (Veterans Administration) Hospital on Sepulveda Boulevard in Los Angeles from November 1987 to his death on March 13, 1988 from AIDS-related complications at age 43, with his second wife at his side, former porn star Misty Dawn. Holmes once estimated he'd had sex with over 14,000 women (on and off screen), and was truly a porn legend. His life was the basis for the film Boogie Nights (1997), and he was portrayed by Val Kilmer in Wonderland (2003), about the infamous murders, but the conflicting truths about his life, as always, was stranger than fiction.- Writer
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He may have made only three films in his relatively brief life, but Cyril Collard certainly extended his "15 minutes of fame" to near cult status with the release of his last, the bold and unflinching Savage Nights (1992).
The notorious French filmmaker, actor, writer, musician and poet was born in 1957 of libertine Parisians who gave him a standard Catholic education in Versailles. Collard forsook a college science degree for a career in film and in the early 1980s finally turned his passion into a reality. He became assistant to director/writer/actor Maurice Pialat with both the film To Our Loves (1983) [To Our Loves] and several of his music videos and TV programs. Collard showed more than promise after directing two short films Grand huit (1982) and Alger la blanche (1986), the latter a frank, racially-tense study on passion and violence. His TV series Le Lyonnais (1989) (aka Taggers), in which he also composed the score, scrutinized the life of teenage graffiti artists. He was featured in the TV movie Mariage blanc (1985).
In 1986, the darkly handsome filmmaker learned he was HIV-positive. Condamne amour (1987), his first autobiographical novel, dealt with the initial awareness of his HIV status. This was turned into a short film Condamné amour (1991). Two years later came Cyril's second novel, the powerful Les nuits fauves [Savage Nights] (1989), which turned the "politically correct" look at AIDS inside out. The novel thoroughly examined his bisexuality and his defiant, unrealistic and irresponsible perception and handling of his disease.
The movie version Savage Nights (1992), which he directed, was released in 1992 with Collard himself playing the protagonist -- a hedonistic and self-important filmmaker with an insatiable sexual appetite who insists on living his prurient lifestyle to the absolute hilt despite his HIV illness, with tragic consequences. This bleak, uncompromising piece both enraptured and enraged the French audience and would become Collard's biggest film achievement. The critics applauded his braveness and controversial approach to such a taboo subject. With Savage Nights (1992), Collard became the first artist ever to be nominated for the three top categories of the French "Cesar" Awards -- Best Film, Best Director and Best First Film. The film won an amazing four awards -- Best Film, Best First Film, Best Editing and Best Female Newcomer (Romane Bohringer).
Not so ironically, Collard himself died of AIDS at 35 on March 5, 1993, only a few days before he was to reap his film awards. A posthumous book entitled "L'ange sauvage" and collection of Collard's poetry "L'animal" were published in 1994. He co-wrote the screenplay for the urban drama Rai (1995), which was released posthumously.- Randy Shilts was born on 8 August 1951 in Davenport, Iowa, USA. He was a writer, known for And the Band Played On (1993), Pride, Prejudice and Gay Politics (1982) and 60 Minutes (1968). He died on 17 February 1994 in Guerneville, California, USA.
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He was an ethnic Tatar. He was educated at the Leningrad Ballet School and starred with Kirov Ballet. His first film was a USSR short Le Corsaire (1958). While performing in Paris in 1961 he defected to the West. He then performed internationally, becoming an Austrian citizen in 1982. The English/French documentary I Am a Dancer (1972), directed by Pierre Jourdan featured him and his long-time partner Margot Fonteyn. He played Rudolph Valentino in the film Valentino (1977) and Daniel Jelline in Exposed (1983), his last film. In 1982, he starred in the US stage revival of "The King and I".- Music Department
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A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Howard Ashman moved to New York City in 1974 and began writing plays while working as an editor in a publishing house. His work attracted attention and he became WPA Theatre's artist director in 1977. In 1982, Ashman collaborated with composer Alan Menken on the musical "Little Shop of Horrors", one of off-Broadway's highest-grossing musicals. The team of Ashman and Menken shifted their focus to movies, creating some of the songs for The Little Mermaid (1989). One of them, "Under the Sea", won an Oscar in 1989 for best song. Ashman then wrote the lyrics for the songs in the Disney animated musical hit Beauty and the Beast (1991), and he and Menken won another Oscar for the title song. However, two days after he won an Oscar for "Under the Sea" Ashman confided in Menken that he had AIDS. Despite the terminal illness that was making him weaker every day, Ashman never stopped composing songs. He even turned out more songs for a third Disney animated musical, Aladdin (1992), before his death from AIDS on March 14, 1991, at the age of 40.- Costume Designer
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Markito was one of the most regarded fashion stylists in Brazil during the late 1970's and early 1980's. Marcus Vinícius Resende Gonçalves was born in Uberaba, Minas Gerais, 1952 and by the age of twelve he was already immersed with fashion design, providing costumes for Carnival events in his hometown. Glitter, glam rock and disco costumes were part of his trademark and among his famous clients were personalities like Grace Jones, Diana Ross, Marília Gabriela, Sonia Braga, Bianca Jagger, Christiane Torloni, Simone, Gal Costa, just to mention a few. Cleavage dresses that were artsy but never vulgar were among his favorite works, and he even contributed costumes for the film Rio Babilonia (1983) - in which he also acted and provided the makeup - and Retrato Falado de uma Mulher Sem Pudor (1982); and by that time he was already an established figure in the fashion world.
Sadly his career and life didn't last long. He was the very first Brazilian personality to die from AIDS complications in 1983, the day previous to his 31st birthday, in New York, where he was living for a brief time. In early 2000's, his sister founded a museum dedicated to his work and legacy, exhibiting many of his famous dresses.- Michael Maxwell Katz was an American actor. As a young actor he acted ever since his school days but didn't have many acting roles over the years, landing just one brief role in Kevin Reynolds comedy Fandango (1985) where he plays one of the hecklers of a party.
Sadly, his career didn't took off as he hoped for after learning that he had AIDS right when the pandemic hit people around the world. On an act of defiance and bravery, he showed his face and told his story on an LA Weekly article (April 1986) where he wrote an article entitled "Portraits in Personal Courage" talking about issues revolving the disease and how he dealt with it.
