Deaths: April 12
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Blair Tindall was born on 2 February 1960 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA. She was a writer, known for Malcolm X (1992), Mozart in the Jungle (2014) and Crooklyn (1994). She was married to Bill Nye. She died on 12 April 2023 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Alex Beckett was born in Carmarthenshire, South Wales in 1982, and trained at Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London, graduating in 2003. He was an actor best known for his role as Barney Lumsden in BBC's award-winning Twenty Twelve (2011), and W1A (2014-2017). Alex also had an extensive theatre CV. He passed away on April 12 2018.
- Beleaguered-looking French-British character actor, born André Gaston Maillol in Toulouse. Active in the United Kingdom (where he would take out citizenship by naturalisation in 1967) and billed as André Maranne from 1956, he provided a cultivated presence as stereotypical French gendarmes, customs officers, and waiters. His best-known role was that of Herbert Lom's bespectacled and hapless aide, Sergeant François Chevalier, in six Pink Panther movies. He also appeared in an episode of Fawlty Towers (1975) as a culinary aide to Basil. Maranne was genuinely myopic but disliked wearing his glasses on screen.
While TV appearances were undoubtedly his forte, on occasion Maranne graced the big screen. Aside from the Pink Panther films, notable appearances included a deft comic turn in Darling Lili (1970) (alongside the equally hilarious Jacques Marin) and as Admiral Pierre-Charles de Villeneuve, the ill-fated commander of the Franco-Spanish fleet at Trafalgar in The Nelson Affair (1973). For BBC radio, Maranne worked as presenter of Bonjour Francoise (1968), a French language course for beginners. He also acted in La Chasse au Trésor (1968), a BBC drama series for young children, designed to teach the basics of French. It was set in France and featured an all-French cast.
Maranne retired in 1991 to Brighton, England, where he died in 2021, aged 94. - Actress
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Anne Jackson was born on 3 September 1925 in Millvale, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for The Shining (1980), Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) and CBS Playhouse (1967). She was married to Eli Wallach. She died on 12 April 2016 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Robert "Bob" Jasper Reeves was born on January 28, 1892 in Marlin, Texas. He attended Texas A&M University and served in the US Army during World War I. In 1921 he was cast in a series of Western shorts that were called "Cactus Features". He and his leading lady Maryon Aye would make 18 Cactus Features together including Streak Of Yellow and The Claim Jumpers. Bob, who was six foot two inches tall and weighed over 200 pounds, became a popular Western star during the silent era. His success didn't last long and by the 1940s he was playing bit parts. During his long career he appeared in more three hundred movies. He also had roles on the television shows Maverick and Wyatt Earp. Bob was married to Mary Lee Turner. The couple had no children together but Bob was a stepfather to Mary's children from a previous marriage. On April 12, 1960 Bob had a heart attack and died while filling out an unemployment application. He was buried at Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery in North Hollywood, California.
- Brian Glennie was born on 18 July 1912 in Hartlepool, County Durham, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Sweeney Todd (1928). He died on 12 April 1960 in Hartlepool, County Durham, England, UK.
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Charlie Murphy was born on 12 July 1959 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Norbit (2007), Night at the Museum (2006) and Chappelle's Show (2003). He was married to Tisha Taylor Murphy. He died on 12 April 2017 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Born in Plano, Texas, Christopher Pettiet began career as a child actor making appearances in television series, made-for-television movies and films. He starred in two hit flicks, Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead (1991) and Point Break (1991), and then joined the cast of the Western TV series The Young Riders (1989) as a young Jesse James. After the cancellation of The Young Riders, his acting career began to wane. According to his manager, Bob Villard, Chris was just about "impoverished", living on "small residual check(s)". He went to a couple of AA meetings and never admitted to a drug problem. Sadly, he died of an accidental drug overdose, just two months after his 24th birthday.
- Claude Beauchamp was born on 9 July 1939 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He died on 12 April 2020 in Quebec, Québec, Canada.
