Deaths: January 7
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- Actor
- Soundtrack
Adam Rich was born on 12 October 1968 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Code Red (1981), Eight Is Enough (1977) and Dungeons & Dragons (1983). He died on 8 January 2023 in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Alanna Lockward was born on 23 March 1961 in the Dominican Republic. She was a director and writer, known for Allen Report. Retracing Transnational African Methodism (2016). She died on 7 January 2019 in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Script and Continuity Department
Amy Lin Johnson was born on 8 March 1972 in Caro, Michigan, USA. She was a producer and production manager, known for Crash Course (2009), Cartoon Network Hall of Game Awards (2014) and 2014 Young Hollywood Awards (2014). She died on 7 January 2022 in Costa Rica.- Anna Mae V McCabe Hays was born on 16 February 1920 in Buffalo, New York, USA. She was married to William Hays. She died on 7 January 2018 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Avery Schreiber's 1960s and 1970s partner on the comedy stage was Jack Burns, the slimmer, chatty, clean-cut, better-looking dunderhead. Avery Schreiber was the Oliver Hardy counterpart who bore the brunt of Burns' verbal drone. This rumpled, gap-toothed, hefty-sized master of the slow boil stood out among the crowd with his huge trademark walrus mustache, thick thatch of curly black hair, slim teddy bear eyes and mischievous grin. Together the pair became a staple of TV variety shows, mainstays on such classic entertainment as "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Hollywood Palace."
Born in 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, of modest means, Schreiber's father was a common laborer while his mother made do as a secretary. At 17 Schreiber enlisted in the Armed Services and eventually became a part of the All-Army Talent Show. This satisfaction of putting on variety shows and entertaining prompted his move into a career of comedy. Winning a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse, he instead decided to stay closer to home and attend night school at the University of Chicago while studying his craft at the Goodman Theatre. A cabaret show brought him to the attention of the renown improv troupe Second City in 1960, where he remained for five years developing sketches and characters.
It was at Second City that Schreiber met Jack Burns, a former Boston news anchorman, in 1962. The Irish/Jewish duo began performing together on cruise ships and elsewhere. Jack Paar first introduced "Burns & Schreiber" to TV on his "Tonight Show" program in 1964. The duo's most identifiable skit was the "taxi cab" routine with Avery as a beleaguered cabbie at the mercy of Burns' relentlessly gabby and nonsensical customer, with Burns punctuating every conversation with a repeated "Huh?...Huh?...Huh?" Political satire was also a strong, popular platform for Schreiber both with Burns (the album "The Watergate Comedy Hour") and without. Schreiber was at his very best skewering politicos.
Both trained actors, they also gave each other the freedom to work solo. Burns would repeat as Deputy Warren Ferguson on The Andy Griffith Show (1960) for a time and Schreiber was a regular as the broadly villainous Captain Mancini on My Mother the Car (1965), now better known as the Edsel of 60s TV shows.
At their peak, the duo appeared as regulars on the summer replacement musical variety series Our Place (1967), then earned the right to front their own summer series with The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour (1973). It was hard to figure out who in this duo was the funnyman and who was the straightman although Avery was considered the more reactive of the two.
Breaking up once in 1968 because they felt stale, they reteamed for a time in 1972, but split again later when Burns decided to leave the limelight and devote himself exclusively to writing. Schreiber continued providing guest comedy relief on "Alice," "The Rockford Files" and "The Dukes of Hazzard" and sitting on game show panels.
He also kept close ties to the stage throughout his career. Directing a Broadway revue entitled "How to Be a Jewish Mother" in 1967, he performed in (Second City) Paul Sills' production of "Ovid's Metamorphosis." Schreiber also performed in productions of "Hamlet," "Showboat" and "Fiddler on the Roof." He last appeared on Broadway in "Welcome to the Club" in 1989, which was a short-lived Cy Coleman musical.
Households knew him best for his various Doritos corn chip ads in a sundry of disguises (chef, sultan, pilot), all of them perturbed by people loudly crunching on the popular snack. In addition to acting, Schreiber taught improv theater in and out of his L.A.-based area.
In 1994, Schreiber suffered a heart attack, aggravated by his diabetes. Although he survived triple by-pass surgery, he never fully recovered. He died at age 66 in Los Angeles of a heart attack and was survived by his wife of 40 years, Rochelle Isaacs, and their two children, Jenny and Joshua.- Biserka Cvejic was born on 5 November 1923 in Krilo-Jesenice near Split, Croatia, Yugoslavia. She was an actress, known for Der Zigeunerbaron (1975), Zlatni vek - 100 godina opere (2020) and Das gläserne Wappen (1983). She died on 7 January 2021 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Blanca Sánchez was born on 2 March 1946 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Quinceañera (1987), Los amores de Chucho el Roto (1970) and La vida de Chucho el Roto (1970). She was married to Garret J. Woodside, José Antonio Massad and Roberto Schlosser. She died on 7 January 2010 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Actor
- Sound Department
- Additional Crew
Brad Venable was born on 16 July 1977 in Muskogee, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for Pokémon: Detective Pikachu (2019), Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection 'F' (2015) and The Boy and the Beast (2015). He was married to Kathryn Venable. He died on 7 January 2021 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Bruce Haywood was born on 30 September 1925 in Allerton Bywater, West Yorkshire, England, UK. Bruce was a writer, known for Bremerhaven. Bruce was married to Mary Sullens Bailey and Gretchen Shelley. Bruce died on 7 January 2020 in Illinois, USA.
- Carlos Rasch is known for Signale - Ein Weltraumabenteuer (1970).
- After retiring from acting, Charlotte Wynters MacLane, divided her time between her home in LA and her cattle ranch in the Sierra Nevada foothills of Madera County, which she continued to own until her death in 1991.