He passed away on September 14, 1988, at age 32. - Little is known of Roger Gail Lyon except for one important testimony he gave to a Congress committee on AIDS, that took place on August 1st, 1983, one of the greatest activism moments of the period. Lyon was born in 1948 in Houston, later moved to Chicago and finally San Francisco where he became a branch manager for the San Francisco Maritime Shipping Company. In early 1983, he was diagnosed with AIDS and along with several other victims of the disease, he had the opportunity to offer insights about it to Washington politicians who didn't know much about this new infirmity yet they were ones who controlled the budget for more research about a possible cure or treatment. Lyon's testimony was key with the following words: "I came here today with the hope that this administration would do everything possible, make every resource available. There is no reason this disease cannot be conquered. We do not need in fighting, this is not a political issue. This is a health issue. This is not a gay issue. This is a human issue. And I do not intend to be defeated by it. I came here today in the hope that my epitaph would not read that I died of red tape". Excerpts of his quote can be found on Randy Shilts' book, And the Band Played On (1987), later turned into an HBO film in 1993, which also includes the actual clip with his words. He died of complications of AIDS in 1984, survived by his partner and his mother. Lyon's ashes were scattered, along with many other AIDS victims ashes, at the White House lawn during an ACT UP protest, in 1996.
- Bobbi Campbell was born on 28 January 1952 in Columbus, Georgia, USA. He died on 15 August 1984 in San Francisco, California, USA.
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Willi Smith was born on 29 February 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He is known for School Daze (1988), Bilder aus Amerika (1982) and Hour Magazine (1980). He died on 17 April 1987 in New York City, New York, USA.- Actor
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Denholm entered RADA at the age of 17, but dropped out after a year having hated every minute being there. He joined the RAF in 1940, trained as a gunner/radio operator, and was shot down over Germany in 1942. In the POW camp he and his fellow prisoners staged various productions in a theatre constructed out of old packing cases. After the war he joined a London repertory company and his career took off particularly when Laurence Olivier chose him for the starring role in Venus Observed, for which he won a Clarence Derwent award. When another Olivier production Ring Around the Moon transferred to New York Denholm replaced Paul Schofield in what became a Broadway hit. Returning to Britain he was signed to a film contract and appeared in such movies as The Cruel Sea, The Sound Barrier, Alfie, King Rat, and others in addition to appearing on television and making countrywide theatre tours. In 1983 he won a BAFTA Award for his role as the butler in Trading Places and followed it with a Best Supporting Actor Award for his role in A Private Function. Prior to that he won an Evening Standard Best Actor award for Bad Timing.- Actor
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Kurt Raab was born on 20 July 1941 in Bergreichenstein, Sudetenland [now Kasperské Hory, Czech Republic]. He was an actor and production designer, known for Tenderness of the Wolves (1973), Satan's Brew (1976) and Why Does Herr R. Run Amok? (1970). He died on 28 June 1988 in Hamburg, West Germany.- Roy M. Cohn was born on 20 February 1927 in New York City, New York, USA. He died on 2 August 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
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One of the highest appraised contemporary cinematographers. He was born in Spain but moved to Cuba by age 18 to join his exiled anti-Franco father. In Havana, he founded a cineclub and wrote film reviews. Then, he went on to study in Rome at the Centro Sperimentale. He directed six shorts in Cuba and two in New York. After the 1959 Cuban revolution, he returned and made several documentaries for the Castro-regime. But after two of his shorts (Gente en la playa (1960) and La Tumba Francesca) had been banned, he moved to Paris. There he became the favourite cameraman of Éric Rohmer and François Truffaut. In 1978, he started his impressive Hollywood-career. In his later years, he co-directed two documentaries about the human rights situation in Cuba: Improper Conduct (1984) (about the persecution of gay people) and Nadie escuchaba (1987). He shot several prestigious commercials for Giorgio Armani and Calvin Klein. Nestor Almendros died of cancer.- Actor
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Franklyn Seales was a stage and television actor best remembered for playing the finicky business manager Dexter Stuffins on the NBC sit-com "Silver Spoons." He also appeared in films, most notably as the real-life cop killer in "The Onion Field."
One of eight children, Seales was born in 1952 on the Caribbean island of St. Vincent. In 1960, Seales' family emigrated to the United States, where they settled in New York City.
A painter since age six, Seales planned to study art at Pratt Institute. But then John Houseman noticed Seales when he was helping a friend to audition by performing the balcony scene from "Romeo and Juliet." Signed on the spot to a full scholarship at Juilliard, Seales studied acting as a member of Houseman's Acting Company, during the early 1970s.
Seales' first big break was the PBS broadcast of the television drama The Trial of the Moke (1978). He portrayed Lt. Henry O. Flipper, the first black graduate of West Point.
Seales' film debut was in the true-crime drama The Onion Field (1979). He portrayed a weak, gullible ex-con who's just out of jail when a fast-talking killer, played by James Woods, talks him into a senseless crime that results in the murder of a police officer.
From 1983 to 1987, Seales played the character for which he was best remembered, the finicky business manager Dexter Stuffins on the NBC situation-comedy Silver Spoons (1982), which also starred John Houseman as stoic Grandpa Stratton.
Toward the end of his life, Seales worked mainly in the non-profit Equity-waver theatre on the Westside of Los Angeles. He appeared in plays ranging from the theater of the absurd to Shakespeare. Los Angeles Times critic Lawrence Christon called Seales "one of America's most compelling stage actors."
As a member of the all-star L.A. Theatre Works, Seales was one of a company of 36 actors who contributed $6,000 each for the pleasure of performing classic plays together on the radio. Some of the Theater Works other members were James Earl Jones, Ted Danson, Richard Dreyfuss, Bonnie Bedelia, Stacy Keach, Michael York, and Ed Asner.
Seales last appeared in "Nothing Sacred," at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles in the fall of 1988. A comedic adaptation of Turgenev's "Fathers and Sons," it was directed by Michael Lindsay-Hogg. Seales appeared as Uncle Havel, an aristocratic fop and former military man. For his characterization, Seales relied on his recollections of the English colonels and majors of his native St. Vincent, when it was still a British colony, "with their little sticks and stiff mustaches."
Although he was acclaimed for his versatility, Seales admitted that being a light-skinned black man had limited the roles that were available to him.