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Colette Deréal was born on 22 September 1927 in Saint-Cyr-l'Ecole, Seine-et-Oise [now Yvelines], France. She was an actress and writer, known for Le manège de Port-Barcarès (1972), Cet homme est dangereux (1953) and The Sinners (1949). She died on 12 April 1988 in Monaco, Monaco.- Actor
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Danny Goldman was born on 30 October 1939 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and casting director, known for Young Frankenstein (1974), M*A*S*H (1970) and The Smurfs (1981). He was married to Mary Gillis. He died on 12 April 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Additional Crew
Daphne Sheldrick was born on 4 June 1934 in Kenya. She is known for The Flame Trees of Thika (1981), Bloody Ivory (1978) and For the Love of Elephants (2010). She was married to Bill Woodley and David Sheldrick. She died on 12 April 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya.- Producer
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David Gest was born on 11 May 1953 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a producer and actor, known for The All Star Impressions Show (2009), Michael Jackson: 30th Anniversary Celebration (2001) and 7th Annual American Cinema Awards (1990). He was married to Liza Minnelli. He died on 12 April 2016 in London, England, UK.- Actress
Dorothy Mitchum was born on 2 May 1919 in Camden, Delaware, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Robert Mitchum. She died on 12 April 2014 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.- Writer
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Doug Tibbles was born on 19 January 1940 in California, USA. He was a writer, known for Love, American Style (1969), My Three Sons (1960) and Magic Mongo (1977). He was married to Barbara Keith. He died on 12 April 2023 in Massachusetts, USA.- Elcira Olivera Garcés was born on 22 October 1924 in Mendoza, Mendoza, Argentina. She was an actress, known for El ángel de España (1957), La tigra (1954) and Ritmo nuevo y vieja ola (1965). She was married to Abel Santa Cruz. She died on 12 April 2016 in Córdoba, Argentina.
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Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born on January 30, 1882, in Hyde Park, New York, to James and Sara Roosevelt. His father was 54 at the time of FDR's birth and already had a grown son, nicknamed "Rosy". Sarah was only 27 when FDR was born. Growing up, FDR had a happy but sheltered childhood. His family was very wealthy and FDR had a very privileged upbringing, with trips to Europe and private tutors. Sara Roosevelt was a loving but domineering and overprotective mother. FDR was a devoted son, but found clever and subtle ways to get around his mother's domination. At 14 he was sent to Groton, an exclusive prep school led by the Rev. Endicott Peabody. FDR did not enjoy his time at Groton, often being teased by the other kids for having a formal and stuffy manner. Since he had a nephew who was older than him, kids at Groton called him "Uncle Frank". He graduated from Groton in 1900 and went to Harvard, where he edited the "Crimson" but failed to be accepted into the Porcellian Social Club. He graduated Harvard in 1903. Soon after that he fell madly in love with his sixth cousin, Eleanor Roosevelt. They married in 1905, with President Theodore Roosevelt giving the bride away. However, from the start Franklin and Eleanor's marriage was not a happy one. She was quiet and shy, whereas he was boisterous and outgoing. The fact that his mother moved into the house next door to theirs, and ran things, did not help. Franklin and Eleanor had six children (one child died in infancy). In 1910 Franklin was elected to the New York State Legislature from Duchess County. There he made a name for himself as a crusading reformer who favored the "average guy" over big business and championed for honest government. In 1913 he was appointed Assistant Secretary of the Navy and served under Josephus Daniels and President Woodrow Wilson. In 1918 he began a love affair with his wife's social secretary, Lucy Mercer. When Eleanor discovered the affair, she was understandably devastated and told Franklin she wanted a divorce. At the urging of his mother, Frankilin chose to save the marriage and promised Eleanor that he would never have anything more to do with Lucy. The damage was done, however, and Franklin and Eleanor never again shared the intimacies of marriage, becoming more like political partners. In 1921 FDR was stricken with polio and paralyzed. He permanently lost the use of his legs, but refused to let that thwart his political ambitions. He spoke at the 1924 Democratic Convention for the candidacy of Alfred E. Smith, then the Governor of New York, calling him the "Happy Warrior". In 1928 FDR was elected Governor of New York and was well placed when the stock market crashed in 1929. As governor he took the lead in providing relief and public works projects for the millions of unemployed in the state. His success as New York's governor made him a strong candidate for the Presidency in 1932. He easily beat incumbent President Herbert Hoover.
