ALESSANDRO ALESSANDRONI, 92
March 26, 2017
Italian musician and composer Alessandro Alessandroni, who frequently worked with Ennio Morricone on spaghetti western soundtracks, died in Swakopmund, Namibia, on March 26, 2017. Alessandroni was born in Rome, Italy, on March 18, 1925. He was a childhood friend of composer Ennio Morricone, and utilized his whistling prowess and skill with such instruments as guitar, mandolin, mandolincello, sitar, accordion, and piano on their collaborations. He was also founder of the choir I Cantori Moderni in 1961, who performed for numerous films. He and his wife Giulia sang the popular song "Mah Na Mah Na" for the 1968 exploitation documentary "Sweden: Heaven and Hell". Alessandroni also worked on such film scores as Sergio Leone's landmark spaghetti western "A Fistful of Dollars" (1964), "Die Goldsucher von Arkansas" (1964), "For a Few Dollars More" (1965), "Seven Dollars on the Red" (1966), "Wanted" (1967), "Blake's Marauders" (1967), "Today We Kill, Tomorrow We Die" (1967), "Your Turn to Die" (1967), "Once Upon a Time in the West" (1968), "Hello Glen Ward, House Dick" (1968), "The Dirty Story of the West" (1968), "Sabata" (1969), "Maniacs on Wheels" (1970), "Return of Sabata" (1971), "The Devil's Nightmare" (1971), "The Mad Butcher" (1971), "Zorro the Invincible" (1971), "Lady Frankenstein" (1971), "Hands Up Dead Man" (1971), "The Virgin of Bali" (1972), "They're Coming to Get You" (1972), "Helen, Yes... Helen of Troy" (1973), "Sinbad and the Caliph of Baghdad" (1973), "7 Hours of Violence" (1973), "Poker in Bed" (1974), "Under the Sheets" (1975), "White Fang and the Gold Diggers" (1975), "Sweet Teen" (1976), "Don Milani" (1976), "The Opening of Misty Beethoven" (1976), "Under the Sheets" (1976), "School Days" (1976), "Blood and Bullets" (1976), "Lulu 77" (1977), "S.S. Extermination Love Camp" (1977), "Very Close Encounters of the Fourth Kind" (1978), "L'Imbranato" (1979), "Two Pieces of Bread" (1979), "Killer Nun" (1979), "Hard Sensation" (1980), "Sexy Erotic Love" (1980), "Cameriera Senza... Malizia" (1980), "Lucky Luke" (1991), "Trinity Goes East" (1998), "Hell Ride" (2008), "Dead River" (2012), "Circle the Wagon" (2013), "The LEGO Movie" (2014), "Holiday" (2014), "Smile" (2014), and "The Rise of Lorenzo" (2015). He was married to singer Giulia De Mutiis until her death in 1984, and is survived by their son, Alessandro Jr.
ALAN BERGMANN, 89
August 31, 2017
Actor and director Alan Bergmann died in Van Nuys, California, on August 31, 2017. Bergmann was born in New York City on October 17, 1927. He began his career on stage, and appeared on Broadway in productions of "Gideon" (1961), "Night Life" (1962), and "Danton's Death" (1965). He was seen frequently on television in the 1960s and 1970s, with roles in episodes of "The Nurses", "12 O'Clock High", "The Wild Wild West", "The Rat Patrol", "The Big Valley", "Run for Your Life", "The High Chaparral", "Star Trek" as Lal in the 1968 episode "The Empath", "Bonanza", "Bracken's World", "Land of the Giants", "Ironside", "Hogan's Heroes", "Mission: Impossible", "Search", "Dusty's Trail", "The Streets of San Francisco", "Marcus Welby, M.D.", "The F.B.I.", "Mannix", "The Rockford Files", "The Six Million Dollar Man", "Cannon", "Spencer's Pilots", "Most Wanted", and "Wonder Woman". He also appeared in the films "Light Fantastic" (1964) and "Black Like Me" (1964), and television productions of "Welcome Home, Johnny Bristol" (1972) and "Carola" (1973). He largely abandoned acting for directing in the 1970s, helming episodes of such television comedies as "Operation Petticoat", "Flying High", "Harper Valley P.T.A.", "House Calls", "Barney Miller", "Private Benjamin", "Family Ties", "Archie Bunker's Place", "Teachers Only", "Goodnight, Beantown", "Just Our Luck", "Down to Earth", "Night Court", "Easy Street", "Together We Stand", "Mr. Belvedere", and "Stat". He also directed numerous theatrical productions and a short film based on Eudora Welty's story, "The Hitch-Hikers". He later returned to screen, appearing in the film "Turbulence" (1997), and an episode of television's "Swamp Thing".
SHELLEY BERMAN, 92
September 1, 2017
Comedian and actor Shelley Berman died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in Bell Canyon, California, on September 1, 2017. He was born Sheldon Leonard Berman in Chicago, Illinois, on February 3, 1925. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II before studying drama at Chicago's Goodman Theatre. He performed with a Woodstock, Illinois, acting company in the late 1940s. He left Woodstock for New York City in 1949 and worked various jobs before becoming a sketch writer for "The Steve Allen Plymouth Show". He continued to perform on stage, and appeared on television in episodes of "The Philco Television Playhouse", "Goodyear Television Playhouse", and "Peter Gunn". He began performing comedy routines at Chicago's Compass Players, often using an imaginary telephone conversation as part of his act. He became a successful comic, and recorded several albums for Verve Records. His 1959 album, "Inside Shelley Berman", won the first Grammy Award for a spoken comedy recording. His other albums include "Outside Shelley Berman" (1959), "The Edge of Shelley Berman" (1961), "A Personal Appearance" (1961), and "New Sides" (1963). He appeared on Broadway in the musicals "The Girls Against the Boys" (1959) and "A Family Affair" (1962). He also performed on such television shows as "The Lux Show", "The George Gobel Show", "The Arthur Murray Party", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "Person to Person", "The Perry Como Show", "Tonight Starring Jack Paar", "The Irv Kupcinet Show", "The DuPont Show of the Week", "The Merv Griffin Show", "What's My Line?", "Password", "The Judy Garland Show", "Art Linkletter's House Party", "The Regis Philbin Show", "Billy Cotton Band Show", "BBC Show of the Week", "The Andy Williams Show", "The Match Game", "The Dean Martin Show", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "The Kraft Music Hall", "The Ed Sullivan Show", "The Joey Bishop Show", "Playboy After Dark", "The Hollywood Palace", "The Bob Hope Show", "This Is Tom Jones", "Della", "The Barbara McNair Show", "The David Frost Show", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Mike Douglas Show", ""The Bob Braun Show", "Norm Crosby's The Comedy Show", "The Bernie Mac Show", "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno", "The Florence Henderson Show", and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!". Berman starred in the 1961 "Twilight Zone" episode "The Mind and the Matter", and was also seen in episodes of "General Electric Theater", "Car 54, Where Are You?", "Rawhide", "Breaking Point", "Burke's Law", "Bewitched", "Mister Roberts", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "The Hero", "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.", "Get Smart", "That's Life", "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", "Adam-12", "Love, American Style", "Emergency!", "Police Woman", "Forever Fernwood", "Vega$", "Flying High", "Eischied", "CHiPs", "Matt Houston", "Brothers", "Hotel", "Knight Rider", "St. Elsewhere", "Mike Hammer", "CBS Summer Playhouse", "ABC Afterschool Specials", "Night Court", "The Munsters Today", "What a Dummy", "Monsters", "MacGyver", "Walter & Emily", "Civil Wars", "L.A. Law" in the recurring role of Ben Flicker from 1992 to 1993, "Living Single", "Friends", "Chicago Sons", "Arli$$", "L.A. Doctors", "Providence", "Walker, Texas Ranger", "That's My Bush!", "Lizzie McGuire", "The King of Queens", "Dead Like Me", "Grey's Anatomy", "Entourage", "State of Mind", "Hannah Montana", "Pushing Daisies", "CSI: NY", "The Unusuals", "Raising the Bar", and "Hawaii Five-0", He appeared in the recurring role of Judge Robert Sanders on "Boston Legal" from 2006 to 2008, and was Nat David, Larry David's father, on "Curb Your Enthusiasm" from 2002 to 2009. He was a voice actor in animated series as "Garfield and Friends" and "The Blues Brothers Animated Series". His other television credits include the tele-films "Brenda Starr, Reporter" (1979) and "What's Alan Watching?" (1989). Berman was featured as Sheldon Bascomb in the political drama "The Best Man" (1964) starring Henry Fonda and Cliff Robertson. His other films include "Divorce American Style" (1967), "Every Home Should Have One" (1970), "Beware! The Blob" (1972), "Rented Lips" (1988), "Teen Witch" (1989), "Elliot Fauman, Ph.D." (1990), "Motorama" (1991), "In God We Trust" (2000), "The Last Producer" (2000), "Meet the Fockers" (2004) as Judge Ira, "The Aristocrats" (2005), "The Holiday" (2006), Adam Sandler's "You Don't Mess with the Zohan" (2008) as Zohan's Father), and the animated "The Legend of Secret Pass" as the voice of Ira. He directed the 1975 comedy film "Keep Off My Grass!" (1975) starring Mickey Dolenz of The Monkees. He returned to Broadway in 1980 with the one-man show "Insideoutsideandallaround" with Shelley Berman. He also continued to appear frequently on stage in touring and regional productions. He was a lecturer in humor writing for the University of Southern California for over twenty years. Berman married Sarah Herman in 1947, and she survives him after 70 years of marriage. They adopted two children, son Joshua, who died of a brain tumor at age 12 in 1977, and daughter Rachel who also survives him.
