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1-50 of 1,480
- Writer
- Art Department
Albrecht Dürer was born on 21 May 1471 in Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire [now Bavaria, Germany]. He was a writer, known for Knight, Death and the Devil (2023) and Unser Sandmännchen (1959). He died on 6 April 1528 in Nuremberg, Holy Roman Empire [now Bavaria, Germany].- Writer
- Soundtrack
Paul de Kock was born on 21 May 1793 in Passy, Paris, France. Paul was a writer, known for French Cancan (1955), L'amante della luna (1919) and Montmartre (2005). Paul died on 27 August 1871 in Romainville, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.- Henri Rousseau (Le Douanier) was born on May 21, 1844, in Laval, Northern France. His father was a plumber. Young Rousseau finished the Lycee in Laval and started as a lawyer's clerk. From 1863-1868 he served in the French Army. From 1869-1893 Russeau worked in a toll booth on the edge of Paris, as a municipal toll collector. For that job he was called "Le Douanier." He never really was a customs officer, but a second-class clerk; he was never promoted on his job and basically collected a fee from farmers coming to Paris markets.
Rousseau began painting in his forties. In 1884 he obtained a permit to sketch in the national museums and spent many hours sketching classical art masterpieces in the Louvre. His job as a toll collector gave him little income, but much time to paint. He also earned some cash as a street musician. Rousseau was self-taught, although he admitted he had received some advice from established Academic artists, including that of Jean-Leon Gerome. Rousseau was inspired by the jungle, but he never was there. His sources of imagination were illustrated books and visits to the Zoo and Botanical Gardens in Paris. He also used images from a drawing book of his daughter. He could paint bananas growing upside-down and in a few paintings he grouped animals from different continents, that in reality could never have been seen together. It was the genuine feeling and high decorative quality of his paintings that brought him attention from other artists. Pablo Picasso saw a painting by Rousseau being sold on the street as a canvas to be painted over. Picasso bought Rousseau's paintings in recognition of his genius.
His child-like art was created in the Post-Impressionist period and was categorized as Naive or Primitive. From 1886 Rousseau exhibited every year at the Salon des Independants along with the works of Georges Seurat, Armand Guillaumin, Odilon Redon, Paul Signac, Paul Gauguin, and other Post-Impressionists. His greatest wish was to master an academic style, and he genuinely believed that his pictures were real and convincing. Rousseau himself was such a sincere and genuine person, that he interpreted even sarcastic remarks literally and took them as praise. His positive disposition helped him endure great poverty. His working class background was seen as his big drawback by many contemporary critics. Finally the innocence and charm of his works won him the admiration of the leading artists. In 1905 he exhibited his large jungle composition 'The Hungry Lion Throws Itself on the Antelope' along with Henri Matisse at the first showing of Les Fauves (The Wild Ones).
Rousseau had an influence on such artists as Pablo Picasso, Robert Delaunay, Wassily Kandinsky, Félix Vallotton, Paul Gauguin, and many others. In 1908 Pablo Picasso bought a few works from Rousseau and gave a banquet at his studio in Rousseau's honor. At the banquet Rousseu was praised by Guillaume Apollinaire, Robert Delaunay, Max Jacob and by other artists in a manner, which was half-serious, half-burlesque. Rousseau sincerely believed in the serious half, and later told Picasso: "There are only two real artists in the world, you in "Egyptian style" and I am in "Classical." That's how different and naive was the world of Rousseau, whose genuine views impressed Pablo Picasso as much as his works. During 1909 and 1910 many of Rousseau's paintings were acquired by the dealers Ambroise Vollard and Joseph Brummer. Rousseau's paintings were shown posthumously in 1911, in a retrospective exhibition at the Salon des Independants. Rousseau's works were chosen by Wassily Kandinsky for the first exhibitions of Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) in 1911 and 1912 that toured Germany. The surrealist movement later considered Rousseau as one of their forerunners.
Henri Rousseau died on September 2, 1910, in Paris, and was laid to rest in the Cimetiere de Bagneux, in Paris, France.
Guillaume Apollinaire wrote the epitaph on Rousseau's tombstone:
We salute you Gentile Rousseau you can hear us
Delaunay his wife Monsier Queval and myself
Let our luggage pass duty free through the gates of heaven
We will bring you brushes paints and canvas
That you may spend your sacred leisure in the light of truth
Painting as you once did my portrait
Facing the stars - Writer
- Director
Eugene B. Lewis was born on 21 May 1878 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA. He was a writer and director, known for The Love Special (1921), Cupid's Fireman (1923) and Bare Fists (1919). He died on 16 March 1924 in California, USA.- Glenn Curtiss was born on 21 May 1878 in Hammondsport, New York, USA. He was married to Lena Neff. He died on 23 July 1930 in Buffalo, New York, USA.