When Franklin Roosevelt was sworn in as President on March 4, 1933, more than 15 million Americans were unemployed. Millions more had been hard hit by the Depression and the banking system had collapsed. FDR wasted no time in launching a radical economic recovery program, known as the New Deal. He created the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), which made the federal government the guarantor of people's bank deposits - not the banks themselves - and allowed drought-stricken farmers to refinance their mortgages, He created public works programs including the Works Progress Administration (WPA) and Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC)--thus making the government the employer of last resort--as well as setting up the Social Security system, instituting a minimum wage, outlawing child labor--a widespread practice at the time, especially in mines, factories and textile mills--and mandating a 40-hour work week with overtime pay. In responding to the Depression, FDR forever changed the role of the federal government in American life. He was easily reelected in 1936, defeating Republican Alf Landon in a landslide. His second term as president was less successful than his first, however. The Supreme Court had ruled a number of New Deal measures unconstitutional. With an electoral mandate in the bank, FDR proposed "packing" the Supreme Court with justices of his political persuasion for every judge over the age of 70 that did not retire. However, Congress refused to pass the Supreme Court packing plan, and from that point on FDR was unable to get Congress to pass much of his legislation. Also, fascism was rising rapidly throughout Europe and Asia. Germany's Adolf Hitler and Italy's Benito Mussolini had both seized power and began to conquer other countries, such as Ethiopia, Austria and Czechoslavakia. FDR was unable to respond to the threats from Europe and Asia, however, because sentiment in the US was strongly isolationist and Congress had passed a series of neutrality laws that gave the President very little power to respond to international aggression. World War II began in September 1939 when Hitler invaded Poland. Nine months later all of Western Europe had fallen to Hitler. The UK and its Commonwealth and Empire was standing alone. FDR wanted to help Britain, but had to move carefully and skillfully. He negotiated a deal in which the US gave Britain 50 old destroyers in exchange for bases in the Western Hemisphere. With World War II underway, FDR took the unprecedented move of seeking a third term as president. He won that term in November 1940, defeating Republican Wendell Willkie. Safely re-elected, he proposed a radical new program for helping Britain, known as Lend-Lease, in which Britain could buy armaments and other supplies from the US but not have to pay for them until after the war. FDR used the analogy of borrowing a neighbor's hose to put out a house fire to sell Lend-Lease. It passed and America became the "arsenal of democracy" as it began to build armaments for Britain and then the Soviet Union, when Hitler invaded it in mid-1941. Roosevelt met Britain's Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for the first time in August 1941 where they drew up the Atlantic Charter. On December 7, 1941, the Japanese launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, destroying much of America's Pacific fleet. The next day,FDR declared war on Japan, calling December 7 "a date that will live in infamy." America was in the war, and not only against Japan, but also against Germany and Italy. Under FDR's leadership, America quickly transformed itself from a decaying nation of idle factories, impoverished families, abandoned farms and masses of hobos roaming the streets to a nation turning out planes, tanks, guns, military vehicles and other armaments on a scale that quickly dwarfed the capability of Nazi Germany to do the same. World War II also changed American life as blacks got better jobs in the war plants and women began working outside the home in unprecedented numbers. Helped by Eleanor, FDR used the war as a vehicle for social progress, securing better treatment for minorities and women, higher wages and better benefits for workers and a GI bill, which guaranteed a free college education for all American soldiers who fought in the war. In so doing, he created the American middle class of today.
After a series of military defeats, the US and its allies began to win the war. Invasions of North Africa and Italy were launched and the US started retaking islands in the South Pacific it had lost to Japan at the beginning of the war, starting with the Battle of Midway in 1942. FDR met with Churchill several times throughout the war and with Soviet leader Joseph Stalin at Tehran in 1943 and at Yalta in 1945. The Allied invasion of France, known as D-Day, was launched on June 6, 1944. As the war ended, FDR pushed for his dream of a United Nations and for reforms that would ensure that another World War would never happen. The United Nations did come to pass, as well as new global institutions such as the World Bank and IMF. Also, FDR advocated for decolonization of Africa and Asia, leading to the collapse of the old European empires.