DEIRDRE BERTHRONG, 64
June 12, 2017
Actress Deirdre Berthrong, who was featured as a classmate in the 1976 film adaptation of Stephen King's "Carrie", died after a long battle with pneumonia in Los Angeles, California, on June 12, 2017. Berthrong was born in Brooklyn, New York, on September 25, 1952. She made her film debut as Rhonda in the 1976 horror classic "Carrie". She also appeared on television in episodes of "The Streets of San Francisco", "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries", "Hawaii Five-O:, "Eight Is Enough", and "Charlie's Angels". Berthrong was featured as Pat Kennedy in the 1977 tele-film "Young Joe, the Forgotten Kennedy", and starred Kathy Hunter in the series "James at 15" from 1977 to 1978. She was married to Brandon Johnson until their divorce in 1997. She largely abandoned her acting career due failing health, but appeared in several commercials in the early 2000s.
TONI BERTORELLI, 69
May 26, 2017
Italian actor Toni Bertorelli, who was featured in Mel Gibson's 2004 film "The Passion of the Christ", died after a long illness in Rome, Italy, on May 26, 2017. Bertorelli was born in Barge, Italy, on May 18, 1948. He began his acting career in the late 1960s, and was featured in such films as "The Voyage Into the Whirlpool Has Begun" (1974), "Neapolitan Sting" (1983), "Tuta Colpa Della SIP" (1988), "Death of a Neapolitan Mathematician" (1992), "Pasolini, an Italian Crime" (1995), "Cous-Cous" (1996), "The Black Tent" (1996), "Le Mani Forti" (1997), "The Prince of Homburg" (1997), "Elvis and Marilyn" (1998), "Besame Mucho" (1999), "Johnny the Partisan" (2000), "Holy Tongue" (2000), "Zora the Vampire" (2000) as Count Dracula, "Vivere" (2001), "Check and Mate" (2001), "The Son's Room" (2001), "Territori d'Ombra" (2001), "The Words of My Father" (2001), "Light of My Eyes" (2001), "My Mother's Smike" (2002), "Now or Never" (2003), "L'Eretico - Un Gesto di Coraggio" (2004), "The Passion of the Christ" (2004), "Pontormo: A Heretical Love" (2004), "A Luci Spente" (2004), "The Passion of Joshua the Jew" (2005), "Romanzo Criminale" (205), "The Caiman" (2006), "The Black Sun" (2007), "Silk" (2007), "Courtly Love" (2008), "Pizzangrillo" (2011), "Latin Lover" (2015), and "Blood of My Blood" (2015). He appeared on television in productions of "L'Assedio di Firenze"(1975), "Una Spia del Regime" (1976), "The Fatal Eggs" (1977), "Il Processo" (1978), "Lulu" (1980), "La Ragazza dell'Addio" (1984), "Requiem for Voice and Piano" (1993), "Benito: The Rise and Fall of Mussolini" (1993), "David's Summer" (1998), "La Strada Segreta" (1999), "Una Sola Debole Voce" (1999), "Il Giovane Casanova" (2002), "La Guerra e Finita" (2002), "St. Francis" (2002), "Sospetti 2" (2003), "Renzo e Lucia" (2004), "Hidden Children" (2004), "Virginia, la Monaca di Monza" (2004), "Karol: A Man Who Became Pope" (2005), "De Gasperi, l'Uomo della Speranza" (2005), "Chinese Wife" (2006), "War and Peace" (2007) as Vasilii Kuragin, "I Acquit to You" (2008), "Pinocchio" (2008) as the Fox, "So Che Ritornerai" (2009), "Romy" (2009), "Once Upon a Time the City of Fools" (2010), and "Eroi per Caso" (2011). His other television credits include episodes of "I Buddenbrook", "A Casa, Una Sera...", "Ricatto Internazionale", "Delitto e Castigo", "Aeroporto Internazionale", "Cinque Storie Inquietanti", "Trenta Righe per una Delitto", "Cronaca Nera", "Quo Vadis, Baby?", "Il Tredicesimo Apostolo - Il Prescelto", "Rossella" as Cesare Andrei from 2011 to 2013, and "The Young Pope" as Cardinal Caltanissetta in 2016.
NICOLE BESNARD, 89
August 20, 2017
French actress Nicole Besnard died in Porspoder, France, on August 20, 2017. Besnard was born in Grenoble, France, on May 23, 1928. She trained as an actress under Beatrix Dussane at the Paris Conservatory of Dramatic Art. She made her film debut in Julien Duvivier's "In the Kingdom of Heaven" in 1949, and was featured as Marguerite the Gypsy Girl in Rene Clair's "The Beauty and the Devil" (1950). She appeared in a handful of films during the decade including "They Were Five" (1951), "Naked in the Wind" (1953), "Inside a Girls' Dormitory" (1953), "Le College en Folie" (1954), "The Big Flag" (1954), "Leguignon Guerisseur" (1954), "Sur le Banc" (1954), "An der Schonen Blauen Donau" (1955), and "L'Auberge en Folie" (1957). She subsequently retired from acting to persue a career in Paris as an antique furniture dealer.