- Emmett Anthony was born on 21 May 1889 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, USA. He was an actor, known for A Son of Satan (1924). He died on 6 February 1931 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Hector St Clair was born on 21 May 1898 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Prehistoric Hayseeds (1923). He died on 14 December 1932 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Melville Gideon was born on 21 May 1884 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Boots! Boots! (1934), The Co-Optimists (1929) and Before the Fringe (1967). He was married to Ninon Bunyea. He died on 11 November 1933 in London, England, UK.- Meinrad Lienert was born on 21 May 1865 in Einsiedeln, Schwyz, Switzerland. He was a writer, known for Der doppelte Matthias und seine Töchter (1941). He was married to Maria Magdalena Josefina Gyr. He died on 26 December 1933 in Küsnacht, Zürich, Switzerland.
- Actor
- Director
- Manager
James Durkin was born on 21 May 1876 in Quebec, Canada. He was an actor and director, known for Perils of Pauline (1933), Who Killed Simon Baird? (1916) and The Clarion (1916). He was married to Maude Fealy and Alice Naylor. He died on 12 March 1934 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Special Effects
In the beginning, long before computer-generated imagery, there were the Lydecker brothers. Using detailed miniatures, scale model vehicles, creative lighting, and camera techniques, the special effects duo revolutionized the moviemaking business and made Republic Pictures a force to reckon with in the film industry. The Lydeckers followed in their father's footsteps. Howard C. Lydecker worked specifically for actor Douglas Fairbanks and was an early practitioner in special effects, including the filming of miniatures and trick photography.- Actor
Albert Richman was born on 21 May 1885 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor. He died on 20 April 1936 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Music Department
Mitja Nikisch was born on 21 May 1899 in Leipzig, Germany. Mitja is known for ...und das ist die Hauptsache!? (1931). Mitja was married to Nora Gregor. Mitja died on 5 August 1936 in Venice, Italy.- Camera and Electrical Department
Clarence Hewitt was born on 21 May 1901 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA. He is known for The Rogue Song (1930). He died on 8 July 1938 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Morny Cash was born on 21 May 1872 in Manchester, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Eviction (1904). He died on 17 October 1938 in Dulwich, London, England, UK.
- John O'Connor was born on 21 May 1874 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Cassidy (1917). He died on 10 September 1941 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
- Composer
- Writer
- Music Department
Pablo Luna was born on 21 May 1879 in Alhama de Aragón, Spain. He was a composer and writer, known for Windmills (1939), Teatro Apolo (1950) and Tremolina (1957). He died on 28 January 1942 in Madrid, Spain.- Richard Carlyle was born on 21 May 1879 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Lion Man (1936), The Bridge of Sighs (1915) and Playing Around (1930). He was married to Mirza Marston. He died on 12 June 1942 in San Fernando, California, USA.
- Music Department
- Actor
- Composer
Thomas Waller was born in 1904. He was one of the most important pianist in the history of jazz. He studied piano with James P. Johnson, one of the masters of the stride piano in the 1920s. Fats began recording his first piano solos in 1923. He worked in the revue "Hot Chocolates" in the late 1920s as a composer. Along with Duke Ellington, he is one of the most prolific composers in jazz. His best songs are, "Ain't Misbehavin' ", "Honeysuckle Rose", "Black and Blue", "Blue Turned Grey Over You" and "Keepin' Out of Mischief Now". He formed his own group in 1934, Fats Waller and his Rhythm, and recorded many records for RCA Victor. Two of his most notable film appearances were in Stormy Weather (1943) and King of Burlesque (1936). He died in 1943 on a train during a trip to California. He was just 39 years old.- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Dagmar Schrader was born on 21 May 1859 in Skanderborg, Denmark. Dagmar is known for You're Lying! (1969), I de lyse nætter (1948) and Resa i toner (1959). Dagmar died on 18 March 1944.- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Richard Bennett was born on 21 May 1870 in Deer Creek, Indiana, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Magnificent Ambersons (1942), Damaged Goods (1914) and The Eternal City (1923). He was married to Aimee Raisch Hastings, Adrienne Morrison and Grena Heller. He died on 22 October 1944 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Special Effects
Tenkatsu Shôkyokusai was born on 21 May 1886 in Kanda, Tokyo, Japan. She was an actress, known for Majutsu no joô (1936), The Water Magician (1933) and Seiki wa warau (1941). She died on 11 November 1944.- William Elam was born on 21 May 1891 in Orosi, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Greed for Gold (1913). He died on 4 July 1945 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Actress
Mary Zimmermann was born on 21 May 1889 in Karlsruhe, Germany. She was an actress, known for In einem kühlen Grunde (1921), Das Mädel von Pontecuculi (1924) and Das Skelett (1916). She died on 16 December 1945 in Berlin, Germany.- Jozef Simons was born on 21 May 1888 in Oelegem, Flanders, Belgium. He was a writer, known for De danstent (1976). He died on 20 January 1948 in Turnhout, Flanders, Belgium.