Because of the war, FDR felt he had no right to leave the presidency while Americans under his command were still fighting. So he sought a fourth term in 1944. His opponent was the new governor of New York, Thomas E. Dewey, who ran a campaign of innuendo, hinting that FDR was too ill to lead and that his government had gone stale. FDR retaliated with a speech accusing the Republicans of attacking his dog, Fala. FDR won his fourth term in November 1944. In January 1945 he journeyed to Yalta to confer with Churchill and Stalin for the last time, to settle the postwar world and push for Russian participation in the United Nations. By this time FDR was gravely ill. After the Yalta Conference, he traveled to his resort at Warm Springs, Georgia, where he died suddenly of a massive stroke on April 12, 1945. It was revealed that Lucy Mercer, his one-time lover, was with him when he died and that she had secretly visited him in the White House a number of times during his last year.
There was an elaborate funeral for him, with a train procession from Warm Springs to Washington DC, then to Hyde Park, where he was buried.- Gavin Menzies is known for 1421: The Year China Discovered the World.
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Georgia Engel was born on 28 July 1948 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She was an actress, known for Everybody Loves Raymond (1996), The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and Open Season (2006). She died on 12 April 2019 in Princeton, New Jersey, USA.- Producer
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At the tender age of 15, Gilbert Gottfried began doing stand-up at open mike nights in New York City and, after a few short years, became known around town as "the comedian's comedian". After spending several years mastering the art of stand-up comedy, producers of the legendary NBC late-night comedy show Saturday Night Live (1975) became aware of Gottfried and, in 1980, hired him as a cast member. It was not until a few years later that his notoriety began after MTV hired him for a series of improvised and hilarious promos for the newly formed channel. This led to several television appearances on The Cosby Show (1984).
Gottfried's work in television soon led to roles in film. Most notable was his improvised scene as business manager "Sidney Bernstein" in Beverly Hills Cop II (1987). The New York Daily News critic wrote that "Gilbert Gottfried steals the picture with a single scene". Aside from his glowing reputation in comedy clubs, Gottfried gained a reputation as the king of quirky roles in both movies and television. He appeared in such movies as Problem Child (1990), Problem Child 2 (1991), Look Who's Talking Too (1990), and The Adventures of Ford Fairlane (1990). He was also the host of the very popular late night movie series Up All Night (1989).
After his performance as the wise cracking parrot "Iago" in the Disney classic Aladdin (1992), Gottfried became one of the most recognizable voice-over talents. His signature voice was heard in several commercials, cartoons and movies, including the frustrated duck in the AFLAC Insurance commercials. Gottfried was the voice of Digit in the long-running PBS series Cyberchase (2002).
Gottfried was a regular on the new Hollywood Squares (1998) and was a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) and Howard Stern on Demand (2005). He appeared in the hit comedy documentary The Aristocrats (2005), with Entertainment Weekly opining that, "out of the 101 comedians who appear on screen, no one is funnier - or more disgusting - than Gilbert Gottfried".
"Gilbert Gottfried Dirty Jokes" was recently released on both DVD and CD, featuring 50 non-stop minutes of Gottfried telling the funniest and filthiest jokes, ever. The show was filmed live at the Gotham Comedy Club in New York City. Also featured on the DVD are some of the funniest bonus features ever, including wild stories, indignant ranting and celebrity impressions. For this live performance, Gottfried put aside political correctness and fires an onslaught of jokes that know no boundaries. At the end of the show, Gottfried told what is known among comedians as the "Dirtiest Joke of All Time", the basis for The Aristocrats (2005). He was one of the most sought-after comedians, and regularly performed live to sold-out audiences across North America.
Gottfried died of ventricular tachycardia at the age of 67, leaving behind his wife, his two children, and his sister, Karen.- Animation Department
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Giuliano Cenci was born on 10 August 1931 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy. He was a writer and director, known for Pinocchio (1971), Mu-Lan (1998) and Titanic: The Legend Goes On... (2000). He died on 12 April 2018 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.- Gregory McKinney was born on 7 February 1957 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Mortal Kombat (1995), Eraser (1996) and Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). He was married to Paige Patterson. He died on 12 April 1998 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Jacques De Decker was born on 19 August 1945 in Schaerbeek, Brussels, Belgium. He was an actor and writer, known for Isabelle and Lust (1975), Wittekerke (1993) and Hard Labeur (1985). He was married to Claudia Ritter. He died on 12 April 2020 in Brussels, Belgium.