JIMMIE BOOTH, 91
March 16, 2017
Stuntman and actor Jimmie Booth died in a Granada Hills, California hospital on March 16, 2017. He was born Walter Booth in Wilmore, Kansas, on November 28, 1925. He moved to Newhall, California, with his parents at age 10, where he graduated from high school. He served in the U.S. Army from 1944 to 1946. He began working in films and television in the early 1950s, performing stunts and appearing in small roles. He frequently worked with horses, riding and driving stagecoaches. He was featured in numerous television series including "The Abbott and Costello Show", "Stories of the Century", "Hopalong Cassidy", "Annie Oakley", "Playhouse 90", "Maverick", "Shotgun Slade", "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin", "Black Saddle", "Zane Grey Theatre", "The Swamp Fox", "The Untouchables", "Law of the Plainsman", "The Rifleman", "Laramie", "Bat Masterson", "Have Gun - Will Travel", "The Texan", "Checkmate", "Riverboat", "Lawman", "Wanted: Dead or Alive", "The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp", "The Deputy", "Outlaws", "The Tall Man", "Cain's Hundred", "Tales of Wells Fargo", "Frontier Circus", "Destry", "Rawhide", "Wagon Train", "Branded", "The Virginian", "Laredo", "Death Valley Days", "Gunsmoke", "The Big Valley", "The Wild Wild West", "The Guns of Will Sonnet", "The Doris Day Show", "Bonanza", "Alias Smith and Jones", "Kung Fu", "Barbary Coast", "Knots Landing", and "Guns of Paradise". Booth also worked on many films including "Distant Drums" (1942), "Night Stage to Galveston" (1952), "Road Agent" (1952), "Wagons West" (1952), "The Story of Will Rogers" (1952), "Montana Incident" (1952), "Cattle Town" (1952), "Last of the Pony Riders" (1953), "Vigilante Terror" (1953), "King of the Khyber Rifles" (1953), "Battle of Rogue River" (1954), "The Desperado" (1954), "Man with the Gun" (1955), "The Last Hunt" (1956), "Star in the Dust" (1956), "Drango" (1957), "3:10 to Yuma" (1957), "Escape from Red Rock" (1957), "Ride a Crooked Trail" (1958), "The Bucaneer" (1958), "Lone Texan" (1959), "Cast a Long Shadow" (1959), "Noose for a Gunman" (1960), "Cimarron" (1960), "The Gambler Wore a Gun" (1961), "Master of the World" (1961), "Apache Rifles" (1964), "Shenandoah" (1965), "Cat Ballou" (1965), "Gunpoint" (1966), "Texas Across the River" (1966), "The Ballad of Josie" (1967), "Gunfight in Abilene" (1967), "The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin" (1967), "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys" (1969), "Support Your Local Gunfighter" (1971), "High Plains Drifter" (1973), "The Apple Dumpling Gang" (1975), the tele-film "Black Bart" (1975), "Treasure of Matecumbe" (1976), and "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" (1978) as a Klingon Crewman. Booth was married to Laverne Jones from 1952 until his death and is also survived by their son and daughter.
TONY BOOTH, 85
September 25, 2017
British actor Tony Booth died of complications from Alzheimer's disease and a stroke at his home in London, England, on September 25, 2017. He was born Anthony George Booth in Liverpool, England, on October 9, 1931. He left school at St. Mary's College, Crosby, to get a job to help support his family after his father was injured in an accident. He began performing on stage while serving in the Royal Signals Corps in Paris as part of his national service. He continued to perform in repertory after returning to England, and became a familiar face on television. He was featured in productions of "The Infamous John Friend" (1959), "Pay Day" (1960), and "The Old Road" (1961). He also appeared in episodes of "Z Cars", "Probation Officer", "The Avengers", "Coronation Street" in the recurring role of Malcolm Wilkinson, "The Plane Makers", "ITV Play of the Week", "Taxi!", "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre", "Catch Hand" as Finn Brodie in 1964, "Comedy Playhouse", "Theatre 625", "No Hiding Place", "Dixon of Dock Green", "The Saint", "ITV Playhouse", "Softly Softly: Task Force", "The GOrdon Peters Show", "The Professionals", "Strangers", "Andy Robson", "Albion Market", "Heartbeat", "Family Affair", "Queen & Country", "Dalziel and Pascoe", "Mersey Beat", "EastEnders", "Doctors", "The Bill", "Mobile", "Emmerdale", "Holby City", and "Moving On". He starred as Mike Rawlins in the comedy series "Till Death Us Do Part" from 1966 to 1975, and was featured in productions of "And the Beat Goes On" (1996), "Jack of Hearts" (1999), and "Extremely Dangerous" (1999). Booth also appeared in the films "Suspect" (1970), "Pit of Darkness" (1961), "The Valiant" (1962), "Mix Me a Person" (1962), "The L-Shaped Room" (1962), "The Partner" (1963), "The Hi-Jackers" (1963), "Of Human Bondage" (1964), "The Return of Mr. Moto" (1965), "The Girl with a Pistol" (1968), "Corruption" (1968), the 1968 film version of "Till Death Us Do Part", "Neither the Sea Nor the Sand" (1972), "Adolf Hitler: My Part in His Downfall" (1973), and "Brannigan" (1975). He starred as Sidney Noggett in several sex comedies with Robin Askwith including "Confessions of a Window Clearner" (1974), "Confessions of a Pop Performer" (1975), "Confessions of a Driving Instructor" (1976), and "Confessions from a Holiday Camp" (1977). He continued his career in the films "Star Sex" (1979), "Priest" (1994), "Owd Bob" (1998), "Treasure Island" (1999), "The Contender" (2000), "Revengers Tragedy" (2002), "Upstaged" (2005), "Gone to the Dogs" (2006), and "Blinding Lights" (2006). He was married to Gale Booth from 1954 until their divorce in 1960. He was involved with Pamela Smith for over a decade in the 1960s and early 1970s. Booth was badly burned in an accident in November of 1979 and was hospitalized for over six months. He was cared for by actress Pat Phoenix for six years until her own health began to fail. He married Phoenix while she was hospitalized shortly before her death from lung cancer in 1986. He was married to Nancy Jaeger from 1988 until their divorce in 1996, and to Stephanie Buckley from 1998 until his death. He is also survived by eight daughters including Cherie Blair, the wife of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair. He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease in 2004, and later suffered from a stroke, chronic heart failure and COPD.
BRUNELLA BOVO, 84
February 21, 2017
Italian actress Brunella Bovo died in Rome, Italy, on February 21, 2017. Bovo was born in Padua, Italy, on March 4, 1932. She began her career in films in the early 1950s with a small role in "Streets of Sorrow" (1951). She starred as Edvige in Vittorio De Sica's 1951 fantasy film "Miracle in Milan", and was Wanda Giardino Cavalli in Federico Fellini's "The White Sheik" in 1952. She continued her career over the next decade, sometimes billed as Barbara Hudson, in such films as "Revenge of a Crazy Girl" (1951), "10 Canzoni d'Amore da Salvare" (1953), "Scampolo 53" (1953), "Soli per le Strade" (1953), "Luxury Girls" (1953), "Dramma nel Porto" (1955), "Wiretapper" (1955), "I Vagabojdi Delle Stelle" (1956), "Alone in the Streets" (1956), "Cavalcata Selvaggia" (1960), "The Loves of Salammbo" (1950), "Gioventu di Notte" (1961), and the spaghetti western "Colorado Charlie" (1965). Bovo appeared on television in productions of "Romeo Bar" (1958), "Resurrezione" (1965), "La Avventure di Laura Storm" (1965), "Il Processo di Santa Teresa del Bambino Gesu" (1967), "Holiday (Incantesimo)" (1967), and "Il Circolo Pickwick" (1968). She largely retired from the screen in the late 1960s. Her sister, Mariolina Bovo, was also a film and television actress.