- Actor
- Composer
- Producer
Christopher Tsangarides was born on 17 August 1956. He was an actor and composer, known for Point Break (1991), Out of Bounds (1986) and Memoirs of a Survivor (1981). He died on 7 January 2018 in the UK.- Actress
- Writer
- Music Department
Clydie King was born on 21 August 1943 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for The Long Goodbye (1973), A Star Is Born (1976) and The Split (1968). She was married to Tony Collins and Robin Hale. She died on 7 January 2019 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Stunts
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
Began as an actor in Kurt Russell-Disney Films in 1974. Made the switch to the Stunt world following a successful career as a junior pro surfer. Born, bred, and resided in Malibu. Many, many stunts later, David made the promotion to Stunt Coordinator in 1978 on Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978). Coordinating TV and films all over the world brought him up to the position of 2nd Unit Director on Gorky Park (1983). "Action" movies proceeded to explode along with David's career. Befriending Harrison Ford, two of David's most notable 2nd units were Patriot Games (1992) and Clear and Present Danger (1994). As shown in Filmography, he worked back-to-back until the break from Disney, offering to 1st unit Direct the feature, Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996). Directorial debut grossed over $100 Million. Completed two features for 1997, Desperate Measures (1998) & Sphere (1998) with Barry Levinson.- Actress
- Stunts
Dee Booher, better known as "Queenie," first used the stage name of "Queen Kong" while skating for 5 years with such roller derby teams the Chicago Hawks, the New York Bombers, the Detroit Devils and the Texas Outlaws. Her acting career was augmented by a short-lived stint as a rock star. The video to her hit single, "(I Eat) Raw Meat", was played often by Los Angeles sportscaster Fred Rogin for a number of years on KNBC-TV4.
She appeared on numerous games shows such as "Win, Lose or Draw" and "The Gong Show" (where she was a co-host for 14 episodes). She also made a living delivering very physical singing telegrams known as "Slam-A-Grams", where she would take down the victim, errr, guest of honor at a party in various professional wrestling moves, all designed to look extremely painful and brutal, but ultimately harmless. Due to various injuries over the years from wrestling and roller derby, she no longer performed "Slam-A-Grams" for health reasons.
Some of her greatest fans were children. During her "Gorgeous Ladies Of Wrestling" (aka G.L.O.W.) days, her personal appearances were often mobbed by kids. Despite her rough and gruff image, she was in real life a most sweet and gregarious person, treating her friends and fans alike with immense kindness and affection. The "Matilda The Hun" moniker was given to her by G.L.O.W. producers. It wasn't until the show was over for a number of years she discovered they had taken the name directly from a character played by Roberta Collins in Death Race 2000 (1975).
She resided in the Los Angeles area with her husband, Ken. Her website features many photos of herself throughout her career.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Deezer D was born in 1965 in Los Angeles, California. He is not only an actor but a popular performer in the Christian and underground hip hop communities. His latest release is titled "Unpredictable". He also briefly hosted a Christian Rap radio show in Los Angeles on station 96.3 KFSG.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Don Sullivan was born on 1 January 1929 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He was an actor, known for The Giant Gila Monster (1959), The Monster of Piedras Blancas (1959) and The Rebel Set (1959). He was married to Mia May. He died on 7 January 2018 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Writer
Dorothy Tristan was born on 9 May 1934 in Yorkville Heights, New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for Klute (1971), The Looking Glass (2015) and Scarecrow (1973). She was married to John D. Hancock and Aram Avakian. She died on 7 January 2023 in LaPorte, Indiana, USA.- Actress
- Writer
Elena Cruz was born on 27 November 1926 in Argentina. She was an actress and writer, known for La canción de Buenos Aires (1980), Un tranvía llamado Deseo (1956) and Contigo y aquí (1974). She was married to Fernando Siro. She died on 7 January 2020 in Argentina.- Elizabeth Wurtzel was born on 31 July 1967 in New York City, New York, USA. She was a writer, known for Prozac Nation (2001), When the Brass Band Plays (2020) and Intimate Portrait (1990). She was married to James Freed Jr.. She died on 7 January 2020 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
- Music Department
France Gall was born on 9 October 1947 in Paris, France. She was an actress and writer, known for A Simple Favor (2018), Gunpowder Milkshake (2021) and Heartbeats (2010). She was married to Michel Berger. She died on 7 January 2018 in Neuilly-sur-Seine, Hauts-de-Seine, France.- Frank Corsentino was born on 13 July 1941 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Beyond the Valley of the Dolls (1970). He died on 7 January 2007 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Genival Lacerda was born on 5 April 1931 in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. He was an actor, known for Bye Bye Brazil (1980), Made in Brazil (1985) and Hit Parade (2021). He died on 7 January 2021 in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.- George Perles was born on 16 July 1934 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was married to Sally. He died on 7 January 2020 in East Lansing, Michigan, USA.
- Gerson Da Cunha was born in June 1929 in British India. He was an actor, known for The Maharaja's Daughter (1994), Asoka (2001) and Rangoon (2017). He died on 7 January 2022 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Producer
Harry Hains was born on 4 December 1992 in Melbourne, Australia. He was an actor and producer, known for Lulu (2018), Groupies (2018) and American Horror Story (2011). He died on 7 January 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Emperor Showa (29 April 1901 - 7 January 1989), commonly known in English-speaking countries by his personal name Hirohito, was the 124th emperor of Japan, ruling from 25 December 1926 until his death in 1989. Hirohito and his wife, Empress Kojun, had two sons and five daughters; he was succeeded by his fifth child and eldest son, Akihito. By 1979, Hirohito was the only monarch in the world with the title "emperor". He was the longest-reigning historical Japanese emperor and one of the longest-reigning monarchs in the world.
- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Huell Howser was born on 18 October 1945 in Gallatin, Tennessee, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Winnie the Pooh (2011), California's Gold (1991) and The Magical World of Disney (1954). He died on 7 January 2013 in Palm Springs, California, USA.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Ingrid trained as a ballet dancer and attended Stockholm's Royal Dramatic Theatre. She came to fame thanks to Bergman's "Wild Strawberries". She acted in 9 Ingmar Bergman's films. Her fame allowed her to act in Luchino Visconti's "The Damned" in 1969. Ingrid Thulin lived in Rome since the 1960's. She came back to Sweden for her health treatment recently.- Jacqueline deWit was born on 26 September 1912 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Little Giant (1946), All That Heaven Allows (1955) and The Damned Don't Cry (1950). She died on 7 January 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Make-Up Department
- Actor
Jacques Dessange was born on 5 December 1925 in Souesmes, Loir-et-Cher, France. He was an actor, known for Joy House (1964), In the French Style (1963) and Two Weeks in September (1967). He was married to Corinne Francoise André de Valeton de Boissière . He died on 7 January 2020 in France.- Composer
- Soundtrack
Jamie O'Hara was born on 8 August 1950 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. He was a composer, known for An Unfinished Life (2005), Lucky You (2007) and Two If by Sea (1996). He was married to Lola White. He died on 7 January 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jean Philippe was born on 27 November 1930. He was an actor, known for Jazz Boat (1960), Fermeture de l'usine Renault à Vilvoorde (La vie sexuelle des Belges, 3e partie) (1999) and Denis (2009). He was married to Rosanne Jennings. He died on 7 January 2022.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jimmy Hannan was born on 25 August 1934 in Surry Hills, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for The Graham Kennedy Show (1972), The Ernie Sigley Show (1974) and The Sentimental Bloke (1976). He was married to Joanne Goode. He died on 7 January 2019 in Bellingen, New South Wales, Australia.- Joan Elan was born on 24 July 1928 in Colombo, Ceylon [now Sri Lanka]. She was an actress, known for Darby's Rangers (1958), Matinee Theatre (1955) and Front Row Center (1955). She was married to Harry Franklin ("Bud") Nye Jr.. She died on 7 January 1981 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
She was born and raised in Beirut, Lebanon. Her first job was hosting a pop music program on the national Lebanese radio station called "Marsipulami got blue eyes." Then she became a television newsreader. Once civil war broke out in Lebanon, Saab started working on documentary films. That led to a job as second unit director for "Circle of Deceit" directed by Volker Schlondorff in 1981, which happened to be about the Lebanese civil war. She continued to report and document on the war, but moved to Paris, France after having lost so much due to the war.
2005 - She splits her time between Paris and Cairo.- John Baer was born on 6 June 1923 in York, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Terry and the Pirates (1952), We're No Angels (1955) and Night of the Blood Beast (1958). He was married to Noureen Cecilia Jauregui. He died on 7 January 2006 in Newhall, Santa Clarita, California, USA.
- John Heilpern was born on 8 April 1942 in Manchester, England, UK. He was a writer, known for BBC2 Playhouse (1973) and Theater Talk (1996). He was married to Joan Juliet Buck and Sydney Houghton Weinberg. He died on 7 January 2021 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Writer
- Actor
Mexican writer who was important in the development of the "magic realism" school of Latin-American fiction. As a child growing up in the rural countryside, he witnessed the horrors of the later Cristero uprisings of 1926-29. His family of prosperous landowners lost a considerable fortune. When moved to Mexico City, Rulfo worked for a rubber company and as a film script writer. Many of the short stories that were later published in "El llano en llamas" (1953) first appeared in the review "Pan"; they depict the violence of the rural environment and the moral stagnation of its people. In them Rulfo first used narrative techniques thet later would be incorporated into the Latin-American new novel, such as the use of interior monologue, stream of consciousness, flashbacks, and shifting points of view. "Pedro Páramo" (1955) treats the physical and moral disintegration of a laconic 'cacique' (boss) and is set in a mythical hell on earth inhabited by dead individuals who are constantly haunted by their past transgressions. From 1933 Rulfo lived in Mexico City. He became director of the editorial department of the National Institute for Indigenous Studies and advised young writers at the 'Centro Mexicano de Escritores'.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Kitty Kallen was born on 25 May 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for The Devil All the Time (2020), The Second Greatest Sex (1955) and Circle of Friends (1995). She was married to Budd Granoff and Clint Garvin. She died on 7 January 2016 in Cuernavaca, Mexico.- Larry Gogan was born on 6 May 1938 in Dublin, Ireland. He was married to Florrie Duffy. He died on 7 January 2020 in Dublin, Ireland.
- Born William White in 1923 to unmarried parents, Grayson was adopted into a coal mining family in Nuneaton.
By the age of 14, he was working under the name of Billy Breen as a supporting drag act on the comedy club circuit, and over the next thirty years he toured the UK not only in male revues and drag shows, but also in variety shows.
After touring and presenting further variety shows in the 70s, including his own TV series 'Shut That Door', his catchphrase, he took over presenting 'The Generation Game' from Bruce Forsyth.
He retired from television in 1981, but continued to perform in the theatre, particularly in pantomime. He died in 1995, aged 71. - Lonnie Perrin was born on 3 February 1952 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
- Madame Spivy was born on 30 September 1906 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Requiem for a Heavyweight (1962), The Manchurian Candidate (1962) and All Fall Down (1962). She died on 7 January 1971 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Actress
- Make-Up Department
- Soundtrack
Marion Ramsey was an American actress and singer from Philadelphia. She is primarily known for her role as the soft-spoken policewoman Laverne Hooks in the "Police Academy" film series (1984-1994). Hooks was depicted as a "diminutive, soft-spoken and unassertive woman" with a high-pitched voice. But switched to a more aggressive and authoritative tone when sufficiently frustrated.