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James Gleason was born in New York City to William Gleason and Mina Crolius, who were both in the theatre. He was married to Lucile Gleason (born Lucile Webster), and had a son, Russell Gleason. As a young man James fought in the Spanish-American War. After the war he joined the stock company at the Liberty Theater in Oakland, California, which his parents were running. James and his wife then moved to Portland, Oregon, where they played in stock at the Baker Theater. For several years afterward they toured in road shows until James enlisted in the army during World War I. When he returned he appeared on the stage in "The Five Million." He then turned to writing, including "Is Zat So", which he produced for the NY stage. He also wrote and acted in "The Fall Guy" and "The Shannons on Broadway." Next he wrote The Broadway Melody (1929) for MGM. He collaborated, in 1930, on The Swellhead (1930), Dumbbells in Ermine (1930), What a Widow! (1930), Rain or Shine (1930) and His First Command (1929). He and his wife were then contracted to Pathe, Lucille to act, and James (or Jimmie as he was known) as a writer. Probably his most famous acting role was as Max Corkle, the manager of Joe Pendleton who was wrongly plucked from this life into the next, in the hit fantasy Here Comes Mr. Jordan (1941).- Joe Pedicino was born on 4 October 1949 in the USA. He was a producer, known for GWF Major League Wrestling (1991), WCW Worldwide (1975) and World Class Championship Wrestling (1972). He was married to Bonnie Blackstone. He died on 12 April 2020.
- John McEnery was born on 1 November 1943 in Walsall, Staffordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Romeo and Juliet (1968), Bartleby (1970) and Nicholas and Alexandra (1971). He was married to Stephanie Beacham. He died on 12 April 2019 in the UK.
- Jorge Salcedo was born on 6 February 1915 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor, known for El crack (1960), Mujeres perdidas (1964) and Hardly a Criminal (1949). He died on 12 April 1988 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Josephine Baker was born Freda Josephine McDonald in St. Louis, MO, in 1906 to Carrie McDonald, a laundress, and Eddie Carson, a musician. Her early life hinted at her future career. She first danced for the public on the streets of St. Louis for nickels and dimes. Later she became a chorus girl on the St. Louis stage. At age 15 she married Pullman porter William Howard Baker, but left him when she ran away from St. Louis at age 17, feeling there was too much racial discrimination in the city. She eventually made her way to Paris, France. Her first job in Paris was in "La revue negre". Her next significant job was at the Folies Bergere, where she was a member of the club's all-black revue. It was there, in 1925, that she first performed her famous "banana dance". She quickly became a favorite of the French, and her fame grew, but she had many ups and downs during her career. Although popular in France, during the "Red Scare" era of the 1950s, she was falsely accused of being a Communist and informed that she was no longer welcome in the US (in 1937 she had renounced her American citizenship, utterly disgusted by the blatant and official racism against blacks, and became a French citizen).
In 1961 Josephine was awarded the Legion of Honor, France's highest award. In the late 1960s she began having financial difficulties, and stopped performing in 1968. Grace Kelly, who by that time had married Prince Rainier of Monaco and was now known as Princess Grace of Monaco, offered her a home in Monaco when she learned of Josephine's financial problems. At the request of Princess Grace, Josephine performed at Monaco's summer ball in 1974 and was a great success. That same year she staged a week of performances in New York City and called the show "An Evening with Josephine Baker". She had just begun a Paris revue celebrating her half-century on the stage when on April 10, 1975, she was stricken with a cerebral hemorrhage and went into a coma. She died without regaining consciousness. Her funeral was held in Paris, and she was buried in Monaco.- Actor
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Keiji Fujiwara was born on 5 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. He was an actor, known for Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children (2005), Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) and Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters vs. Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger: The Movie (2013). He died on 12 April 2020 in Osaka, Japan.- Actress
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Linda Cook was born on 8 June 1948 in Lubbock, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for The Cooler (2003), The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992) and Puppet Master (1989). She was married to Patrick Mann. She died on 12 April 2012 in New York City, New York, USA.- Actor
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Louis van Dijk was born on 27 November 1941 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He was an actor and composer, known for Het compromis (1968), Martine (1975) and Shaffy chantant (1968). He was married to Aleid. He died on 12 April 2020 in Laren, Noord-Holland, Netherlands.- Actress
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Maria Antippas was born on 30 May 1928 in Jerusalem, Israel. She was an actress and director, known for The Avengers (1961), Ilektroniki epafi (1987) and The Bacchae (1962). She was married to Donald Cammell. She died on 12 April 2021 in London, England, UK.- A real television "queen" in sixties, she played leads in Tres destinos, Nostalgias del tiempo lindo, La pulpera de Santa Lucía and others series. Also obtained critical recognition in the films Los de la mesa diez and Con alma y vida. Her daughter is Paola Papini (actress).