JIM BREWER, 80
June 15, 2017
Brewer was born in Midland, Texas, on January 8, 1937. He had a successful boxing career in local venues, and appeared in a small role of the 1960 film "The Alamo" with John Wayne. He was also featured in the film "The Loved One" (1965), and starred as Sgt. King in the World War II drama "Mission to Death" (1966), filmed in Austin, Texas. He was featured in small roles in the films "Doctors' Wives" (1971), "Stand Up and Be Counted" (1972), "A Small Town in Texas" (1976), "The Formula" (1980), "Fear City" (1984), and "Ruby" (1992). Brewer was also seen on television in episodes of "Petticoat Junction", "The Andy Griffith Show", "The Incredible Hulk", and "Frank's Place", and the tele-films "Kate Bliss and the Ticket Tape Kid" (1978) and "The Killing of Randy Webster" (1981). He was also the owner of the Los Angeles manufacturing company, Techmar Enclosure, Inc. He continued his acting career, appearing in the films "AB-Negative" (2006), "You Say" (2011), the short "Four Yeguas" (2012) which he also produced, and "The Doo Dah Man" (2015).
EUGENE BURGER, 78
August 8, 2017
Magician Eugene Burger, who was noted for his acts featuring close-up magic and mentalism, died of cancer in Chicago, Illinois, on August 8, 2017. Burger was born in Chicago on June 1, 1939. He attended Yale University, where he graduated with a degree in philosophy. He also taught classes in philosophy and comparative religion. He was also a leading figure involved with the McBride Magic and Mystery School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was creator of the audio program, "Growing in the Art of Magic". He was a popular magician in the Chicago area, and also writer or co-writer of numerous books including "The Craft of Magic and Other Writings" (1984), "Spirit Theater" (1985), "The Performance of Close-Up Magic" (1987), "Strange Ceremonies" (1998), "Magic and Meaning" (1995), and "Mastering the Art of Magic" (2000). He appeared on television in several series including "The Best of Magic" (1989), "Mysteries of Magic" (1997), and "Magic" (2004), and was a consultant to magician David Blaine.
WALLY BURR, 91
July 9, 2017
Voice actor and director Wally Burr, who worked on numerous animated productions from the 1970s, died on July 9, 2017. Burr was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 2, 1926. He worked as dialogue and recording director on such cartoon productions as "Super Friends" also providing the voice of the Atom, "The Addams Family", "The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn", "Doctor Dolittle", "The All-New Super Friends Hour", "Scooby's Al Star Laff-A-Lympics", "The Skatebirds", "Jana of the Jungle", "Godzilla", "Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels", "Spider-Man", "Meatballs and Spaghetti", "Inspector Gadget", "Rainbow Brite", "Gallavants", "Bigfoot and the Muscle Machines", "Here Come the Littles", "InHumanoids", "The Transformers", "G.I, Joe", "Visionaries: Knights of the Magical Lamp", "Dino-Riders", "Jem", "Akira", "Jem and the Holograms", "Bucky O'Hare andthe Toad Wars!", "Exosquad", and "My Little Pony Tales". Burr was also a voice actor in the films "Gone in 60 Seconds" (1974), "Deadline Auto Theft" (1983), "Fist of the North Star" (1986), "Best Seller" (1987), the 1988 English language version of "Akira" (1988), "Miles from Home" (1988), and "Pearl Harbor" (2001). He was also the English language voice for numerous video games.
PETER CANON, 84
July 28, 2017
Actor Peter Canon died in Los Angeles, California, on July 28, 2017. Canon was born in New York City on April 25, 1933. He appeared in films and television in the 1970s and 1980s. His film credits include "A New Kind of Love" (1963), "The Other Side of the Mountain" (1976), "The Hindenburg" (1975), "Lifeguard" (1976), and "Tom Horn" (1980). His television credits include episodes of "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis", "The Fugitive", "Gomer Pyle, USMC", "Love on a Rooftop", "The Monkees", "Star Trek" as a Gestapo Lieutenant in the 1968 episode "Patterns of Force", "Daniel Boone", "Get Smart", "Land of the Giants", "Gunsmoke", "Shaft", "Police Story", "The Six Million Dollar Man", and "Little House on the Prairie". He also appeared in a small role in the 1974 tele-film "The Missiles of October".
GISELE CASADESUS, 103
September 24, 2017
French actress Giselle Casadesus, who performed on stage with the Comedie-Francaise for over seven decades, died in Paris, France, on September 24, 2017. Casadesus was born in Paris on June 14, 1914, the daughter of musicians Henri Casadesus and Marie-Louise Beetz. Her older brother was actor Christian Casadesus. He trained at the French National Academy of Dramatic Arts, and began performing with the Comedie-Francaise in 1934. She appeared in numerous theatrical productions throughout her career. She also began appearing in films, with roles in "The Adventurer" (1934), "Vautrin the Thief" (1943), "Sowing the Wind" (1944), "Coup de Tete" (1944), "Pamela" (1945), "The Eternal Husband" (1946), "Loves of Casanova" (1947), "Road Blocked" (1948), "Between Eleven and Midnight" (1949), and "Du Gesclin" (1949). She returned to the screen in the 1970s, appearing in "Lover on a String" (1974), "Verdict" (1974), "The Faithful Woman" (1976), "Un Mari, c'est un Mari" (1976), "A Sea Urchin in the Pocket" (1977), "Sweet Lies" (1987), "Stormy Summer" (1989), "Roulez Jeunesse!" (1993), "Album de Famille" (1996), "Hommes, Femmes, Mode d'Emploi" (1996), "After Sex" (1997), "Riches, Belles, Etc." (1998), "The Children of the Marshland" (1999), "La Dilettante" (1999), "Ouch" (2000), "J'me Souviens Plus..." (2001), "Les Deux Vieilles Dames et l'Accordeur" (2001), "Special Delivery" (2002), "Le Noel de Lily" (2005), "The Last Mitterand" (2005), "Housewarming" (2005), "Palais Royal!" (2005), "Le Grand Appartement" (2006), "Le Quatrieme Morceau de la Femme Coupee en Trois" (2007), "Inner Circle" (2009), "Kankant" (2009), "The Hedgehog" (2009), "La Vieille Dame et le Garcon" (2010), "My Afternoons with Marguerite" (2010), "What Love May Bring" (2010), "Carrier of Men" (2010), "Her Name Was Sarah" (2010), "Interieur Femme" (2011), "Sous le Figuier" (2012), "Week-Ends" (2014), and "Le Sonate des Spectres" (2015). She was seen on television in episodes of "Plaisir du Theatre", "Les Compagnons de Jehu", "Le Tribunal de l'Impossible", "Les Enquetes du Commissaire Maigret", "Valerie", "Au Theatre ce Soir", "Cinema 16", "Le Verifateur", "Les Dames de Coeur" as Blanche in 1980, "Allo Beatrice", "P.J.", "Docteur Sylvestre", "Maigret", and "Une Femme d'Honneur". Her other television credits include productions of "Week-end Surprise" (1960), "La Belle Aventure" (1971), "Une Vieille Maitresse" (1975), "Mamie Rose" (1976), "Le Collectionneur des Cerveaux" (1976), "Un Crime de Notre Temps" (1977), "Les Amours Sous la Revolution: Les Amants de Thormidor" (1978), "Un Ous Pas Comme les Autres" (1978), "Le Devoir de Francais" (1978), "La Lumiere des Justes" (1979), "Romeo et Baucis" (1979), "Le Cure de Tours" (1980), "Comme Chien et Chat" (1980), "Ka Folle de Chaillot" (1980), "Le Crime de Mathilde" (1985), "Grand Hotel" (1986), "Claire" (1986), "Le Herisson" (1989), "Lise ou L'Affabulatrice" (1995), "Tout Ce Qui Brille" (1996), "J'ai Rendez-vous Avec Vous" (1996), "Mis en Bouteille au Chateau" (2005), "Marie-Octobre" (2008), and "Le Grand Restaurant II" (2011). She was one of the oldest working actresses in Europe, and made her final performance with the Comedie-Francais in 2011's "Le Jubile d'Agathe". She was married to Lucien Pascal from 1934 until his death in 2006. She is survived by their children, musicians Jean-Claude Casadesus and Dominique Probst, actress Martine Pascal, and artist Beatrice Casadesus.