Ramsey was born in 1947, but little is known about her early life. She started her career as a theatrical actress, and became a prominent performer for Broadway shows. She appeared in the Broadway version of the hit musical "Hello, Dolly!" (1964) by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart, and subsequently was part of the musical's touring productions. The musical was an adaptation of the farce "The Merchant of Yonkers" (1938) by Thornton Wilder (1897 -1975), but was much better received than the original work.
Ramsey made her television debut as part of the regular cast in the variety series "Keep On Truckin'" (1975). This was a summer replacement series, broadcast by ABC on Saturday nights. It only lasted four episodes. In 1976, Ramsey made a guest-star appearance in an episode of the then-popular sitcom "The Jeffersons" (1975-1985).
Also in 1976, Ramsey became part of the regular cast of the short-lived sketch comedy show "Cos". The show was named after its host, the popular comedian Bill Cosby (1937-). The series only lasted for 9 episodes, and was canceled due to low ratings. It was replaced on ABC's schedule by a new show called "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries" (1977-1979), which was adapting mystery novels for children,. The novels were originally published by the long-running Stratemeyer Syndicate (1899-1987).
In 1977, Ramsey had a guest-star role in the short-lived sitcom "Sanford Arms" (1977). The series was intended as a sequel to the hit show "Sanford and Son" (1972-1977), but focused on a new protagonist. It failed to find an audience, and was canceled after only 4 episodes. Another 4 completed episodes, including the one featuring Ramsey, were never aired, although they became available on later reruns.
In 1978, Ramsey was one of the main performers of the revue "Eubie!" in Broadway. The revue showcased 23 songs by the popular jazz composer Eubie Blake (1887 - 1983). The show ran for 439 performances. Ramsey and the rest of the original cast participated in a recording of the show, which was released on vinyl in 1979.
Ramsey gained her first substantial film role in the police comedy "Police Academy" (1984), when she was 37-years-old. As cadet Laverne Hooks , she received enough screen time to be one of the film's memorable characters. The film was a box office hit, earning 150 million dollars at the worldwide box office. A film series featuring featuring the same cast followed. Ramsey appeared in 5 of the original film's sequels, and her character was soon depicted as a police sergeant. She made her last appearance in the film series in "Police Academy 6: City Under Siege" (1989). She did not appear in the series finale "Police Academy: Mission to Moscow" (1994), which also failed to include several other regular cast members.
In the early 1990s, Ramsey made a few appearances in then-popular television series, such as "MacGyver", "Beverly Hills, 90210", and "The Nanny". Most of her roles were minor unnamed characters. Ramsey worked as a voice actor in the animated series "The Addams Family" (1992 -1993). Her most memorable character in the series was summer camp owner D.I. Holler, who had the mentality of a drill sergeant. The character aimed to teach fitness and self-reliance to rich kids, but was unreasonably strict.
Ramsey had her next film role in the horror comedy "Maniacts" (2001) , where she played an unnamed prostitute. The film featured two serial killers who fall in love with each other, and try to settle down for a while. Ramsey next played a policewoman again in the comedy television film "Recipe for Disaster" (2003). The premise of the film is that the owners of a family restaurant have disappeared, and their underage kids try to operate the restaurant in their absence. The film is remembered for an early starring role for teenage actress Margo Harshman (1986-).
In 2006, Ramsey voiced Laverne Hooks in a comedy sketch of the animated series "Robot Chicken" (2005-). The sketch featured several characters from the "Police Academy" series being recruited as new members of the X-Men. The sketch reunited Ramsey with her former co-star Michael Winslow, an accomplished voice actor.
In 2007, Ramsey had a supporting role in the romantic comedy "Lord Help Us". The film's main plot is that the elderly preacher Henry Thomas (played by Bill Toliver) needs help to repair his reputation, after a rumor suggests that he is having an affair with a much younger woman. Also in 2007, Ramsey had a small role in the thriller film "The Stolen Moments of September". The film depicts the life of a young runaway, who befriends a suspected serial killer.
After a hiatus of a few years, Ramsey returned to film roles with the mystery comedy "Who Killed Soul Glow?" (2012). As the title suggests, it featured a murder mystery. In 2013, Ramsey appeared in the historical film "Return to Babylon", which depicted the lives of famous Hollywood actors in the 1920s. Ramsey played the maid of the famous vamp Barbara La Marr (1896 - 1926). The real life La Marr was highly popular in the 1920s, but died at the age of 29 due to tuberculosis.
In 2014, Ramsey played a supporting role in the sports film "Wal-Bob's". The film depicted the operation of an underground football league in Cincinnati. In 2015, Ramsey had a role in the science fiction horror television film "Lavalantula". The film depicted giant tarantulas unleashed in modern-day Los Angeles. The film notably reunited several veteran actors from the "Police Academy" film series, with the protagonist role reserved for Steve Guttenberg (1958-). Ramsey also appeared in the film's sequel "2 Lava 2 Lantula" (2016).
In 2016, Ramsey appeared in the comedy-drama film "DaZe: Vol. Too (sic) - NonSeNse". The film reunited several veterans of the "Police Academy" film series, and featured the last film role for Ramsey's longtime friend Bubba Smith (1945-2011). In 2018, Ramsey appeared in the biographical film "When I Sing", which was based on the life of singer-songwriter Linda Chorney (1960-). This was Ramsey's last film role.