- Mary Begoña was born on 4 April 1925 in Bilbao, Vizcaya, País Vasco, Spain. She was an actress, known for Vampiresas 1930 (1962), La verbena de la Paloma (1963) and Alta tensión (1972). She died on 12 April 2020 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
- Maurice Barrier was born on 8 June 1932 in Malicorne-sur-Sarthe, Sarthe, France. He was an actor, known for One Woman or Two (1985), Salut l'artiste (1973) and La nuit de Santa-Claus (1985). He was married to Hélène Manesse. He died on 12 April 2020 in Montbard, Côte-d'Or, France.
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If any man ever had a curmudgeon character face absolutely made for TV and film, it was Paul Ford. Small-eyed, balding, lugubrious, pot-bellied and with a memorable plum nose to rival that of the great Karl Malden, he made a very late entry into show business, finding major success as blowhard military brass, gruff executives, grouchy sheriffs and blustery judges.
Born Paul Ford Weaver on November 2, 1901, in Baltimore, Maryland, he dropped out of Dartmouth College before working as a salesman throughout the Great Depression. The married Ford was a rather wanderlust family man who decided to give acting a try in his early 40s. He excelled at puppetry and found work staging such shows at the World's Fair. Billing himself as Paul Ford, his middle name and mother's maiden name, he eventually found a fair amount of radio and theatre offers. Making his off-Broadway debut in 1939, he moved to Broadway playing a sergeant in the 1944 play "Decision" and continued on the New York stage with such popular 40's plays as "Kiss Them for Me," "Flamingo Road" and "Command Decision."
Paul moved inauspiciously into films with uncredited roles in the dramatic films The House on 92nd Street (1945), The Naked City (1948) and All the King's Men (1949), then walked up the credits ladder rung by rung with credited roles in Lust for Gold (1949), The Kid from Texas (1950) and Perfect Strangers (1950). Eventually he included the newer medium of TV, finding roles on various anthology series including "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "The Ford Theatre Hour," "The Philco Television Playhouse," "Suspense" and "Studio One in Hollywood."
Paul earned a huge hit on Broadway with his delightfully huffy portrayal of Colonel Wainright Purdy in the 1953 Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning war comedy "Teahouse of the August Moon." He went on to transfer his role to film with The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956). From there, he was given the part of irascible Horace Vandergelder in the movie version of the Thornton Wilder play The Matchmaker (1958) also starring Shirley Booth as Dolly Levi, Shirley MacLaine as Irene Malloy, Anthony Perkins as Cornelius Hackl and Robert Morse as Barnaby Tucker.
Having already conquered radio, stage and film, it was on TV that 54-year-old Paul would achieve "overnight success" and become a household name when he was hired played a befuddled second banana to comedian Phil Silvers on TV. Butting heads week after week as the ever-flustered Colonel Hall with Silvers' classic portrayal of the sly, manipulative Sergeant Bilko in The Phil Silvers Show (1955), Paul amused audiences for four seasons and was Emmy-nominated three times. During this time he scored another Broadway success playing multiple roles in the light-hearted sketch revue "Thurber's Carnival" in 1960.
As a reward for his small screen success, Paul was awarded the opportunity to film another stage hit. Shining in the pompous supporting role of Mayor Shinn in the 1957 Tony-awarded musical hit "The Music Man" (he replaced Tony-winning David Burns, the actor, along with Robert Preston (as Harold Hill) and Pert Kelton (as Mrs. Paroo) transferred his character to the immortal feature film version of The Music Man (1962).
Ford went on playing playing old coot gents and took a third Broadway triumph to film as elderly father-to-be Harry Lambert in the family comedy Never Too Late (1965) co-starring his stage partner Maureen O'Sullivan as expectant wife Edith. Other twilight character film roles included his senator in Advise & Consent (1962), another colonel in It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963), a general in The Spy with a Cold Nose (1966), a military commander in The Russians Are Coming the Russians Are Coming (1966), a one-time third-party presidential candidate in The Comedians (1967) (for which he won a National Board of Review award for "Best Supporting Actor"), and his last film, as a doctor in the little seen comedy Richard (1972).