Franklyn Seales died on Monday, May 14, 1990 from complications from AIDS at his family's home in Brooklyn, New York. He had been too ill to work for several months. In its obituary, the Los Angeles Times said that "Seales as an actor came to be seen as a link between the tradition of black Africa and the sophistication of classical Anglo drama."
He was survived by his mother, three brothers and three sisters. A memorial service was planned at Juilliard.- Composer
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Dan Hartman was born on 8 December 1950 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Oliver & Company (1988), Scrooged (1988) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1995). He died on 22 March 1994 in Westport, Connecticut, USA.- Actor
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Carlos Augusto Strazzer was born on 4 August 1946 in São Caetano do Sul, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor, known for O Profeta (1977), Éramos Seis (1977) and Que Rei Sou Eu? (1989). He died on 19 February 1993 in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.- Writer
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Isaac Asimov was born Isaak Judah Ozimov, on January 2, 1920, in Petrovichi shtetl, near Smolensk, Russia. He was the oldest of three children. His father, named Judah Ozimov, and his mother, named Anna Rachel Ozimov (nee Berman), were Orthodox Jews. Ozimov family were millers (the name Ozimov comes from the eponymous sort of wheat in Russian). In 1923 Isaac with his parents immigrated to the USA and settled in Brooklyn, New York. There his parents temporarily changed his birthday to September 7, 1919, in order to send him to school a year earlier. Their family name was changed from Ozimov to Asimov.
Asimov was an avid reader before the age of 5. He spoke Yiddish and English at home with his parents and spoke only a few word in Russian. He began his formal education in 1925 in the New York Public School system. From 1930-1932 he was placed in the rapid advance course. In 1935 he graduated from high school, in 1939 received a B.S. and in 1941 he earned his M. Sc. in Chemistry from Columbia University. From 1942-1945 Asimov was a chemist at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard's Naval Air experimental station. After the war ended, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and was transfered to the island of Oahu and was destined to participate in the atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll in July 1946. He narrowly avoided that by receiving an honorable discharge in May 1946. In 1948 he completed his post-graduate studies and earned his Ph. D. in Chemistry. In 1949 he began his teaching career at the Medical School of Boston University, becoming assistant professor in 1951, and associate professor in 1955. In 1958 Asimov became a full-time writer and gave up his teaching duties because his income from his literary works was much greater than his professor's salary. He was fired, but he retained his title and later returned as a lecturer and was promoted to the rank of full professor in 1979. Asimov was considered one of the best lecturers at Boston University.
Young Isaac Asimov was raised as a non-religious person. His parents observed the Orthodox Judaism, but did not force their belief upon young Asimov. He did not have affiliation with a temple, did not have a bar mizvah and called himself an atheist, then used the term "humanist" in his later life. He did not oppose genuine religious convictions in others but opposed superstitious or unfounded beliefs. Asimov defined his intellectual position as a Humanist and rationalist. He opposed the Vietnam war in the 1960s and was a supporter of the Democratic party. He embraced environmental issues, and supported feminism, joking that he wished women to be free "because I hate it when they charge". He was also humorous about many of his memberships in various clubs and foundations. Asimov did not approve exclusionary societies, he left Mensa after he found that many of the members were arrogant. He liked individuality and stayed in groups where he enjoyed giving speeches. As a free thinker, Asimov saw sci-fi literature serving as a pool where ideas and hypotheses are expressed with unrestricted intellectual freedom.
Young Asimov was fascinated with science fiction magazines which were sold at his parent's general store. Around the age of 11 he wrote eight chapters of a fiction about adventures of young boys in a small town. His first publication was "Marooned Off Vesta" in the Amazing Stories magazine in 1939. Asimov shot to fame in 1941 with 'Nightfall', a story of a planet where night comes once every 2049 years. 'Nightfall' has been described as one of the best science fiction stories ever written. Asimov wrote over five hundred literary works. He is credited for introducing the words "positronic", "psychohistory", and "robotics" into the English language. He penned such classics as "I, Robot" and the "Foundation" series, which are considered to be the most impressive of his writings. He also founded "Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine", which became a best-selling publication.
Asimov was afraid of needles and the sight of blood. Although he had the highest score on the intelligence test he had the lowest score on the physical-conditioning test. He never learned how to swim or ride a bicycle. The author who described spaceflights suffered from fear of flying. In his entire life he had to fly only twice during his military service. Acrophobia was revealed when he took his date and first love on a roller coaster in 1940, and was terrified. This phobia complicated the logistics and limited the range over which he traveled; it also found reflection in some of his literary works. He avoided traveling long distances. Instead he enjoyed cruise ships like the RMS Queen Elizabeth 2, where he occasionally entertained passengers with his science-themed talks. He impressed public with his highly entertaining speeches as well as with his sharp sense of timing; he never looked at the clock, but he spoke for precisely the time allocated. Asimov's sense of time prevented him from ever being late to a meeting. Once he discovered that his parents changed his date of birth, he insisted that the official records of his birthday be corrected to January 2, 1920, the date he personally celebrated throughout his life.
Asimov met Gertrude Blugherman on a blind date on Valentine's Day in February of 1942, they got married in July of the same year. The Asimovs had two children, son David (born in 1951), and daughter Robyn Joan (born in 1955). Asimov had known Janet Opal Jeppson since 1959. She was a psychoanalyst and also a writer of science fiction for children. Correspondence with her convinced Asimov that she was the right kind of person for him. He and Gertrude were separated in 1970, and he moved in with Janet Jappeson almost at once. His first marriage ended in divorce in 1973. That same year he and Janet Jeppson were married at Janet's home by an official of Ethical Culture Society. Asimov had no children by his second marriage.
In 1983 Asimov contracted HIV infection from a tainted blood transfusion received during a triple bypass surgery. He eventually developed AIDS and wanted to go public about his AIDS but his doctors convinced Asimov to remain silent. The specific cause of death was heart and renal failure as complications of AIDS. He died on April 6, 1992, in Boston, Massachussets, and was cremated. His ashes were scattered.
Ten years after Asimov's death, his widow, Janet Jeppson Asimov, revealed that his death was a consequence of an unfortunately contracted AIDS.- Actor
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Eric Lynn Wright, better known by his stage name Eazy-E, was an American rapper who performed solo and as a member of the group NWA Wright is affectionately called "The Godfather Of Gangsta Rap."