Ramsey spend her last years in retirement.
In January she died at her residence in Los Angeles, following a short illness. Her cause of death was not announced to the public. She was 73-years-old at the time of her death. She was cremated, and her ashes were scattered at sea. News of her death was covered by the press, as the actress was still well-known and fondly remembered. Ramsey is considered an icon of the 1980s.- Actor and bodybuilder Mark Forest was born in Brooklyn as Lorenzo Luis Degni, a third generation Italian-American (his grandparents hailed from Naples). He began as a bodybuilder at the tender age of thirteen, found himself featured on the cover of magazines and soon operated his own gym on Long Island. He entered and won several bodybuilding competitions before finding his way into show business via Mae West's troupe of musclemen (who featured as ladies' eye candy in her touring act along with the singers and dancers). West's entourage variously included other luminaries of the muscular fraternity, such as Ed Fury, Gordon Mitchell and Reg Lewis.
Mark Forest came to international fame after being recruited to star in Italian peplum (sword and sandal) epics, becoming only the second American actor (after Steve Reeves) to find lucrative work and popularity in that medium. His success was greatly helped by the fact that he was already fluent in Italian. Forest's film career spanned a modest five years (1960-1965), in the course of which he starred in a dozen pictures. Most often, he portrayed either Hercules or the equally brawny hero Maciste, created by Gabriele D'Annunzio and Giovanni Pastrone. In fact, Forest played Maciste seven times - more than any other actor.
At the end of his brief fling with the movies, Forest turned to his other passion and reinvented himself as an opera singer (tenor) in Europe. He became adept at the bel canto technique, trained by Giovanni Milillo, a composer and former tenor at the New York Opera and father of operatic soprano Aprile Millo. After his return to the U.S., Forest settled in California, latterly teaching vocal technique in Studio City. - Writer
- Director
- Actor
Markku Into was born on 20 October 1945 in Helsinki, Finland. He was a writer and director, known for The Light Fuel of the Night (1991), Suomen talvisota (1967) and Home of the Wild Boy (1987). He died on 7 January 2018 in Turku, Finland.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Mary Helen Eilts, born October 2, 1949, passed away at age 72 on January 7, 2022. She died from complications of Huntington's disease. She was born in Michigan, raised predominantly in Ohio, and lived her adult life between Hollywood (California), Vancouver (British Columbia, Canada), and Chapala (Jalisco, Mexico).
Mary was married to her work and her children were the films she created. As a director and producer of film, her career took her all over the world meeting people from all walks of life. Her career began behind the camera when she was moving cables during a live televised broadcast to make a little extra money and a camera man collapsed. She got the man help and then automatically took over manning the camera. This was unheard of being she was a woman and it was the late 1960s...but she simply said over the set radio to the grumbling outrage "do you want this done or not?" From then on, she was behind the camera or behind the scenes putting a vision to the madness of film.
By 1975, she was a film and television unit manager, by the early 1980s she was assistant directing and by the mid-1980s she found her favorite part of film...production. From producer to production manager and back again, producing was what she loved and eventually started her own production company. Mary was an esteemed member of the Directors Guild of America, along with other film society organizations.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Henry and Mary Rita Eilts of Reynoldsburg, Ohio and two grand-nieces, Ireland Joyce Owens and Hazel Lily Lawrence. She is survived by her brother and sister-in-law, Henry & Sally Eilts (of Plano, Texas) and sister and brother-in-law, Rose & Ron Holeman (of Olympia, Washington). She is also survived by her nephew and niece-in-law, Christopher and Mary Owens and their children (Ivy and Ella); her niece and nephew-in-law Jennifer and Ben Lawrence and their children (Isabelle and Scarlett); and by her niece and nephew-in-law, Mary Catherine and Reed Heath and their children (Renner and Margaret).
In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation in her memory to The Huntington's Disease Society of America.
So turn on a movie tonight and raise a glass... to all those faces behind the camera that you never see that make the magic happen. Cheers to the magic of the movies made possible by Mary and those like her and cheers to Mary Helen and the incredible ride of a life she had.- Director
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Michael Apted was born on 10 February 1941 in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was a director and producer, known for Amazing Grace (2006), Gorillas in the Mist (1988) and Rome (2005). He was married to Paige Simpson, Dana Stevens and Jo Apted. He died on 7 January 2021 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Music Department
- Actor
- Writer
Nat Hentoff was born on 10 June 1925 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Sweet and Lowdown (1999), CBS Schoolbreak Special (1984) and New York Philharmonic Young People's Concerts (1958). He was married to Margot Goodman Wolinski, Gertrude A Bernstein (Trudi Farmilant) and Miriam Fonda Sargent. He died on 7 January 2017 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
Neil Peart was one of the most universally respected rock drummers, and was best known for his nearly superhuman, pyrotechnic drum playing, and for providing intellectual lyrics for his band's songs. Neil served as both drummer and lyricist for the rock band Rush since 1974, joining bassist/vocalist Geddy Lee and guitarist Alex Lifeson. (Rush's lineup remained unchanged since Neil's arrival in 1974.) Rush is the most successful Canadian music group in history, and is the third most prolific seller of consecutive (American) Gold and Platinum Records and videos, behind only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.
Beginning on August 10, 1997, immediately following Rush's "Test For Echo" tour, Neil endured concurrent, seemingly unendurable tragedies when his daughter (and only child) died in a car accident, and then his wife died from cancer 10 months later. This put Rush on indefinite hiatus for the first time, and prompted Neil to write "Ghost Rider: Travels on the Healing Road", his second book. In September 2000, Neil married Los Angeles photographer Carrie Nuttall. They had a daughter, Oliva, in 2009.