Ford eventually retired in 1972, and died four years later due to a massive heart attack in Mineola, New York, on April 12, 1976. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Falling somewhat below W.C. Fields and Walter Matthau in crabby popularity, this delightful curmudgeon nevertheless earned and deserved his brief, late-night success.- Peter Bonetti was born on 27 September 1941 in Putney, London, England, UK. He was married to Kay McDowell and Frances Jennings. He died on 12 April 2020 in the UK.
- Peter Haskell was born on 15 October 1934 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Child's Play 3 (1991), Child's Play 2 (1990) and Bracken's World (1969). He was married to Dianne Tolmich and Annie Compton. He died on 12 April 2010 in Northridge, California, USA.
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Ronald Chesney was born on 4 May 1920 in London, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for On the Buses (1969), The Rag Trade (1961) and On the Buses (1971). He was married to Patricia Martin. He died on 12 April 2018 in Surrey, England, UK.- Ruth Alice Taylor was born on January 13, 1905 (some sources say 1908) in Grand Rapids, Michigan. When she was a child her family moved to Oregon. At the age of nineteen Ruth went to Hollywood and started her career as an extra at Universal Studios. In 1925 she signed a two year contract with Mack Sennett and became one of his bathing beauties. With her perky smile and blonde spit curls Ruth quickly became one of Sennett's most popular actresses. She had supporting roles in several comedies including A Yankee Doodle Duke and The Pride Of Pikeville. Ruth was nicknamed "The Little Girl With A Big Personality".
In 1928 she beat out dozens of other actresses for the role of Lorelei Lee in the film version of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. That same year she was named one of the WAMPAS Baby Stars. Ruth was offered a contract at Paramount and starred in the comedy The College Coquette. In 1930 she married stockbroker Paul Steinberg Zuckerman and had a son. She decided to quit making movies and became a housewife. Her final acting role was in the comedy short Scrappily Married. Ruth and Paul lived in Palm Springs and were happily married until his death in 1965. Their son, Buck Henry, became a successful screenwriter. Ruth died on April 12, 1984 at the age of seventy-nine. She is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills, California. - Sergio Pitol was born on 18 March 1933 in Puebla, Puebla, Mexico. He was a writer, known for Married Life (1993), Negro sobre blanco (1997) and Estravagario (2004). He died on 12 April 2018 in Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico.
- Sonny Caldinez was born on 1 July 1932 in Trinidad, British West Indies [now Trinidad and Tobago]. He was an actor, known for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Fifth Element (1997) and Doctor Who (1963). He died on 12 April 2022.
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Born in London in 1929, Stirling Moss' love of auto racing ran in the family - his father, a dentist, had been a race car driver and had, in fact, raced at Indianapolis in 1924 and again in 1925. Interested in cars virtually from childhood, Moss began racing in earnest at 17. Two years later he took fourth overall and first in his class driving a Cooper Formula 3 at the prestigious Bugatti Owner's Club Hill Climb. By year's end he had won six more races. He soon switched to sports car racing, where he earned his greatest fame. In the 1950s he won every important auto race there was, with the exception of LeMans. In 1950 the World Driving Championship circuit was created, and Moss was considered a shoo-in to take it, but Argentine driver Juan Manuel Fangio wound up capturing the title. However, Moss consoled himself by winning the British, New Zealand, Monaco, Moroccan and Italian GPs, and the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix race is generally considered to be his greatest accomplishment. He drove a Lotus-Climax - a car vastly underpowered compared to the snarling Ferraris it was competing against - but through sheer skill and technique managed to overtake the field and crossed the finish line, taking the race by an incredibly tight 3.6 seconds.