- Edvard Nielsen-Stevns was born on 21 May 1880 in Sigerslev, Denmark. Edvard was a writer, known for Den sidste af slægten (1922). Edvard died on 25 February 1949.
- Paul Rehkopf was born on 21 May 1872 in Brunswick, Germany. He was an actor, known for Die Teufelskirche (1919), Er oder ich (1930) and The Testament of Dr. Mabuse (1933). He died on 29 June 1949 in Berlin, Germany.
- Actor
- Writer
Alan D'Egville was born on 21 May 1891 in Surbiton, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Highland Fling (1936), Servants All (1936) and Picture Page (1936). He died on 15 May 1951 in Exeter, Devon, England, UK.- Otto Rubík was born on 21 May 1898 in Ponetovice, Moravia, Austria-Hungary [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for On a jeho sestra (1931), Hudba srdcí (1934) and Business in Distress (1931). He died on 26 November 1951 in Prague, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic].
- Johnny Burke was born on 21 May 1881 in the USA. He was an actor, known for Little Men (1940), The Good-Bye Kiss (1928) and The Old Barn (1929). He died on 9 March 1952 in Teaneck, New Jersey, USA.
- Music Department
Cheerful Willoughby was born on 21 May 1891 in Lockport, Niagara, New York, USA. Cheerful is known for Kid Boots (1926). Cheerful died on 5 April 1952 in Orangetown, Rockland, New YOrk, USA.- Curtis Railing was born on 21 May 1877 in Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA. She was an actress, known for Honolulu Lu (1941). She was married to Christian Edward Railing (1874-1931). She died on 6 May 1952 in Haverstraw, New York, USA.
- Maja Cassel was born on 21 May 1891 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden. She was an actress, known for Aktiebolaget Hälsans gåva (1916), Nattens barn (1916) and Ministerpresidenten (1916). She was married to Lars Egge. She died on 12 January 1953 in Solna, Stockholms län, Sweden.
- Music Department
- Composer
Willy Ferrero was born on 21 May 1906 in Portland, Maine, USA. Willy was a composer, known for Bicycle Thieves (1948), La Terra Trema (1948) and Othello (1951). Willy died on 24 March 1954 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Actress
- Writer
Helena Phillips Evans was born on 21 May 1875 in Chicopee, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for College Scandal (1935), The Remarkable Andrew (1942) and A Successful Calamity (1932). She was married to Charles E. Evans. She died on 24 July 1955 in Santa Monica, California, USA.- Gimaletdin Mingazhev was born on 21 May 1889 in Idrisovo, Zlatoust uyezd, Ufa Governorate, Russian Empire [now Kiginsky District, Bashkortostan, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Salavat Yulayev (1941). He died on 19 September 1955 in Ufa, Bashkir ASSR, RSFSR, USSR [now Bashkortostan, Russia].
- C. Jervis Walter was born on 21 May 1881 in Greenhithe, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Laddie (1920) and Under Suspicion (1939). He died on 13 March 1956 in Westminster, London, England, UK.
- Fernande Dépernay was born on 21 May 1868 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Le portrait de l'amiral (1921), Au ravissement des dames (1913) and L'histoire de Minna Claessens (1912). She was married to Georges Mertens. She died on 14 August 1956 in Asnières-sur-Seine, France.
- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Animator, gag writer, storyboard artist and director Ben Hardaway is fondly remembered for his important contributions to Warner Brothers cartoons and as co-creator (with Walter Lantz) and voice (1944-1949) of Woody Woodpecker. Hardaway started out as a cartoonist for the Kansas City Star in 1910. He saw military service as an artillery sergeant under the command of Captain Harry S. Truman during World War I. During this time he acquired the nickname 'Bugs'. After demobilization, he resumed working for various mid-West newspapers. In 1922, Hardaway was hired by the Kansas City Film Ad Company and became closely acquainted with the famous pioneer animator Ub Iwerks. Iwerks eventually moved to Hollywood, and, in 1931, employed Hardaway as a story writer. He stayed on for two years, then had a brief spell with Disney. Eventually, he settled at Leon Schlesinger's animation factory at Warner Brothers, a studio which permitted artists substantially greater artistic freedom.