He was born in Compton, California. After dropping out of high school in the tenth grade, he supported himself primarily by selling drugs before investing it in and becoming founder of Ruthless Records. He made his debut as a rapper with "Boyz-N-The-Hood" which was a revolutionary song in rap history written by Ice Cube. NWA first released N.W.A. and the Posse in 1987. In 1988, they released their most controversial album, "Straight Outta Compton." The group released two more albums before disbanding in the early 1990s.
Eazy-E continued as a solo artist releasing three solo projects. In addition, he released several notable artists on his Ruthless Records label including but not limited to Jada Michelle, The D.O.C., Above the Law and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony.
He fathered nine children. He died March 26, 1995 due to complications of pneumonia associated with AIDS.- Actress
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Ofra Haza was born on 19 November 1957 in Tel Aviv, Israel. She was an actress and composer, known for The Prince of Egypt (1998), American Psycho (2000) and Head-On (2004). She was married to Doron Ashkenazi. She died on 23 February 2000 in Ramat Gan, Israel.- Writer
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Guy Hocquenghem was born on 10 December 1946 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine, France. He was a writer and director, known for Race d'Ep (1979), Sweet Sixteen in the Sixties (1979) and Tino II (1986). He died on 28 August 1988 in Paris, France.- Peter Jepson-Young was born on 8 June 1957 in New Westminster, British Columbia, Canada. He was a writer, known for The Broadcast Tapes of Dr. Peter (1993) and America Undercover (1983). He died on 15 November 1992 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Attractive, dark-featured character actor with a voice like thunder, and eyes like a wolf, who was featured in less than sympathetic roles throughout his career. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Albert Paul Shenar attended the University of Wisconsin. Soon after graduation, he relocated to New York City, where he quickly landed roles on the stage. These experiences led to a Broadway debut in 'Tiny Alice' as 'Brother Julian.' After a few satiating years on and off Broadway, Paul found himself again relocating, this time to Philadelphia. It was here where he made a considerable contribution to the arts. Along with fellow actors Rene Auberjonois and Bill Ball, to name a few, he co-founded the American Conservatory Theater, where he was not only a regular performer until the day he died, but a teacher and advisor as well. From there, roles on television, and the big screen followed. Shenar made a splash, portraying Orson Welles in The Night That Panicked America (1975). He received some of the best reviews of his career for this famous television film. Soon after he received more for his portrayal of another famous celebrity, as Florenz Ziegfeld in Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women (1978). He continued working steadily on television, even appearing in shot-for-television replacement footage for the disaster film, Two-Minute Warning (1976). And then feature films came calling. Shenar turned in credible and memorable performances in film, such as the diabolical Bolivian drug lord Alejandro Sosa, in Brian De Palma's Scarface (1983) (1983), and most notably, voicing the evil conspiring rat, "Jenner", in Don Bluth's The Secret of NIMH (1982). Other roles of note include Dr. Lawrence in Luc Besson's The Big Blue (1988), Joshua Adams in Deadly Force (1983), Paulo Rocca in the action packed Arnold Schwarzenegger film, Raw Deal (1986), and Ben Gardner, the father of a troubled Kristy McNichol, in Alan J. Pakula's Dream Lover (1986), respectively. Though not a household name in his time, his candor, energy, and aesthetic performances have left a long lasting impression, that only gets better with age, and will not soon be forgotten.
- Steve Rubell was known as the co-founder and co-owner of the world famous New York nightclub Studio 54. Born and raised in New York, Rubell and his business partner Ian Schrager operated a number of restaurants and offices before deciding to create the ultimate nightclub. Renting a vacant theater on west 54th Street in Manhattan, New York, they opened Studio 54 in April 1977. Their goal was to have a club where anyone could get invited and anything would go within it. After a unrepresented opening which it made $7 million within the first year, Studio 54 drew many people and celebrities to its unconventional parties and gatherings. Drugs, alcohol and sex of all kinds inhabited the place which made it all the more notorious and controversial.
By the end of 1979, the excess and business of Studio 54 caught up with Rubell and Schrager when they were arrested by the IRS for income tax evasion and were sentenced to three years in prison. They both were paroled after serving 13 months and tried operating Studio 54 but without success. Selling it, Rubell and Schrager went into the hotel business where they bought out and operated a number of upscale hotels.
Rubell, a closeted homosexual, was diagnosed HIV positive in 1985, but incredibly denied his condition and continued his excess lifestyle of drinking, drugs. Rubell died in 1989. Schrager continues running their hotel they started. - Actor
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Tom Fogerty was born on 9 November 1941 in Berkeley, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Café de Flore (2011), The Vow (2020) and Creedence Clearwater Revival: I Put a Spell on You (1969). He was married to Patricia Suzanne Clapper and Loretta Gail Skinner. He died on 6 September 1990 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.- Thales Pan Chacon was born on 23 November 1956 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor, known for Eu Sei Que Vou Te Amar (1986), Olho no Olho (1993) and La serva Padrona (1999). He was married to Carla Camurati. He died on 2 October 1997 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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Paul Jabara was born on 31 January 1948 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Thank God It's Friday (1978), Eraser (1996) and All Good Things (2010). He died on 29 September 1992 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Director
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Emile Ardolino was born on 9 May 1943 in Maspeth, New York, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Dirty Dancing (1987), Great Performances: Dance in America (1976) and He Makes Me Feel Like Dancin' (1983). He died on 20 November 1993 in Bel Air, California, USA.- Director
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Marlon Riggs was born on 3 February 1957 in Texas, USA. He was a director and producer, known for Tongues Untied (1989), Color Adjustment (1992) and Black Is... Black Ain't (1994). He died on 5 April 1994 in Oakland, California, USA.- Essex Hemphill was born on 16 April 1957 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a writer, known for Tongues Untied (1989), Black Is... Black Ain't (1994) and Black Nations/Queer Nations? (1995). He died on 4 November 1995 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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Merritt Butrick was an American actor from Gainesville, Florida. He is primarily remembered for portraying Dr. David Marcus in the science fiction films "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" (1982) and "Star Trek III: The Search for Spock" (1984). His character was depicted as a son of the Starfleet officer James Tiberius "Jim" Kirk (played by William Shatner) and the leading scientist Dr. Carol Marcus (played by Bibi Besch). Butrick also portrayed the one-shot character of Captain T'Jon in a 1988 episode of the science fiction series "Star Trek: The Next Generation". His character was depicted as a ship's commanding officer who had been tasked with transporting medication, but had become addicted to the drug felicium.
