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1-12 of 12
- Actor
- Soundtrack
The notably gifted, multi-talented actor, chanteur, poet and painter Serge Reggiani was born in Reggio Emilia, a town in northern Italy, in 1922. His father, a highly visible anti-fascist, fled his Mussolini-dictated homeland due to his fervent political activities and emigrated to France in order to protect his family. Serge learned to speak fluent French and developed an interest in athletics, particularly boxing, but went an entirely different route altogether by following in his father's footsteps as a hair stylist.
In 1937, his career path changed yet again when he was accepted into the Conservatoire des Arts Cinematographiques. After graduation, he landed a few minor roles in both films and theatre and enrolled at the prestigious Conservatoire National d'Art Dramatique in 1939 wherein he won numerous acting awards. Though he earned a reputation for himself in the Paris theatre world, Reggiani was more interested in movie-making and would thereafter focus his attention toward the big screen.
During the filming of Le carrefour des enfants perdus (1944) [Children of Chaos], he met and subsequently married actress Janine Darcey, which produced two children: Stephan (1946) and Carine (1951). After obtaining French citizenship in 1948, he went on to secure a name for himself in Gallic cinema with roles in Gates of the Night (1946) [Gates of the Night], Manon (1949), The Lovers of Verona (1949) [The Lovers of Verona], La Ronde (1950) and Casque d'Or (1952). Following his divorce, he married actress Annie Noël and fathered three children: Celia (1958), Simon (1961) and Maria (1963). In 1959 Reggiani introduced a distinctive singing talent on radio and, following film roles in The Informer (1962) and The Leopard (1963) [The Leopard], launched his musical career at age 43.
Reggiani released his award-winning debut album in 1965 and it proved to be such a major hit with both the French public and the critics that singing became a prime career. Surprisingly, the middle-aged, deep-voiced balladeer would strike a chord with the younger politically left generation of the late 60s. A second album produced in 1967, plus a left-wing concert with the legendary Jacques Brel, clenched his popularity with teenagers. He began to extend himself internationally while continuing a healthy album output.
Children Stephan and Carine actively developed their own singing careers and Reggiani performed on the concert stage with them in encouragement but with lackluster results. Son Stephan, completely overshadowed by his father, took this extremely hard and in 1980 (July, 29) committed suicide at the family home in Mougins. He was only 33. Devastated, Reggiani withdrew from the music scene for a while to recover from his grief and would battle bouts of depression and alcoholism for much of his remaining life. Divorced from his second wife in 1973, he met actress Noëlle Adam in the 1980s and they lived in partnership for over 20 years, she becoming a lasting source of strength for him in dealing with his personal tragedies.
Reggiani's later years would be more or less spent in seclusion, finding one last passion in painting. He displayed his works at his first exhibition in 1989. After performing in concert to mark the 25th anniversary of his singing career, Reggiani found the strength to return to the French music scene with a brand new album. At age 70+, he successfully recorded and was welcomed back to the concert stage with great applause. Though his acting career had calmed down a great deal since his singing heyday erupted, he did star in De force avec d'autres (1992) [For the Love of Others], a film written and directed by son Simon Reggiani that also featured Ms. Adam.
Serge married his longtime partner, Noëlle Adam, in March of 2003; he died of a heart attack at his Paris home a little over a year later at age 82. Although little known here in the U.S., unlike chanson stylists Yves Montand and Jacques Brel, the acclaimed Reggiani has nevertheless reached legendary proportions in France and Europe.- Actor
- Music Department
- Composer
Sacha Distel was born on 29 January 1933 in Paris, France. He was an actor and composer, known for Matchstick Men (2003), Joy (2015) and Gangster No. 1 (2000). He was married to Francine Distel. He died on 22 July 2004 in Rayol-Canadel, Var, France.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Nore Norold was born on 3 January 1938 in Laholm, Hallands län, Sweden. He was a director and actor, known for Bekännelsen (1998), Terror (1989) and Anna-Lena (1986). He died on 22 July 2004 in Laholm, Hallands län, Sweden.- Konstantin Stepankov was born on 3 June 1928 in Pecheski, Ukrainian SSR, USSR [now Khmelnytskyi Oblast, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Kapitan Krokus (1991), Prikazano vzyat zhivym (1984) and Hetmanski kleinody (1993). He was married to Ada Rogovtseva. He died on 22 July 2004 in Kyiv, Ukraine.