The superb humor and satirical quality of his writing (for example, Confederate Honey (1940), a hilarious send-up of Gone with the Wind (1939), featuring Elmer Fudd as 'Nett Cutler' romancing 'Crimson O'Hairoil') ensured Hardaway's rapid advancement to head of the story department. He also filled in as co-director of several Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies episodes during Friz Freleng's three-year long stint at MGM. Many of these featured Porky Pig. One of them, Porky's Hare Hunt (1938), had as chief protagonist an unnamed white rabbit created by Robert Clampett. It looked nothing like Bugs Bunny and sounded and acted rather like Daffy Duck. Before long, the rabbit reappeared in Hare-um Scare-um (1939) -- now in familiar colors, but with relatively short ears, wide buck teeth (and still sounding suspiciously like Daffy). On a corner of the model sheet with the original drawing by Charles Thorson, Hardaway wrote the name 'Bugs'. It stuck ,and thus the famous rabbit got its name -- albeit officially only after the release of A Wild Hare (1940). Hardaway found himself demoted after Freleng's return from MGM and departed Warner Brothers to head up the story department for Walter Lantz working on Andy Panda and Woody Woodpecker cartoons.- Actress
- Soundtrack
From an early age her dream was to become an actress. Her first application for acting studies at The Royal Dramatic Theater in 1944 was unsuccessful. After additional dramatic coaching she was finally accepted in 1947. But screenwriter Edwin Blum arranged a screen test for RKO which eventually led to her being offered a contract with Universal Studios. It was a hard choice but she accepted and left her studies after one semester. In Hollywood she quickly made 10 movies, including Sirocco (1951) with Humphrey Bogart. From 1952 she accepted movie offers from Italy with more demanding roles. She married director Leonardo Bercovici on June 13, 1952, and gave birth to a daughter. In early 1957, she went back to Sweden for her stage debut in a play by J.B. Priestley. She died one month later, at the age of 30, of a brain hemorrhage.- Actor
- Casting Director
Vance Carroll was born on 21 May 1899 in Londonderry, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and casting director, known for Yellow Cargo (1936), Million Dollar Haul (1935) and Inside Information (1934). He died on 21 August 1957 in Elyria, Ohio, USA.- Composer
- Actor
- Music Department
Lille Bror Söderlundh was born on 21 May 1912 in Kristinehamn, Värmlands län, Sweden. He was a composer and actor, known for Wandering with the Moon (1945), One Summer of Happiness (1951) and En äventyrare (1942). He died on 23 August 1957.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Giulio Neri was born on 21 May 1909 in Torrita di Siena, Tuscany, Italy. He was an actor, known for Rigoletto (1946), Barber of Seville (1961) and Aida (1953). He died on 21 April 1958 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Writer
- Actor
Shalva Dadiani was born on 21 May 1874 in Zestaponi, Georgia, Russian Empire. He was a writer and actor, known for Modzgvari (1922), Arsena Jorjiashvili (1921) and Qarishkhlis tsin (1924). He died on 15 March 1959 in Tbilisi, Georgia, USSR.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Kay Kendall was born on 21 May 1927 in Withernsea, Yorkshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Les Girls (1957), The Reluctant Debutante (1958) and Simon and Laura (1955). She was married to Rex Harrison. She died on 6 September 1959 in London, England, UK.- Yvonne Lohn was born on 21 May 1929 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Our Gang Follies of 1936 (1935). She died on 25 September 1960 in Fresno, California, USA.
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Producer Jed Buell began his show-business career in the early days of the 20th century as the manager of the Orpheum Theater in Denver, Colorado. After a few years he tired of Denver's high altitude and moved to Hollywood to try his hand in the burgeoning film business. He was hired as a unit publicist for comedy producer Mack Sennett and it wasn't long before he became publicity director for Sennett's Keystone studio. The 1929 stock-market crash left Keystone in bad financial shape, so Buell left Sennett and eventually started his own studio, Spectrum Pictures, a low-budget "exploitation" company that produced several all-black westerns starring big-band singer Herb Jeffries. Spectrum also put out a string of "singing cowboy" westerns featuring opera-trained singer Fred Scott (several of which were co-produced by comic Stan Laurel, who was a longtime fan of westerns and always wanted to make some of his own). The film Buell is probably best known for, however, is the bizarre The Terror of Tiny Town (1938), a western featuring an all-midget cast (many of whom went on to play Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz (1939)). In the 1940s Buell produced a few films featuring black comedian Mantan Moreland, and in the 1950s tried his hand in the new medium of television, but that fizzled out. Buell died in 1961.- Additional Crew
Easterday was born on 21 May 1891 in Niles, California, USA. Easterday died on 15 November 1962 in San Francisco, California, USA.- Yakov Stollyar was born on 21 May 1890. He was a composer, known for Road to Life (1931), The Nightingale (1936) and Sorochynskyi yarmarok (1939). He died on 22 November 1962 in Moscow.
- Winifred Willard was born on 21 May 1885 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Men Are Not Gods (1936), Auld Lang Syne (1937) and Castle in the Air (1952). She died on 15 January 1963 in Paddington, London, England, UK.