Butrick received his high school education at the Tamalpais High School, located in Mill Valley, California. The city is part of the San Francisco Bay Area. Butrick graduated from high school in 1977, and subsequently attended the California Institute of the Arts with the intent of becoming an actor. He dropped out, as his instructors thought that he did not have the necessary skills to become an actor. He subsequently found steady work as an actor throughout the 1980s.
In his television debut, Butrick portrayed a recurring rapist in two episodes of the police procedural "Hill Street Blues". His first major role in television was portraying the supporting character Johnny Slash in the sitcom "Square Pegs" (1982-1983). His character was depicted as a geeky high school student. Johnny demonstrated eccentric behavior, but insisted that he was not on drugs. He hung out with the social misfit Patty Greene (played by Sarah Jessica Parker), and was hinted to be attracted to her. The series was praised for its realism, but it was canceled prematurely. The production company received several complains concerning drug and alcohol abuse by teenage members of the cast, and decided to pull the plug to avoid further controversy.
Butrick's other films included the telekinesis-themed comedy "Zapped! (1982)", the corporate corruption-themed black comedy "Head Office" (1985), the dysfunctional family-themed drama "Shy People" (1987), the vampire-themed horror film "Fright Night Part 2" (1988), and the ghost-themed horror film "Death Spa" (1989). He received praise in 1988 for his portrayal of a ditzy male prostitute in the stage play "Kingfish".
In March 1989, Butrick died at the age of 29. His death was caused by toxoplasmosis, complicated by an AIDS infection. Two panels were dedicated to him as part of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt, both referencing his role as David Marcus. A few of his former co-stars have recorded anecdotes about his life and career in DVD featurettes, though Butrick had few confidants.- Actress
- Art Department
- Producer
Alexis Arquette (born Robert Arquette) (death: September 11, 2016) was an American actress. Arquette was born in Los Angeles, the fourth of five children of Lewis Arquette, an actor and director, and Brenda Olivia "Mardi" (Nowak), a Jewish actress, poet, theater operator, activist, acting teacher, and therapist. Lewis's family's surname was originally "Arcouet"; Lewis's father was comedian Cliff Arquette, who went by the stage name of Charley Weaver. Arquette was distantly related to American explorer Meriwether Lewis. Actors Rosanna, Richmond, Patricia, and David Arquette are her siblings.- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Production Designer
Costume designer of many Coen brothers early films, Richard Hornung was born in Pennsylvania, on 16 February, 1950. Versatile and multi-talented, Hornung's works had a special range going from contemporary works to period pieces; from Broadway plays to films; from westerns to 20th century settings; from the colorful shirts of Nicolas Cage in Raising Arizona (1987) to Richard Nixon's tight suits in Nixon (1995), Hornung had an accomplished set of memorable works, clothes and fabrics.
His first credit work was in Woody Allen's Zelig (1983), where Hornung was a costume assistant, a film that brought back 1920's-1930's costumes while presenting the story of a chameleon character. In 1987, he was already a costume designer providing wardrobe for a variety of movies such as China Girl (1987), Less Than Zero (1987) and Raising Arizona (1987), the latter being his first collaboration with Joel & Ethan Coen. With the Coens he provided costumes for their 1930's gangster story Miller's Crossing (1990); Barton Fink (1991), which earned him an Oscar nomination; and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). He also had great partnerships with Paul Schrader in Patty Hearst (1988) and Light Sleeper (1992) - working also as a production designer in the latter film; with Stephen Frears in The Grifters (1990) and Hero (1992); and with Michael Caton-Jones in Doc Hollywood (1991) and This Boy's Life (1993). Other memorable credits include Young Guns (1988), Dave (1993) and Natural Born Killers (1994).
He died on 30 December, 1995 from complications of AIDS. His final work City Hall (1996) was released posthumously.- Raymond Bongiovanni was born on 1 November 1954 in Port Jefferson, New York, USA. He died on 5 June 1996 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Sterling St. Jacques was born on 12 October 1957 in the USA. He was an actor, known for Eyes of Laura Mars (1978), Book of Numbers (1973) and Dinah East (1970). He died on 4 July 1992 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Actor Leonard Joel "Lenny" Baker was born on January 17, 1945 in Boston, Massachusetts. The son of Bertha and William Baker, Lenny graduated from Brookline High School in Brookline, Massachusetts in 1962 and attended Boston University, where he received his Bachelor's Degree. Baker began his acting career in regional theater and spent several summers at the O'Neill Center's National Playwrights Conference in Waterford, Connecticut. After moving to New York City in 1969, Lenny acted in such Off-Broadway stage productions as "'Paradise Gardens East," "Conerico Was Here to Stay," "The Year Boston Won the Pennant," and "The Survival of St. Joan."
Baker made his Broadway stage debut in 1974 in "The Freedom of the City" and won a Tony award in 1977 for his performance in the musical "I Love My Wife." Moreover, in 1976 Lenny performed in repertory in Phoenix Theater productions of "Secret Service" and "Boy Meets Girl" as well as appeared in both "Henry V" and "Measure for Measure" with the New York Shakespeare Festival in the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. In addition, Baker also acted in a handful of films and television shows. Lenny had his sole lead role as aspiring actor Larry Lapinsky in Paul Mazursky's autobiographical Next Stop, Greenwich Village (1976), for which he was nominated for a Golden Globe award for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture - Male. Baker died at age 37 from AIDS-related cancer on April 12, 1982 in a hospital in Hallandale Beach, Florida. He was survived at the time of his death by both his parents and his brothers Alan and Malcolm.- Stuart Baker-Bergen was born on 10 November 1945 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor, known for The Toy (1982), Tightrope (1984) and Camera Three (1955). He died on 9 May 1986 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.