BERNIE CASEY, 78
September 19, 2017
Actor Bernie Casey died in Los Angeles, California, on September 19, 2017. Casey was born in Wyco, West Virginia, on June 8, 1939. He attended high school in Columbus, Ohio, and went on to be a leading track and field athlete at Ohio's Bowkling Green State University. He participated in the finals for the 1960 U.S. Olympic Trials. He was drafted for the NFL's San Francisco 49ers in 1961. He played football with the 49ers through 1966, and played with the Los Angeles Rams from 1967 until his retirement in 1968. Casey subsequently embarked on an acting career, appearing in the 1969 western sequel "Guns of the Magnificent Seven". He was also seen in the films "...tick...tick...tick" (1970) with fellow football star Jim Brown, "Black Chariot" (1971), "Boxcar Bertha" (1972), "Black Gunn" (1972), "Hit Man" (1972), "Cleopatra Jones" (1973) with Tamara Dobson, "Maurie" (1973) as paralyzed basketball star Maurice Stokes, "Cornbread, Earl and Me" (1975), the blaxploitations horror film "Dr Black, Mr. Hyde" (1976) as the ill-fated Dr. Henry Pride, the science fiction classic "The Man Who Fell to Earth" (1976) with David Bowie, "Brothers" (1977), "Sharky's Machine" (1981), Sean Connery's 1983 return to the role of James Bond "Never Say Never Again" as CIA agent Felix Leiter, "Revenge of the Nerds" (1984) as Lambda Lambda Lambda fraternity president U.N. Jefferson, "Spies Like Us" (1985), "Steele Justice" (1987), "Amazon Women on the Moon" (1987), "Rent-a-Cop" (1988), "Backfire" (1988), "Backfire" (1988), "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka" (1988), "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989), "Another 48 Hrs." (1990), "Chains of Gold" (1991), "Under Siege" (1992), "The Cemetery Club" (1993), "Street Knight" (1993), "The Glass Shield" (1994), the John Carpenter horror film "In the Mouth of Madness" (1994), "Once Upon a Time... When We Were Colored" (1995), "The Dinner" (1997) which he also produced, directed, and scripted, "Tomcats" (2001), "On the Edge" (2002), "When I Find the Ocean" (2006), and "Vegas Vampires" (2007). Casey was also seen in the tele-films "Brian's Song" (1971), the cult horror classic "Gargoyles" (1972) in the title role, "Panic on the 5:22" (1974), "Mary Jane Harper Cried Last Night" (1977), "It Happened at Lakewood Manor" (aka "Ants!") (1977), "Ring of Passion" (1978), "Love Is Not Enough" (1978), "Roots: The Next Generation" (1979), the mini-series adaptation of Ray Bradbury's "The Martian Chronicles" (1980), "The Sophisticated Gents" (1981), "A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion" (1982), "Hear No Evil" (1982), "The Fantastic World of D.C. Collins" (1984), "Pros & Cons" (1986), "First Offender" (1987), "Mother's Day" (1989), "Hammer, Slammer & Slade" (1990), "Revenge of the Nerds III: The Next Generation" (1992), "Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love" (1994), "The Simple Life of Noah Dearborn" (1999), and "The Last Brickmaker in America" (2001). His other television credits include episodes of "Cade's County", "Longstreet", "The Streets of San Francisco", "The Snoop Sisters", "Joe Forrester", "Police Woman", "Police Story", the short-lived drama series "Harris and Company" as Mike Harris in 1979, "Trapper John, M.D.", "Bay City Blues" as Ozzie Peoples in 1983, "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "L.A. Law", "Murder, She Wrote", "Hunter", "CBS Schoolbreak Special", "Time Trax", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "SeaQuest DSV", "Babylon 5", the animated "Batman Beyond", "For Your Love", and "Girlfriends". Casey was also noted as a painter and poet. He served as chairman of the board of Georgia's Savannah College of Art and Design for many years, where he earned an honorary doctorate.
JENNIFER DANIEL, 81
August 16, 2017
Welsh actress Jennifer Daniel, who was best known for roles in the Hammer horror films "The Kiss of the Vampire" and "The Reptile", died in Clapham, London, England, on August 16, 2017. She was born Jennifer R. Williams in Pontypool, South Wales, on May 23, 1936. She attended London's Central School of Speech and Drama, and began her career performing on the repertory stage. She appeared frequently on television from the late 1950s, appearing in productions of "A Midsummer Night's Dream" (1958), "Barnaby Rudge" (1960) as Dolly Varden, "Beauty and the Beast" (1961), "Fury in Petticoats" (1961), "Hamlet" (1961) as Ophelia, "Codename: Portcullis" (1969), "Spell of Evil" (1973), "Suez 1956" (1979), and "I'll Take Manhattan" (1987). Her other television credits include episodes of "Love It to Todhunter", "Theatre Night", "Great Expectations", "Amrchair Theatre", "One Step Beyond", "Maigret", "ITV Television Playhouse", "Suspense", "No Hiding Place", "Probation Officer", "Richard the Lionheart", "The Edgar Wallace Mystery Theatre", "The Spread of the Eagle", "Ghost Squad", "ITV Sunday Night Drama", "The Sleeper" as Anne Romilly in 1964, "Gideon's Way", "A Man Called Harry Brent" as Carol Vyner in 1965, "The Mask of Janus", "Sergeant Cork", "Adam Adamant Lives!", "ITV Play of the Week", "Thirty-Minute Theatre", "The Revenue Men", "The Jazz Age", "Love Story", "The Wednesday Play", "Doomwatch", "Play for Today", "Here Come the Double Deckers!", "Barlow at Large", "General Hospital", "The Aweful Mr. Goodall", "Marked Personal", "Public Eye", "The Duchess of Duke Street", "Rooms" as Judy Wishart in 1977, "Van der Valk", "People Like Us" as Eunice Godbeer in 1978, "The Boy Merlin", "Barriers", "The Collectors" as Helen Langley in 1986, "Rumple of the Bailey", "The Labours of Erica", "Capital City", and "Keeping Up Appearances". Daniel made her film debut in "Marriage of Convenience" in 1960. She was also seen in the films "Clue of the Silver Key" (1961), "Return to Sender" (1963), "The Kiss of the Vampire" (1963) as Marianne Harcourt, "The Reptile" (1966) as Valerie Spalding, "Wuthering Heights" (1992), "Love Is All There Is" (1996), "Run for Your Wife" (2012), and "Christmas with the Dead" (2012). Daniel was married to actor Dinsdale Landen from 1959 until his death in 2003.
ELIZABETH DAWN, 77
September 25, 2017
British actress Elizabeth Dawn, who starred as Vera Duckworth in the soap opera "Coronation Street" for over three decades, died of complications from emphysema at her home in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, England, on September 25, 2017. She was born Sylvia Butterfield in Lees, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on November 8, 1939. She began her career singing in nightclubs, and was appearing on television in small roles and commercials by the late 1960s. She appeared in episodes of "All Creatures Great and Small", "Village Hall", "Sam", "Open All Hours", "Larry Grayson", and "Selwyn", and productions of "Kisses at Fifty" (1973), "Speech Day" (1973), "Leeds - United!" (1974), "Sunset Across the Bay" (1975), "Daft As a Brush" (1975), "Greenhill Pals" (1975), and "All Day on the Sands" (1979). She appeared in a recurring role in "Crown Court" from 1972 to 1975, and was a bar waitress in "The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club" from 1975 to 1976. Dawn first appeared on "Coronation Street" in 1974, and when Bill Tarmey joined the show as her husband, Jack, in 1979, she became a regular character. She was forced to retire from acting due to her emphysema, and the character of Vera Duckworth died in January of 2008. She made a brief return to the series when Tarmey's character died in 2010. She appeared as Mrs. Winterbottom in several episodes of "Emmerdale" in 2015. Dawn was married to Walter Bradley from 1957 until their divorce in 1959, and is survived by their son. She married Donald Ibbetson in 1965 and is also survived by him and their three daughters.