In 1962 Moss was badly injured in a horrific crash while driving in Goodwood, England. He lay in a coma for some time, and when he finally came out of it, his left side was partially paralyzed and his reaction times were vastly slower. However, after several months, he had recovered sufficiently to where he wanted to drive again. On May 1, 1963, he strapped himself into a race car at the Goodwood track - where he had had his near-fatal crash - and drove several laps around the track. When he pulled up after finishing, he stepped out of the car and said, "I am retiring." He realized that his body and reactions were no longer what they were before the accident, and rather than using his years of experience to react instinctively to situations as he had done, he would have to think about everything he would be doing, and to Moss that was unacceptable. So he left the sport he loved and to which he had devoted virtually his entire life - if he couldn't be the best at it, he wouldn't do it at all.- Actor
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Born Walker Smith, Jr., he borrowed the name of a fighter named Ray Robinson to box as an amateur so his mother wouldn't find out. Undefeated as an amateur boxer, 85-0, with 69 knockouts, 42 of them in the first round. Turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. Lost his first fight by decision to Jake LaMotta. Robinson would defeat LaMotta five out of six times. He joined the U.S. Army and boxed countless exhibitions alongside World Heavyweight Champ Joe Louis. Robinson won his next 93 straight fights. He was a six-time world champion, winning the Welterweight Title and then the Middleweight Title five times. His career lasted 25 years. He defeated many of the greatest boxing champions of his day, among them LaMotta, Kid Gavilan, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Randolph Turpin and Carl "BoBo" Olsen. Only stopped once in over 200 fights. Scored over 100 knockout victories. Lost his last fight to Joey Archer in 1965. Friends with Frank Sinatra. Once owned an entire city block in Harlem. Spent millions on a jet-setting lifestyle.- Actor
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Chubby, antsy, and distinctive character actor Sydney Lassick was born on July 23, 1922 to Jewish Russian immigrant parents in Chicago, Illinois. Lassick first began acting in both films and TV shows in the late 50s. Portly and bespectacled, with a high-pitched voice and a nervous disposition, Sydney was usually cast as peevish neurotics, obsequious toadies, and fretful everyman types. Best known for his outstanding portrayal of the whiny and infantile manic depressive mental patient Charlie Cheswick in the acclaimed "One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Lassick's other most memorable roles include a fey Fairy Godfather in the lowbrow nudie cutie musical "Sinderella and the Golden Bra," mean sarcastic English teacher Mr. Fromm in "Carrie;" genuinely creepy as perverse and abusive innkeeper Ernest Keller in the potently unnerving slasher horror sleeper "The Unseen;" at his oily best as the slimy Charlie P. in the supremely twisted cult oddity "Sonny Boy," effeminate lackey Gopher in "Deep Cover," and jolly trailer park manager Woody Wilson in "Freeway." Among the TV series Sydney made guest appearances on are "Family," "Eight is Enough," "Baretta," "Hawaii Five-O," "Barney Miller," "Matt Houston," "Moonlighting," "Knots Landing," "Dream On," and "The X-Files." Lassick died at age 80 from complications from diabetes on April 12, 2003 in Los Angeles, California. He was survived by an older sister.- Tarvaris Jackson was born on 21 April 1983 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. He was married to Lakita Thompson. He died on 12 April 2020 in Pike Road, Alabama, USA.
- Terry Kitaen was born on 7 December 1938 in San Diego, California, USA. He was married to Mary Esther Cantu and Linda Lee Taylor. He died on 12 April 2021 in El Cajon, California, USA.
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Tilda Thamar was born on 7 December 1921 in Urdinarrain, Entre Ríos, Argentina. She was an actress and director, known for L'appel (1974), The Master Plan (1954) and A Night at the Moulin Rouge (1957). She was married to Alejo Vidal-Quadras. She died on 12 April 1989 in Clermont-en-Argonne, Meuse, France.- Actor
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- Editorial Department
Tim Brooke-Taylor was born on 17 July 1940 in Buxton, Derbyshire, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Goodies (1970), At Last the 1948 Show (1967) and Engelbert with the Young Generation (1972). He was married to Christine Wheadon. He died on 12 April 2020 in Cookham, Berkshire, England, UK.- Sound Department
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Tom Coyne was born on 10 December 1954 in Union, New Jersey, USA. He is known for Search for Tomorrow (1951), Imagine Dragons: Believer (2017) and Britney Spears: Till the World Ends (2011). He died on 12 April 2017 in Morristown, New Jersey, USA.- American character actor with extensive stage experience. Born in Oakland, California, he appeared on Broadway in "Sticks and Bones," and "The Price," among others. He acted often in television, but his most prominent role was as Corleone family bodyguard Rocco Lampone in the first two 'Godfather' movies. Following a long bout with cancer, he died at 62 in 1991.