Neil rejoined Rush in the studio for 2002's "Vapor Trails," their 17th studio album, which was met with high praise and considered a stellar "comeback" both for Peart and the band. A highly successful 2002 tour brought about the band's long-awaited return to the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The tour ended with Rush's first-ever shows in Brazil, where they played to 125,000 fans in three nights. The final performance of the 2002 tour was captured on DVD as Rush in Rio (2003), which was certified double-platinum within weeks of its release.
After the Vapor Trails album and tour, Neil's writing became more personal. His subsequent live performances, including his trademark percussion solos which showcased his superlative adroitness as a drummer, were regarded as his best to date. His final tour with Rush was 2015's R40 tour, which marked forty years since Neil joined the band. At the end of the tour, Neil announced he was retiring due to arthritis and tendinitis.
Not long after his retirement, Neil was diagnosed with brain cancer. He fought it privately for three and a half years, keeping it secret until he passed from it on January 7, 2020.- Neil Sheehan was born on 27 October 1936 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, USA. He was a writer, known for A Bright Shining Lie (1998), Going Upriver (2004) and Dateline: Saigon (2016). He was married to Susan Sheehan. He died on 7 January 2021 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
- Nevi'im Nesta Ali Shane O'Connor was born on 10 March 2004 in Holles Street Maternity Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. He died on 7 January 2022 in Bray Area of Wicklow, Ireland.
- Producer
- Soundtrack
R. Dean Taylor was born on 11 May 1939 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a producer, known for Last Night in Soho (2021), Phenomenon (1996) and Striptease (1996). He was married to Janee. He died on 7 January 2022 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Director
Richard Hunt did not have a face known to many -- his voice was known more than anything else. He was a major stronghold behind Jim Henson's "Muppets". 'Scooter', 'Janice', 'Sweetums' and a few others, were some of the "Muppets" that Richard was a performer and puppeteer of. He helped pave the way for Jim Henson and his company from the 1970s through the early 90s, until his surprising death in 1992 of AIDS.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Richard Libertini was born in E. Cambridge, Massachusetts, to parents who had come to America from southern Italy. Having grown up in a household where both Italian and English were spoken, he developed an ear for foreign accents. A facility he would later use to advantage on stage and in films.
He graduated from Emerson College in Boston, and for a while earned a living as a trumpet player in the Boston area. Later, he moved to New York, where he teamed up with two former college classmates, MacIntyre Dixon and Lynda Segal, to create an off-Broadway revue called "Stewed Prunes." (This was during the coffee house revolution in the 1960s. Bob Dylan was playing around the corner.) The show was quite successful and after running a year in New York they took it on the road. While playing Chicago, he was asked to join the renowned Second City Improvisational Theatre Group, an association which continues to the present.
After a number of years doing stage work in New York (Woody Allen's Don't Drink the Water (1969) and Paul Sills' Story Theatre (1971) among many others) he eventually moved to L.A. where he began doing films. Three of his most memorable characters are the Spanish-American dictator in The In-Laws (1979) with Alan Arkin and Peter Falk, the Tibetan Mystic in All of Me (1984) with Steve Martin, and Lily Tomlin and the justice of the peace in Best Friends (1982) with Goldie Hawn and Burt Reynolds. Other films include Fletch (1985) with Chevy Chase and Popeye (1980) with Robin Williams.- Robert Barrat pursued a stage career on Broadway from 1918 to 1932. He did sample a scant three silent movies starting in 1915, but returned to stage work. Barrat had a distinguished enough visage but also a well knit physique that would foretell a busy career in films with many featured character roles which he turned to in 1932. He therefore portrayed lawyers, business owners, and officials of all sorts, as well as, detectives, hardened sailors, and various desperate characters. Barrat had a deep guttural voice which he could roll around in his mouth to pitch out some unique variations. Such was his Wolverstone in Captain Blood (1935), and his Lord Morton with a brogue in Mary of Scotland (1936). Barrat was a dedicated physical fitness devotee and showed off a still manly form as Chingachgook in The Last of the Mohicans (1936).
Barrat was probably grateful to slow down a bit after 1936, for up to then he was much in demand with an average of twenty films a year. As it was he continued with a usual ten films per year to 1940. He did several movies with James Cagney in the 1930s, and they became good friends. Cagney described his friend as having "a solid forearm the size of the average man's thigh." Barrat continued a rich and varied character role career through the 1940s and early 1950s. The roles were more of the dignified variety-fatherly figures, a few Indian chiefs and military men - and several generals. He had the non-speaking role of General Douglas MacArthur-his hawk of a nose needing little enhancement (he was shot from side angles and distance) - in They Were Expendable (1945). By 1954 he turned to TV playhouse roles off and on until 1964. He loved challenging himself with doing accents and certainly succeeded in this and in turning out memorable roles in over 150 films. - Actor
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Robert Crayton is an American actor, born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. He performed in events since childhood, such as "Mr. Bojangles", singing in the choir, small films, plays and just plain entertaining his whole family at reunions. He made his acting debut, on Tru TV as "Tank" on Southern Fried Stings (2010). He performed in films and television series including Let the Church Say Amen (2013), The Quad (2017), Wu-Tang: An American Saga (2019), "The I Ching Lawyer" (2020), Murdersville, USA (2021), Dark Awakening (2014), Barbershop: The Next Cut (2016), and History Detectives (2003).