- Ben Piazza was born on 30 July 1933 in Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Blues Brothers (1980), Mask (1985) and Guilty by Suspicion (1991). He was married to Dolores Dorn. He died on 7 September 1991 in Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
In the last fifteen years of Roy London's life, he became the premier acting coach in Hollywood. He has been cited as a profound influence on film acting. He taught over two hundred and fifty actors weekly, and coached many more privately. In addition to preparing his clients for performances, London was also called upon to help develop and shape their projects. His knowledge of writing, combined with his experience of having acted in over 150 roles on Broadway, Off-Broadway, The Royal Shakespeare Company, feature films and television, led him to discover how to help actors reveal material in dynamic ways that led to exciting performances. Synthesizing techniques from many acting schools, with a focus on results - he had no tolerance for psychobabble - his reputation exploded. London's classes began in his living room, and spread by word of mouth. In 1984 he moved to his own studio in Hollywood, but never put a sign on the door, didn't list his phone number, or never advertised classes. His students, who have thanked him on the Academy Awards and the Golden Globe Awards, as well as countless newspapers, magazines and autobiographies, have remembered London fondly. A documentary about his work, featuring interviews with over 50 of his students and friends, including Brad Pitt, Sharon Stone, Forest Whitaker, Jeff Goldblum, Hank Azaria, Patrick Swayze, Patricia Arquette, Geena Davis, Famke Janssen, Garry Shandling, Lanford Wilson, Lois Chiles, Drew Carey and Janel Moloney, premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2005.- Actor
- Art Department
- Composer
Keith Christopher was born on 27 April 1957 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for Heaven's Prisoners (1996), Another World (1964) and Guiding Light (1952). He died on 23 February 1998 in New York City, New York, USA.- At the time of his death from AIDS, Scott McPherson had been the life-partner of Chicago AIDS activist Daniel Sotomayor, who preceded Scott in death by nine months, in February 1992. Often ill at the same time, during Daniel's last hospitalization, Scott had also contracted an aggressive AIDS-related illness, and the two were hospitalized together, sharing the same room. The nursing staff and their devoted physicians, well-acquainted with the two young men, saw to it their hospital beds were pushed together in the center so Scott and Daniel could hold hands. Daniel never left the hospital, dying while they were there together. Scott bravely agreed to follow Daniel's strict orders not to be kept alive by artificial means, and let him go. Much of Scott's writing was influenced both by his childhood recollections of helping care for sick and dying family members, as well as by his experiences with AIDS. His seminal play "Marvin's Room" was written while he was a student participating in a workshop at the Goodman, before finding out he had contracted HIV. (In fact the young boy character of Charlie was based on himself as a child.) He completed the screenplay adaptation for "Marvin's Room" just weeks before his own death. His last wish was that he live "at least as long as Jesus." He died a few days after his 33rd birthday.
- Actor
- Writer
Murray Salem was born on 12 January 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Kindergarten Cop (1990), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Jesus of Nazareth (1977). He died on 6 January 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Leonard Frey originally wanted to become an artist, but in college he became interested in acting. He made his stage debut in an off-Broadway production of "Little Mary Sunshine" and his film debut as a celebrant in Passages from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake (1966), but he first rose to prominence in the role of Harold, the self-proclaimed "Jew fairy", in both the stage and screen versions of The Boys in the Band (1970). Frey is probably best known for the role of Motel, the timid tailor, in Fiddler on the Roof (1971); this performance landed him a nomination for a Supporting Actor Oscar. He continued to work on stage, in films and on TV throughout the 1970s and 1980s, but he never again attained the level of critical success he enjoyed in "Fiddler on the Roof". In 1988 he died from complications related to AIDS.- Robert La Tourneaux was born on 22 November 1941 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. He was an actor, known for The Boys in the Band (1970), Von Richthofen and Brown (1971) and The Doctors (1963). He died on 3 June 1986 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Lawrence Lott was born on 13 April 1950 in Greeley, Colorado, USA. He was an actor, known for The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), Space (1985) and Cheers (1982). He died on 24 January 1991 in Greeley, Colorado, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Wilson Barros was born in 1948 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a director and writer, known for Angels of the Night (1987), Diversões Solitárias (1983) and Maria da Luz (1981). He died on 26 September 1992 in São Paulo, Brazil.- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Paul Delph was born on 28 February 1957 in Norwood, Ohio, USA. Paul is known for No Small Affair (1984), North Shore (1987) and Gone Surfin' (1987). Paul died on 21 May 1996 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.- Producer
- Director
- Cinematographer
Juan Botas was born on 3 April 1958 in Gijón, Asturias, Spain. He was a producer and director, known for ¡Vaya par de gemelos! (1978), Estoy hecho un chaval (1977) and One Foot on a Banana Peel, the Other Foot in the Grave: Secrets from the Dolly Madison Room (1994). He died on 24 August 1992 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Jorge Guinle Filho's mother was American and his father was the famous Brazilian socialite Jorge Guinle. Guinle Filho is best known as a plastic artist with countless works in the 1970's-1980's, specially the ones from the Geração 80 group, an art movement composed of young artists who conquered Brazil and the world with their portraits, paintings, sculptures and more during the 1980's reflecting Brazilian's culture and society of the period after the military regime.
He died in 1987, from complications of AIDS. His longtime companion faced a long court battle in order to receive his will, declaring they had a marital status. - Hugo Della Santa was born in 1952 in São Paulo, Brazil. He was an actor, known for The Next Victim (1983), Jeitosa, Um Assunto Muito Particular (1984) and Filhos e Amantes (1982). He died on 25 March 1988 in São Paulo, Brazil.
- Caíque Ferreira was born on 5 September 1954 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an actor, known for Corpo a Corpo (1984), Aventuras de um Paraíba (1982) and Paraíso (1982). He died on 12 January 1994 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Actor
- Writer
- Art Director
Flávio Império was born on 19 December 1935 in São Paulo, SP, Brazil. He was an actor and writer, known for Of Gods and the Undead (1970), Cinco vezes Favela (1962) and O Profeta da Fome (1969). He died on 7 September 1985.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jorge Donn was born on 28 February 1947 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor, known for Bhakti (1970), Couleur chair (1978) and Romeo e Giulietta (1972). He died on 30 November 1992 in Lausanne, Switzerland.- Daniel Trent was born on 6 November 1951 in Alameda County, California, USA. He was an actor, known for My Blue Heaven (1990), Best Seller (1987) and Out of Sight, Out of Mind (1990). He died on 7 March 1995 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Writer
- Actor
Michael Bennett was born on 8 April 1943 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for A Chorus Line (1985), A Chorus Line and A Chorus Line (2016). He was married to Donna McKechnie. He died on 2 July 1987 in Tucson, Arizona, USA.- Music Department
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Peter Allen was born on 10 February 1944 in Tenterfield, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for Arthur (1981), Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999) and Muriel's Wedding (1994). He was married to Liza Minnelli. He died on 18 June 1992 in San Diego, California, USA.- Kurt Johnson was born on 5 October 1952 in Pasadena, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Fan (1981), Sole Survivor (1984) and Ghost Story (1981). He died on 12 February 1986 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Director
- Soundtrack
Robert Reed was an American actor, mostly known for television roles. His most famous role was that of pater familias Michael Paul "Mike" Brady in the popular sitcom "The Brady Bunch" (1969-1979). He returned to this role in several of the sitcom's sequels and spin-offs.