BARRY DENNEN, 79
September 26, 2017
Actor and singer Barry Dennen, who played Pontius Pilate in stage and screen versions of "Jesus Christ Superstar", died in hospice care in Burbank, California, on September 26, 2017. He had suffered a brain injury from a fall at his home the previous June. Dennen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 22, 1938, and moved to Los Angeles with his family as a child. He graduated from the University of California at Los Angeles before heading to New York City. He became involved in cabaret acts in New York's Greenwich Village in the early 1960s, and was instrumental in helping develop the early career of singer Barbra Streisand. He created her nightclub act, and the two were in a relationship for several years. He moved to London after their breakup, where he performed as the Emcee in the West End production of "Cabaret" with Judi Dench in 1968. He performed the role of Pontius Pilate on the "Jesus Christ Superstar" album in 1970, and performed the role on Broadway the following year. He again starred as Pilate in Norman Jewison's 1973 film version. Dennen also appeared in the films "The Secret Cinema" (1968), "The Juggler of Notre Dame" (1970), the hit musical "Fiddler on the Roof" (1971) as Mendel, "Madhouse" (1974), "Brannigan" (1975), "The Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977), "Rabbit Test" (1978), Stanley Kubrick's adaptation of Stephen King's horror novel "The Shining" (1980) as Watson, the 1981 sequel to "The Rocky Horror Picture Show", "Shock Treatment" (1981) as Irwin Lapsey, "Ragtime" (1981), Jim Henson's "The Dark Crystal" (1982) as the voice of the Chamberlain, "Trading Places" (1983), "Superman III" (1983) as Dr. McClean, "Memed My Hawk" (1984), "Not for Publication" (1984), "Liquid Dreams" (1991), "Clifford" (1994), "The Shadow" (1994), "Twin Sitters" (1994), "Titanic" (1997), "Manhood" (2003), "Simple Joys" (2006), and "Three Times a Lady" (2010). He was featured as Fred in a pair of "Batman" episodes in 1968 starring Cliff Robertson as Shame and Dina Merrill as Calamity Jan. He was also seen in episodes of "Blue Light", "Premiere", "Codename", "The Troubleshooters", "Ryan International", "Hadleigh", "Paul Temple", "Monster Squad", "Dog and Cat", "Wonder Woman", "Q.E.D.", "Remington Steele", "Oxbridge Blues", "Hill Street Blues", "Newhart", "Amazing Stories", "L.A. Law", "The Tortellis", "Tales from the Darkside", "My Sister Sam", "Hooperman", "Murder, She Wrote", "Mr. Belvedere", "Hard Time on Planet Earth", "Murphy Brown", "The Munsters Today", "They Came from Outer Space", "Morton & Hayes", "The Comic Strip Presents...", "Cafe Americain", and "Weird Science". His other television credits include productions of "Ring of Passion" (1978) as Adolf Hitler, "Oppenheimer" (1980) as Isidor I. Rabi, "Beau Geste" (1982), "Pictures" (1983), "Killer Instinct" (1988), "What Every Happened to Baby Jane?" (1991), and "She Woke Up" (1992). Dennen was a prolific voice actor, performing in animated productions of "The New Scooby-Doo Mysteires" (1984), "Pink Panther and Sons" (1984), "Galtar and the Golden Lance" (1985) as the voice of Krimm, "The Velveteen Rabbit" (1985), "Jonny Quest" (1986-1987), "Pound Puppies (1986-1987), "DuckTales" (1987), "Smurfs" (1988-1989), "The Further Adventures of SuperTed" (1989), "The Easter Story" (1989), "Paddington Bear" (1989-1990), "Adventues of the Gummi Bears" (1989-1990), "The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda" (1990), "The Pirates of Dark Water" (1991-1993), "Batman: The Animated Series" (1992), "Animaniacs" (1993), "Batman Beyond" (1999), "The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" (2006), "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (2006), "Les Dalton" (2010), "Star Wars: The Clone Wars" (2012), "Mad" (2013), "Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maxmum Overload" (2013), and "Justice League: Throne of Atlantis" (2015). He provided voices for numerous video games including "Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom" (1996), "Grim Fandango" (1998), "Star Trek: Hidden Evil" (1999), "Forgotten Reals: Icewind Dale - Heart of Winter" (2001), "Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura" (2001), "Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty" (2001), "Star Trek: Armada II" (2001), "Star Trek: Bridge Commander" (2002), "The Mark of Kri" (2002), "Metal Gear Solid 2: Substance" (2002), "Tenchu: Wrath of Heaven" (2003), "Lionheart" (2003), "Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time" (2003), "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (2005), "Jade Empire" (2005), "Fantastic Four" (2005), "Rainbow Six: Lockdown" (2005), "Titan Quest" (2006), "Avatar: The Last Airbender" (2006), "Turning Point: Fall of Liberty" (2008), "Too Human" (2008), "The Rise of the Argonauts" (2008), "Dragon Age: Origins" (2009), "White Knight Chronicles II" (2010), "Fallout: New Vegas" (2010), "Dungeon Siege III" (2011), "Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning" (2012), "Darksiders II" (2012), "Dota 2" (2013), "Infinity Blade III" (2013), "Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII" (2013), "World of Warcraft: Warlords of Draenor" (2014), "Final Fantasy Type-O HD" (2015), and "World of Warcraft: Legion" (2016). He continued to perform frequently on stage throughout his life, and reprised his role as Pilate in numerous touring productions of "Jesus Christ Superstar". Dennen was author of the 1997 autobiographic memoir "My Life with Barbra: A Love Story". He was briefly married to British actress Pamela Strong in the late 1960s, and is survived by their two adopted sons. He had a long relationship with James McGachy until his death from cancer in 2001.
ELIZABETH DIGBY-SMITH, 89
July 18, 2017
British actress Elizabeth Digby-Smith died of cancer in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, England, on July 18, 2017. Digby-Smith was born in Ecclesall Bierlow, Yorkshire, England, in 1928. She appeared in several films in the 1950s including "The Intruder" (1953), "Beautiful Stranger" (1954), and "Carrington V.C." (1954). She was seen on television in episodes of "No Cloak - No Dagger", "The Massingham Affair", "Doctor Who", "Softly Softly", "The Troubleshooters", "The Newcomers", "Angel Pavement", "Dr. Finlay's Casebook", "Virgin of the Secret Service", "Pere Goriot", "The Power Game", "ITV Saturday Night Theatre", "The Expert", "Hadleigh", "Paul Temple", "Villette", "The Doctors", "The Velvet Glove", and "The Green Man".