- Actress
- Writer
English wild rose Joan Morgan who starred in at least 34 drama, crime, comedy movies from childhood, often under the direction of her father Sidney Morgan, making her film debut in Maurice Elvey's 'The Cup Final Mystery' starring Elisabeth Risdon in 1914, followed by 'The Great Spy Raid' starring Harry Lorraine at P&M Films. In 1919 Joan only 14 was so good in her acting ability she was cast opposite the legendary Ellen Terry in Fred Paul's 'Her Greatest Performance' playing her granddaughter. In 1920 Joan was offered a Hollywood contract by the Famous Players-Lasky Film Co who had opened a studio at Islington - soon to become Gainsborough, and hired Joan to play opposite Bryan Washburn in 'The Road to London' in 1921 she got £30 a week, Famous Players offered her $100 a week to start with, her father Sidney Morgan went up to meet them and they said, what do you think to this offer made to your daughter? he said 'not much' and that was that, Joan said, i just died inside. Through the 1920's she was given some stage roles in the West End her father cast her in his films such as her most favourite role 'Little Dorrit' (1920), and perhaps her most memorable role in 'A Lowland Cinderella' (1922) and her last major role 'A Window in Piccadilly' in 1928. Although Joan made a talkie in 1932's 'Her Reputation' she was no longer in demand as an actress, luckily, she was able to step into screenwriting through the 1930's using the name Joan Wentworth Wood, her most successful was 'The Flag Lieutenant'.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jacquet's mother was a Sioux Indian and his father was a French-Creole railroad worker and part-time musician. Jacquet was one of six children, and began performing at age 3, tap dancing to the sounds of his father's band. He took the nickname Illinois from the Indian word "Illiniwek," meaning superior men. When he was 19, he played the tenor saxophone solo on Lionel Hampton's "Flying Home," and it became a rhythm and blues standard. He became a legendary tenor saxophonist who played with nearly every jazz and blues luminary of his time. During a career spanning eight decades, Jacquet played with Louis Armstrong, Nat King Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Jo Jones, Buddy Rich, Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis and Gene Krupa. He defined the jazz style called 'screeching,' and was known as much for his trademark pork pie hat as the innovative playing style. During his heyday in the 1940s and 1950s, Jacquet recorded more than 300 original compositions and was given the nickname "The King" by Count Basie. In 1983, he became the first jazz musician to become artist-in-residence at Harvard University. He played "C-Jam Blues" with former President Bill Clinton, an amateur saxophonist, on the White House lawn during Clinton's inaugural ball in January 1993.- Composer
- Music Department
Greg Hale Jones was born on 15 June 1955 in Enid, Oklahoma, USA. He was a composer, known for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), My Tiny Universe (2004) and Wrong Turn (2003). He died on 22 July 2004 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Ronald Sukenick was born on 14 July 1932 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Out (1982). He was married to Julia Bloch Frey and Lynn Luria. He died on 22 July 2004 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Luis Ordaz was born on 8 September 1912 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He was a writer, known for Marianela (1955), Los grandes relatos (1971) and Las grandes novelas (1970). He died on 22 July 2004.
- Jirí Letenský was born on 19 July 1926 in Ceské Budéjovice, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Nevera (1956), Bourlivé víno (1976) and Zelená vlna (1982). He died on 22 July 2004 in Lukavec u Horic, Czech Republic.
- Peter Sever was born on 11 July 1924 in Rimavská Sobota, Czechoslovakia [now Slovakia]. Peter was a writer, known for Crepy prinásajú stastie (1984), Okná dokorán (1986) and A teraz sa rozhodni (1980). Peter died on 22 July 2004 in Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Bodo Hauser was born on 23 February 1946 in Krefeld, Germany. He was an actor, known for Frontal (1991), Hauser & Kienzle und die Meinungsmacher (1997) and Stars in der Manege (1959). He died on 22 July 2004 in Krefeld, Germany.