Reed was born under the name "John Robert Rietz Jr. " in 1932. His birthplace was Highland Park, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. His parents were government worker John Robert Rietz Sr. and homemaker Helen Teaverbaugh. The couple were childhood sweethearts and married each other at age 18. Reed was their only child.
Due to his father's career transfers, Reed moved often as a child. He spend part of his childhood in Navasota, Texas and Shawnee, Oklahoma. The senior Reitz eventually retired from his government positions, and started a new life as a cattle farmer in Muskogee, Oklahoma. The Reitz family moved to a farm there.
As a youth, Reed joined the 4-H agricultural club, and demonstrated calves in agricultural shows. He was already fascinated with acting and music, and started performing as a theatrical and singer before he graduated high school. He had a side career as a radio announcer for local radio stations, and also helped produce radio dramas.
Reed graduated from Muskogeee's Central High School in 1950. He soon enrolled at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, where he studied drama. His mentor was acting coach Alvina Krause (1893-1981). During his university years, Reed played the leading role in 8 different plays. Following his graduation, Reed studied abroad at Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
With the completion of his studies, Reed started a career as a theatrical actor. He appeared in summer stock productions in Pennsylvania, and joined the off-Broadway theatre group "The Shakespearewrights" which (as their name suggested) specialized in Shakespearean plays. Reed had leading roles in the group's productions of "Romeo and Juliet" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream". He left the group to join the Chicago-based Studebaker Theatre company.
By the late 1950s, Reed remained a relatively obscure theatrical actor. He moved to Los Angeles in hope of finding higher-profile roles in film or television. In 1959, Reed made his television debut in a guest star role in the sitcom "Father Knows Best". He next had guest star roles in the science fiction series "Men into Space" (1959-1960), and the Western series "Lawman" (1958-1962). His film debut was the horror film "Bloodlust!" (1961), playing the human prey of a sadistic hunter. The film was a loose adaptation of the short story "The Most Dangerous Game" (1924) by Richard Connell (1893-1949).
Reed had his first major role in television as lawyer Kenneth Preston in the courtroom drama series "The Defenders" (1961-1965). Reed played the son and junior partner of lawyer Lawrence Preston (played by E. G. Marshall), in a series featuring a father-son legal team. The series lasted for 132 episodes, and was a ratings hit. The series earned a total of 22 Primetime Emmy Award nominations during its run.
Following the cancellation of "The Defenders", Reed was mostly reduced to supporting roles in television. He appeared in (among others) "Family Affair"," Ironside", "The Mod Squad", and "Bob Hope Presents The Chrysler Theatre". In 1968, Reed signed a contract to play a lead role in the television adaptation of the play "Barefoot in the Park" (1963) by Neil Simon. When it was decided that the television adaptation would feature a mostly African-American cast, Reed was offered a leading role in "The Brady Bunch" as a consolation prize.
"The Brady Bunch" lasted for 117 episodes, though it never was among the highest-rated shows on television. It found a larger audience in syndication after its cancellation, and has remained a cult favorite. Reed was not happy with the often silly scripts of the sitcom, and had regular arguments about suggested re-writes with the show's producer Sherwood Schwartz (1916-2011). On the other hand, Reed formed long-lasting friendships with most members of the series' main cast.
Reed refused to appear in the fifth season finale of "The Brady Bunch", because he felt its script was unacceptable. He was fired from the series, and the production team considered replacing him with a new actor for the series' sixth season. However, the fifth season turned out to be the final one, with network ABC deciding to cancel the series.
While "The Brady Bunch" was still ongoing, Reed had the recurring role of Lt. Adam Tobias in the detective series "Mannix". He played the role for 22 episodes, running from 1968 to 1975. With the series' cancellation in 1975, Reed was left with no regular roles for the first time since the late 1960s.
Reed's next notable role was that of transgender Dr. Pat Caddison in the two-part episode "The Fourth Sex" (1975) of the medical drama Medical Center". The role was critically well-received, and Reed was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award, the "Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series". The award was instead won by rival actor Ed Asner (1929-).
Reed had a regular role as Teddy Boylan in the dramatic miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man" (1976), and a prominent guest appearance as Dr. William Reynolds in the miniseries "Roots" (1977). For the first role, Reed was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. The Award was instead won by rival actor Anthony Zerbe (1936-). For the second role, Reed was nominated again for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. The award was instead again won by rival actor Ed Asner.
Reed reunited with his friends from the Brady Bunch in the sequel series "The Brady Bunch Hour" (1976-1977), which only lasted for 9 episodes. He next played Mike Brady in the television film "The Brady Girls Get Married" (1981), the television film "A Very Brady Christmas" (1988), and the short-lived sequel series "The Bradys" (1990). The attempts to turn the popular sitcom into a dramatic series were not met with success.
Reed had another lead role in television as Dr. Adam Rose on the medical drama "Nurse" (1981-1982). The series only lasted for 25 episodes. Otherwise, Reed was reduced to mostly playing guest star roles again. His last guest star role appeared in 1992 episode of the crime drama "Jake and the Fatman".
In November 1991, Reed was diagnosed with colon cancer. As his health deteriorated, Reed increasingly isolated himself. He only allowed visits from his daughter Karen Rietz and close friend Anne Haney (1934-2001). In May 1992, he died at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, California. He was 59-years-old. He was buried at Memorial Park Cemetery in Skokie, Illinois.
Following his death, his death certificate revealed that Reed was HIV positive. While he was not suffering from AIDS, doctors were unable to determine whether HIV contributed to the deterioration of his health and his eventual death. How and when Reed contracted HIV remains unknown. Reed had managed to avoid having information about his personal life leaking to the press during his career, and also avoided sharing details about it even with his friends.