TERRY DOWNES, 81
October 6, 2017
British boxing champion Terry Downes, who also starred as the hunchbacked servant Koukol in Roman Polanski's horror spoof "The Fearless Vampire Killers", died in England on October 6, 2017. Downes was born in Paddington, London, England, on May 9, 1936. He began his career in boxing in the late 1950s, and won the British Middleweight Title in a bout against Phil Edwards on September of 1958 following the retirement of Pat McAteer. He exchanged the title with John 'Cowboy' McCormack in 1959 and defeated Edwards in a rematch the following year. Downs challenged champion Paul Pender for the World Middleweight Title in January of 1961 without success, but defeated him for the championship in July of 1961. He lost a rematch to Pender the following year. He won his next several matches, including a bout with Sugar Ray Robinson, and challenged Willie Pastrano for the World Light-Heavyweight Title in November of 1964. He retired after losing the match. Downes subsequently embarked on an acting career, appearing in the films "A Study in Terror" (1965) with John Neville as Sherlock Holmes, "The Fearless Vampire Killers" (aka "Dance of the Vampires") with Polanski and Sharon Tate, "Singapore, Singapore" (1967), "The Golden Lady" (1979), "If You Go Down in the Woods Today" (1981), and "Caravaggio" (1986). He also appeared on television in episodes of "24-Hour Call", "Not Only... But Also", "Gangster" as Roy Studd in 1976, "Play for Today", "The Chinese Detective", "Jack of Diamonds", "The Secret Servant", "Dempsey and Makepeace", "King & Castle", and "The Bill". He was also featured in the 1980 tele-film version of "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" starring David Hemmings. He is survived by his wife, Barbara, who he married in 1958, and their four children.
ROBERT DUNLAP, 74
July 27, 2017
Actor Robert Dunlap died on July 27, 2017. Dunlap was born on November 29, 1942, and was raised in San Jose, California. He trained as an actor at the Pasadena Playhouse and embarked on an acting career in the early 1960s. He appeared on television in episodes of "Cheyenne", "The Joey Bishop Show", "The Lieutenant", "Hank", "My Three Sons", "Death Valley Days", "Peyton Place", "Lassie", "Far Out Space Nuts", "The Blue Knight", "Lucas", "Wonder Woman", "The Rockford Files", "240-Robert", "The Greatest American Hero", "Voyagers!", "Automan", and "1st & Ten". His other television credits include the tele-films "Here Comes the Judge" (1972), "The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case" (1976(, "Three on a Date" (1978), "Advice to the Lovelorn" (1981), "M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers" (1983), and "Dance 'Til Dawn" (1988). He was also featured in such films as "The City Where the Action Is" (1965), "A Covenant with Death" (1967), "The Young Runaways" (1968), "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" (1969), and "Eyes of the Prey" (1992). He also studied filmmaking at Los Angeles Valley College, and formed RED Productions in 1982. He made such documentary films as "Grandpa" and "Anton", and many of his films aired on the Discovery Channel. He made the documentary film "Beyond Vanilla: An Unforgettable Journey into the Wilder Side of Sex in 2002, and "Xaviera Hollander, the Happy Hooker: Portrait of a Sexual Revolutionary" in 2008. He earned a doctorate in clinical sexology from the Institute for Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in 2005. He served as co-host of the radio show, "The Boom Doctors", with his life partner Dr. Patti Britton.
TAKIS EMMANUEL, 84
August 26, 2017
Greek actor Takis Emmanuel, who was featured in the 1973 fantasy classic "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad", died in Athens, Greee, on August 26, 2017. Emmanuel was born in Mesolongi, Etoloakarnania, Greece in 1933. He trained at the Athens Conservatory Drama School and began his career performing on stage. He made his film debut in the 1960 drama "The River". He became one of the best known Greek stars over the next two decades. He was also seen in the films "Electra" (1962), "Glory Sky" (1962), "Amok" (1963), "Young Aphrodites" (1963), "O Krahtis" (1964), Mihalis Kakogiannis' "Zorba the Greek" (1964) starring Anthony Quinn, "Otan Simanoun oi Kabanes" (1965), "Enonei o Ponos Dyo Kardies" (1965), "Thou Shall Not Steal" (1965), "Oi Ekdikitai" (1966), "Love on the Scorching Sand" (1966), "The Steps" (1966), "I Exodos tou Mesolongiou" (1966), "He and She" (1967), "Matomeni Gi" (1967), "Cry in the Wind" (1967), "Vareia Katara o Dihasmos" (1968), "Oedipus the King" (1968) starring Christopher Plummer, "The Magus" (1968) with Anthony Quinn and Michael Caine, "Play Dirty" (1969), the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service", "The Martlet's Tale" (1970), "Hell Boats" (1970), "Cannon for Cordoba" (1970) with George Peppard, "NH.P. Il Segreto" (1971), "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" (1973) starring John Phillip Law and Caroline Munro, "O Katadikos" (1975), "Promised Woman" (1975), "That Lucky Touch" (1975), and "Caddie" (1976). He starred as Kostas Andropoulos Paul Cox's 1979 drama "Kostas" opposite Wendy Hughes, and appeared with Anthony Quinn and Oliver Reed in the 1980 epic "Lion of the Desert". Emmanuel also appeared on television in productions of "The Jazz Age" (1968), "Romeos Kai Ioulieta '75" (1975), "Who Pays the Ferryman?" (1977), "Katadioxi" (1978), and "Levkas Man" (1981) as Kotiades. He retired from films in the 1980s to become a writer. His most recent novel, "The Seventh Photo", was published in 2007.
GEORGE ENGLUND, 91
September 14, 2017
Film director and editor George Englund died of complications from a fall at his home in Los Angeles, California, on September 14, 2017. He was born George Howe Ripley in Washington, D.C., on June 22, 1926. He was the son of actress Mabel Albertson, and nephew of actor Jack Albertson. He adopted the surname of his stepfather, screenwriter Ken Englund, after his parents' divorce. He began his career as an actor in the late 1940s, and appeared in episodes of "Lights Out", "Cameo Theatre", and "Kraft Television Theatre". He was director and writer for "The Eddie Fisher Show" in the late 1950s. He produced the 1959 end-of-the-world saga "The World, the Flesh and the Devil" starring Harry Belafonte. He made his film directorial debut helming 1963's "The Ugly American" starring Marlon Brando. He also directed the 1964 crime thriller "Signpost to Murder" starring Joanne Woodward, and produced the films "The Mercenaries" (1968) and "The Shoes of the Fisherman" (1968). He produced and directed the surreal western "Zachariah" in 1971. He also directed the films "Snow Job" (1972) and "My Strange Uncle" (1981). He helmed several tele-films including "A Christmas to Remember" (1978), "Dixie: Changing Habits" (1983), and "The Vegas Strip War" (1984), and also produced "See How She Runs" (1978), "The Streets of L.A." (1979), "Dixie: Changing Habits" (1983), and "Terrorist on Trial: The United States vs. Salim Ajami" (1988). He late served as a post-production executive on episodes of the television series "The Golden Girls", "The Golden Palace", and "Blossom". Englund was married to actress Cloris Leachman from 1953 until their divorce in 1978. The had five children, all of whom worked as actors including Adam Englund, Bryan Englund (who died in 1986), George Englund, Jr., Morgan Englund, and Dinah Englund. He married Bonnie Graves in 1980, and they had two children, Max Englund (who died in 1993) and Graves Englund before their divorce in 1992. Englund was author of the 2004 memoir "The Way It's Never Been Done Before: My Friendship with Marlon Brando", and co-authored "Cloris: My Autobiography" with his ex-wife in 2009.