He attended an upstate NY prep school where he excelled in sports and started to participate in skits and perform comedy. He loved living in a dorm, like being in college before being of age, but returned home after 2 years citing allegations of racism. He was always a class clown and was voted most-likely to be an actor. He was often sought after by others in school for their media projects for impersonations and characters. During this time, he developed a passion for rapping and became proficient at it, especially free-styling (without writing lyrics), due to his grandmother's method of learning, which consisted of memorizing 300 words, spelling and meaning before he could go play during the summer, he hated it then but states it did pay dividends in the future. His rapping ability led him to performing on BET's 106 & Park television show and being the opening act for the BET Comics, winning several cash prizes, recording contracts as well as opportunities to be featured on several compilation albums. He also, not always by choice, memorized anything he saw or heard, which he felt was a great asset to being an actor. He loved to entertain others in some type of capacity. He had been a youth counselor, in which each day working with children is different when you are dealing with a myriad of personalities, but he enjoyed the challenge of helping young people.
After a battle with mental illness, on January 7, 2023, he killed his wife and three children at their home in High Point, North Carolina, and then committed suicide. Authorities had paid five visits to the home since 2014, police said, but Crayton was never arrested.- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
Suave and handsome Australian actor arrived in Hollywood in the 1950s, and built himself up from a supporting actor into taking the lead in several well-remembered movies. Arguably his most fondly remembered role was that as George (Herbert George Wells), the inventor, in George Pal's spectacular The Time Machine (1960). As the movie finished with George, and his best friend Filby Alan Young seemingly parting forever, both actors were brought back together in 1993 to film a 30-minute epilogue to the original movie! Taylor's virile, matinée idol looks also assisted him in scoring the lead of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's creepy thriller The Birds (1963), the role of Jane Fonda's love interest in Sunday in New York (1963), the title role in John Ford's biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey in Young Cassidy (1965), and a co-starring role in The Train Robbers (1973) with John Wayne. Taylor also appeared as Bette Davis future son-in-law in the well-received film The Catered Affair (1956). He also gave a sterling performance as the German-American Nazi Major trying to fool James Garner in 36 Hours (1964). Later, Taylor made many westerns and action movies during the 1960s and 1970s; however, none of these were much better than "B" pictures and failed to push his star to the next level. Additionally, Taylor was cast as the lead in several TV series including Bearcats! (1971), Masquerade (1983), and Outlaws (1986); however, none of them truly ignited viewer interest, and they were cancelled after only one or two seasons. Most fans would agree that Rod Taylor's last great role was in the wonderful Australian film The Picture Show Man (1977), about a travelling sideshow bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback.- Producer
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Run Run Shaw was born in Shanghai, China on October 4, 1907. He went into the filming industry with his brother, Runme Shaw, and established the Shaw Organization in 1926 and the Shaw Studios (formerly South Seas Film studio) in 1930. In 1967, Shaw established the famous Television Broadcasts Limited (TVB) station in Hong Kong, and it grew into a multi-billion dollar TV empire. TVB set the stage for numerous television sitcoms, drama series, documentaries and singing performances, as well as "Enjoy Yourself Tonight," a variety show similar to "Saturday Night Live."
Shaw owns many businesses throughout the world, including Macy's and Canada's Shaw Tower at Cathedral Place. Throughout the years, Shaw has donated billions of dollars to charities, schools and hospitals. As a result, many Hong Kong buildings were named after him.
Shaw himself has also made regular appearances in TV shows and programs from TVB, including their Chinese New Year celebration programs. During these programs, Shaw would often lead an "awakening" ceremony that precedes the famous Chinese Lion Dance. Shaw has continued to lead this tradition throughout the years.- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Russell Banks was born on 28 March 1940 in Newton, Massachusetts, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for The Sweet Hereafter (1997), Affliction (1997) and American Darling. He was married to Chase Twichell, Kathy Walton, Mary Gunst and Darlene Bennett. He died on 7 January 2023 in Saratoga Springs, New York, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sarah Selby was born on 30 August 1905 in Middletown, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Tower of London (1962), Beyond the Forest (1949) and The Hardy Boys: The Mystery of the Ghost Farm (1957). She was married to Holger Yngvar Harthern-Jakobsen and Stanley Robert Wuliger. She died on 7 January 1980 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Shiv Chopra is known for Chal Chalein (2009), Seeds of Death: Unveiling the Lies of GMOs (2012) and The Idiot Cycle (2009).
- Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Silvio Horta was born on 14 August 1974 in Miami, Florida, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for Ugly Betty (2006), Urban Legend (1998) and The Chronicle (2001). He died on 7 January 2020 in Miami, Florida, USA.- Solange was born on 25 April 1952 in Collesalvetti, Livorno, Tuscany, Italy. He was married to Veronica. He died on 7 January 2021 in Collesalvetti, Tuscany, Italy.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Susanne apparently had a tumultuous private life. She married actor Hermann Nehlsen in 1956. Apparently that did not go well, as she tried to commit suicide twice in 1957 and was soon divorced. In 1958, she married actor Helmuth Lohner and was divorced five months later. She married Helmut a second time, which produced a child, daughter Konstanze Lohner. But a second divorce soon followed. In 1966, she married actor Kevin Hagen. Soon after, she left for Munich, Germany to visit her friend, Renate Ewert, whom she found dead. Reports were anywhere from six days to three weeks. In late 1968, she entered a private clinic in Hollywood, never to emerge, as she died on January 7, 1969. There were reports of a medical malpractice.- Taky Kimura was born on 12 March 1924 in Washington, USA. He was an actor, known for The Curse of the Dragon (1993), Bruce Lee in G.O.D.: Shibôteki yûgi (2000) and Bruce Lee: A Warrior's Journey (2000). He died on 7 January 2021 in Winchester, California, USA.