Reed is still fondly remembered for his television work, while his theatrical career has largely faded from memory.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Amanda Blake was born in Buffalo, NY, of English and Scottish descent. She and her parents moved to Claremont, California, while Amanda was still in high school, and she graduated from Claremont High. She enrolled at Pomona College but, due to her avid participation in community and theater productions, she was devoting much more time to acting than her schoolwork. Amanda started on a full acting schedule, doing summer stock in New England. She followed that up with theater and radio acting in Buffalo and then movies in Hollywood. While acting in small theater and stock companies she also painted backdrops and scenery. She was still in her teens when she debuted in MGM"s Stars in My Crown (1950), and her first television role was in Double Exposure (1952). Her most famous role, however, came in 1955, when she starred in the classic western series Gunsmoke (1955) as "Miss Kitty" Russell, the feisty madame and proprietor of Dodge City's Long Branch Saloon opposite James Arness' Marshal Matt Dillon.- Writer
- Actor
Caio Fernando Abreu was born on 12 September 1948 in Santiago, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He was a writer and actor, known for Aqueles Dois (1985), Onde Andará Dulce Veiga? (2008) and Romance (1988). He died on 25 February 1996 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.- Max Robinson was born in Richmond, VA on May 1, 1939 to Maxie and Doris Robinson. His siblings are sisters Jewell and Jean, and brother Randall. In 1959, at the age of 20, Max Robinson beat out four white applicants for a position at a local TV station in Portsmouth, VA where he read the news on the air. There was just one catch: his face had to be hidden behind a slide bearing the station's logo. "One night," Clarence Page wrote in Chicago, "[Robinson] ordered the slide removed so his relatives could see him. He was fired the next day.
When he moved to Washington, he was the first African-American anchor on a local television news program on WTOP-TV Channel 9 in 1969, and the first African-American anchor on a network television news program. During his three and a half years at WRC he won six journalism awards for his coverage of such events as the 1968 riots after civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr.'s assassination, the antiwar demonstrations, and the national election. It was during this time that Robinson won two regional Emmys for a documentary he did on black life in Anacostia titled The Other Washington.
At WTOP, he was teamed with Gordon Peterson for 6:00 PM and 11:00 PM newscasts and the rest was history. There was such a rapport between Robinson and his viewers that when Hanafi Muslims took hostages at the Washington Mosque, they would only speak with Max Robinson. In 1978, when Roone Arledge was looking to revamp ABC News' nightly news broadcast into World News Tonight, he remembered Max Robinson from a 60 Minutes interview, and hired him to be a part of his new three-anchor format: Frank Reynolds in Washington, Peter Jennings in London, and Robinson in Chicago. He became the first black man to anchor a nightly network news broadcast. Almost immediately, Robinson took it upon himself to fight racism at every turn and at whatever cost he thought necessary. He was constantly embroiled with his network bosses over the way news stories portrayed black America and how they neglected to reflect the black viewpoint. Robinson's integrity as a journalist and his role as a leader in the fight against prejudice made him a mentor to many young black television journalists. Unfortunately, he never felt worthy of the admiration or satisfied with his accomplishments. It wasn't long before friends and co-workers began to notice a significant change in his behavior. He became stubborn and moody, began showing up late for work or not at all, and his fondness for alcohol took on epidemic proportions. He had been married three times and fathered four children. Excerpted from AAP website: Management at ABC was getting frustrated with the image problems that Robinson was causing them. When they switched to a single anchor format, with the death of Frank Reynolds, Robinson was relegated to doing news briefs and anchoring the weekend news program. He left ABC in 1984 to become the first black anchor at WMAQ in Chicago. But it didn't last, and he left WMAQ in '85. Unfortunately, just when it appeared that he was about to put his life in order, he was hospitalized in Blue Island, Illinois, with pneumonia. It didn't take doctors long to figure out the cause of his ailment. He kept his condition secret. It was thought that most news organizations knew already and decided to honor a fellow journalist's privacy. To have AIDS at that time was to be a pariah. In some ways, it still is. But in 1988, it was much worse. In the fall of 1988, he traveled back to DC to give a speech at Howard University's School of Journalism. Later that night, he became increasingly ill, and checked into Howard University Hospital. On the morning of December 20, 1988, Max Robinson passed away. The truth of his condition was finally revealed: he died from complications due to AIDS. Journalists from all corners came to his funeral in DC, The Reverend Jesse Jackson delivered the eulogy and his old partner Gordon Peterson said a few words. It was a beautiful service. Max Robinson deserves as much credit for his achievements in journalism as Edward R. Murrow or Frederick Douglass. But he's fading from the collective memory. There are no books written about him. There are no documentaries or dramas made of his story. Yes, he was moody and temperamental. His drinking and bouts with depression got in the way of his work in later years. Sometimes the people who loved him were hurt by things he said or did. He made mistakes. And he died from AIDS. But that's not all that he was. He took down the slide in 1959 so Portsmouth residents could see who had been delivering the news in such an eloquent fashion. He showed Washingtonians the other side of Washington with his documentary on Anacostia. He risked his life by agreeing to act as a negotiator during the hostage crisis at the Washington Mosque. He broke through the wall of racism by being the first time and time again. He mentored young black journalists who were coming through the door he had opened. He stood up and pointed out racism even in his own network when it would have been easier to just take the money and read the news. He tried to educate his children about their African heritage. He won numerous awards for his efforts and made things a whole lot easier for the African-American journalists of today. - Actor
- Writer
- Director
Charles Ludlam was born on 12 April 1943 in Northport, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Big Easy (1986), The Sorrows of Dolores (1986) and Museum of Wax (1987). He died on 28 May 1987 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Writer
- Soundtrack
Nicholas Dante was born on 22 November 1941 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for A Chorus Line (1985), A Chorus Line (2016) and A Chorus Line (1991). He died on 21 May 1991 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Darcy Penteado was born on 12 March 1926 in São Roque, São Paulo, Brazil. He is known for Retrato Falado de uma Mulher Sem Pudor (1982) and Estou com AIDS (1986). He died on 2 December 1987 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Fela Kuti was born on 15 October 1938 in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He was a composer and writer, known for The Harder They Fall (2021), Queen & Slim (2019) and Run Fatboy Run (2007). He died on 2 August 1997 in Lagos, Nigeria.