- Blonde younger sister of Lorena Velázquez, Teresa Velázquez made her first film in 1957. Often cast as a frivolous young woman, she worked steadily on screen and theater with Alejandro Jodorowsky through the 1970s, then retired from acting for a number of years. She made a comeback and was working on the stage and on TV when stricken with cancer in 1996. She died the following year after a well-publicized and valiant battle with the disease. Teresa Velázquez first married Venezuelan actor Espartaco Santoni (they had two children, one of whom is actress Paola Santoni) and then producer Carlos Vasallo.
- Thomas Gumpert was born on 11 December 1952 in Lauchhammer, German Democratic Republic. He was an actor, known for Alisa: Follow Your Heart (2009), Verbotene Liebe (1995) and Von wegen! (2005). He was married to Volker Gumpert-Rosin. He died on 7 January 2021 in Germany.
- Tommy Lasorda was one of the best managers in baseball until his retirement in July 1996. He was involved with the Los Angeles Dodgers for over 50 years. He managed the team from 1976 to 1996. He retired due to a heart attack. He thought being a manager would be too stressful.
- The son of an insurance underwriter who represented Lloyd's of London in Ceylon, Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith was born in Margate, Kent. He spent his early childhood globetrotting with his mother, frequently left in the care of strangers. After attending private school he went on to study drama at RADA (due to his mother's insistence) and was voted best in his class following a performance in "Much Ado About Nothing". Spurning a Hollywood contract with Paramount he acted on the West End stage and with the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from the mid-1930s, specialising in classical plays ranging from "Hamlet" and "Coriolanus" to "French without Tears", by Terence Rattigan. Howard was initially turned down for military service by both the RAF and the British Army but shortage of manpower led to his being called up in 1940 to serve as a second lieutenant with the Army Signal Corps. However, he neither saw action nor accumulated the illustrious wartime record (including winning the Military Cross) invented for him by his publicists. A 2001 biography by Terence Pettigrew claimed to have unearthed files from his war record which alleged that he was dismissed from service in 1943 due to 'mental instability'. Ironically, on screen, the actor was often cast as solid, unflappable British officers, perhaps reflecting his own personal credo of always feeling best when impersonating someone else.
Howard's career in films began quietly with small roles in The Way Ahead (1944) and Johnny in the Clouds (1945). He unexpectedly leapt to stardom in just his third outing as the stoic, decent Dr. Alec Harvey in David Lean's melancholic story of middle-class wartime romance, Brief Encounter (1945). Howard's mannered performance perfectly suited the required stiff-upper-lip mood of the film, his intensity and projected integrity more than compensating for his average looks. That 'jolly decent chap' persona continued on in another 'woman's picture', The Passionate Friends (1949), but Howard soon found his niche in more determined, worldly roles. He later admitted that "for years I was practically hounded by my first part in Brief Encounter. I loved the film, mind you, but the role wasn't me, at all" (Ottawa Citizen, February 17 1961). As a screen actor, Howard came of age in crime thrillers and war films, delivering his first genuine tour de force performance as a battle-hardened, cynical ex-pilot caught up in the world of post-war black market racketeering in I Became a Criminal (1947). His efficient, by-the-book intelligence officer, Major Calloway, in Carol Reed's The Third Man (1949) put him firmly on the map as a star character player.
Rasping-voiced and becoming increasingly craggy as the years went by, Howard contrasted archetypal authoritarians (seasoned army veteran Captain Thomson of The Cockleshell Heroes (1955), Captain William Bligh in the remake of Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), Lord Cardigan in The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968)) with weaklings (best exemplified by morally corrupt, degenerate expatriate trader Peter Willems in Outcast of the Islands (1951) -- arguably one of Howard's finest performances); sympathetic victims (colonial cop Scobie, tormented by religious guilt in The Heart of the Matter (1953)) and obsessive, driven eccentrics (crusading elephant preservationist Morel in The Roots of Heaven (1958), the alcoholic, haunted Sir Henry at Rawlinson End (1980), and the weird Russian recluse of Light Years Away (1981)). In the midst of angst-ridden heroes, drunken clerics and assorted historical characters, ranging from Napoleon Bonaparte to Sir Isaac Newton, Howard even essayed a Cheyenne warrior returning from the dead to defend his family in Windwalker (1980). Remarkably, though he took on a score of eminently forgettable projects, it is difficult to fault a single one of his performances. Throughout his entire career he was never out of favour with audiences and never out of work.
As becoming one of the most British of actors, Howard was an ardent cricket supporter, member of the prestigious Marylebone Cricket Club. He insisted on having a clause inserted in his contracts which allowed him leave from filming to attend test matches. A rather solitary man, he had few other hobbies (except, perhaps, a fondness for alcohol, which likely contributed to his death at the age of 74) and was reputedly modest about his accomplishments as an actor. He once declared "we don't have the Method School of acting in England. We simply read the script, let it seep in, then go put on whiskers - and do it" (New York Times, January 8 1988). - Val Bettin was born on 8 July 1923 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor, known for The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Shrek (2001) and Somewhere in Time (1980). He died on 7 January 2021 in Ventura, California, USA.
- Valeri Khlevinsky was born on 14 November 1943 in Vladimir, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. He was an actor, known for Molchaniye doktora Ivensa (1974), Sobstvennoe mnenie (1977) and Oglasheniyu ne podlezhit (1987). He died on 7 January 2021 in Moscow, Russia.
- Actor
- Writer
Vitaliano Trevisan was born on 12 December 1960 in Sandrigo, Veneto, Italy. He was an actor and writer, known for Primo amore (2004), Still Life (2007) and Senza lasciare traccia (2016). He died on 7 January 2022 in Crespadoro, Veneto, Italy.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Zinaid Memisevic was born on 26 April 1950 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for 2012 (2009), I Spy (2002) and Miracle (2004). He died on 7 January 2023 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.