SUZAN FARMER, 75
September 17, 2017
British actress Suzan Farmer, who starred in such horror films as "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" and "Die, Monster, Die!", died in England on September 17, 2017. Farmer was born in Kent, England, on June 16, 1942. She appeared on stage and screen from the late 1950s, and appeared in the films "The Supreme Secret" (1958), "The Dawn Killer" (1959), "Design for Living" (1960), "The Wild and the Willing" (1969), "Wings of Mystery" (1963), "80,000 Suspects" (1963), "The Crimson Blade" (1963), and "633 Squadron" (1964). She co-starred with horror icon Christopher Lee in the Hammer films "The Devil-Ship Pirates" (1964), "Dracula, Prince of Darkness" (1966), and "Rasputin, the Mad Monk" (1966). She starred as Susan Witley in the 1965 adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft's "The Colour Out of Space", "Die, Monster, Die!", with Nick Adams and Boris Karloff. Her other films include "Doctor in Clover" (aka "Carnaby, M.D.") (1966), "Where the Bullets Fly" (1966), "Talk of the Devil" (1968), and "Persecution" (1974). She appeared on television in productions of "The Square Peg" (1962), "The Fall of Mendel Krick" (1963), and "The Full Chatter" (1963) on "BBC Sunday-Night Play". She was also seen in episodes of "Call Oxbridge 2000", "ITV Television Playhouse", "The Marriage Lines", "Festival", "Detective", "No Hiding Place", "Love Story", "Danger Man", "Gideon's Way", "Front Page Story", "Sherlock Holmes", "The Flying Swan", "The Idiot" as Aglaia in 1966, "Armchair Theatre", "Mr. Rose", "Man in a Suitcase", "The Caesars" as Livilla in 1968, "The Saint", "The Tenant of Wildfell Hall", "Out of the Unknown", "The Inside Man", "Please Sir!", "Omnibus", "Wicked Women", "UFO", "The Persuaders!", "The Lotus Eaters", "ITV Play of the Week", "New Scotland Yard", the 1975 "Thriller" tele-film "Death in Deep Water", "The Chiffy Kids", "Warship", "Dixon of Dock Green", "The Squirrels", "Hazell", the soap opera "Coronation Street" as Sally Robson in 1978, "Blake's 7", "Play for Today", "Breakaway", and "Leap in the Dark". Farmer was married to actor Ian McShane from 1965 until their divorce in 1968.
TREVA FRAZEE, 94
July 30, 2017
Actress Treva Frazee died of complications from Alzheimer's disease in hospice in West Palm Beach, Florida, on July 30, 2017. Frazee was born in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, on February 17, 1923. She appeared on the New York stage from the 1940s, and was featured in the short-lived Broadway production of "Sundown Beach" in 1948. She was frequently heard on radio, performing in such series as "Zero Hour", "Mr. Keen, Tracer of Lost Persons", and "The Romance of Helen Trent". She was seen on television in episodes of "The Clock", "Kraft Television Theatre", "Studio One", "Musical Comedy Time", "Martin Kane, Private Eye", "The Big Story", "The United States Steel Hour", "The Best of Broadway", "The Honeymooners", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Mr. Lucky", "Peter Gunn", the animated "Archie and His New Pals", "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir", "The Immortal", "Cannon", "The Waltons", "Days of Our Lives", and "Hardcastle and McCormick". She also appeared in the 1973 horror film "The Severed Arm".
JANE FREEMAN, 81
March 9, 2017
British actress Jane Freeman died of lung cancer in England on March 9, 2017. She was born Shirley Ann Pithers in Brentford, Middlesex, England, on June 12 1935. She was raised in Merthyr Tydfil, South Wales, from the age of nine after her father was killed in an accident and her mother remarried. She began performing on stage while in school, and graduated from the City of Cardiff College of Music and Drama in 1955. She subsequently performed the Osiris Repertory Theatre touring company before joining Arena Theatre, Sutton Coldfield, in 1958. She also performed the New Theatre in Cardiff Wales, and the Birmingham Rep. She continued to perform on stage throughout her career. She was also seen on television in episodes of "Diary of a Young Man", "Crossroads", "Comedy Playhouse", "Trinity Tales", "Within These Walls", "Play for Today", "Prince Regent", "ITV Playhouse', "BBC2 Playhouse", "The Hard Word", and "The Black Adder". She also appeared in television productions of "Touch and Go" (1978), "All Day on the Sands" (1979), "Ghost in the Water" (1982), "Androcles and the Lion" (1983), "Letty" (1984), and "Silas Marner: The Weaver of Raveloe" (1985). She was seen in several films including "Dark Water" (1980) and "Scrubbers" (1982). Freeman was best known for her role as Ivy the cafe owner on the long-running comedy series "Last of the Summer Wine" from 1973 to 2010. She was married to Birmingham Rep artistic director Michael Simpson from 1971 until his death in 2007.
BASIL GOGOS, 78
September 14, 2017
Artist and illustrator Basil Gogos, who was best known for providing covers for numerous issues of "Famous Monsters of Filmland" in the 1960s and 1970s, on September 14, 2017. Gogos was born to a Greek family in Egypt on March 12, 1939, and came to the United States in his teens. He worked at various jobs while studying art, and began his career painting the cover of a western paperback in the late 1950s. He became a leading cover artist for men's adventure magazines in the early 1960s. He provided the first cover for Forry J Ackerman's "Famous Monsters of Filmland". He drew over fifty covers of the magazine, and other Warren publications including "Spaceman", "Wildest Westerns", "Creepy", "Eerie", and "The Spirit". He was noted for his use of vivid colors while illustrating the likeness of such characters as Godzilla, King Kong, The Wolf Man, and The Mummy. He also drew portraits of horror stars Boris Karloff, Bela Lugosi, Lon Chaney, and Christopher Lee. He left magazines in the late 1970s to concentrate on fine art and advertising. He returned to horror in the 1990s, providing art for trading cards, posters, and "Monsterscene" magazine covers. He also illustrated the CD covers for such rock musicians as Rob Zombie and The Misfits. The Vanguard Productions book "Famous Monster Movie Art of Basil Gogos" was released in 2005. He was recipient of the Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Awards' Special Monster Kid Hall of Fame Award in 2006.
MONTY HALL, 96
September 30, 2017
Canadian-American television personality Monty Hall, who was the long-time host of the popular game show "Let's Make a Deal", died of heart failure in Beverly Hills, California, on September 30, 2017. He was born Monte Halparin in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, on August 25, 1921. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with a degree in science. He began work at the local radio station while still in college, and moved to Toronto in 1946. He served as host and producer for various radio programs, taking the name of Monty Hall. He was host of the nationally syndicated radio program "Who Am I?". He was also host of such television series as "Matinee Party", "The Little Revue", and "Floor Show", before moving to New York City in 1955. He hosted the local game show "Bingo at Home", and the children's series "Cowboy Theater" and "Fun in the Morning". He also co-hosted weekend segments of the NBC Radio series "Monitor" in the late 1950s. He replaced Jack Narz on the CBS game show "Video Village" from 1960 to 1962, and also hosted the juvenile spinoff, "Video Village Junior". He co-created the game show "Let's Make a Deal" with Stegfan Hatos, and moved to California to serve as host of the NBC daytime version in 1963. "Let's Make a Deal" moved to ABC, where it aired from 1968 to 1976. It also aired in syndication from the early 1970s, and Hall continued to serve as host and producer of several incarnations through 1986. Hall and Hatos also created the game show "Split Second", which aired on ABC from 1972 to 1975. They also produced, with Hall sometimes hosting, the short-lived gameshows "Chain Letter", "Masquerade Party", "3 for the Money", "It's Anybody's Guess", and "The Joke's on Us". He hosted the "All-New Beat the Clock" in 1979, and was guest host of such series as "What's This Song?" and "PDQ". A new version of "Let's Make a Deal" starring Wayne Brady began on CBS in 2009, with Hall and Hatos credited as creative consultants. He also appeared on such variety and game shows as "The Hollywood Squares", "The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour", "The Joey Bishop Show", "Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters", "The Ray Stevens Show", "The Wacky World of Jonathan Winters", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Flip Wilson Show", "The Dean Martin Show", "Password", "Tattletales", "Dinah!", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Jim Nabors Show", "Password Plus", "The Alan Thicke Show", "The John Davidson Show", "Newton's Apple", "The Girls Next Door", and "The Florence Henderson Show". Hall also appeared on television in episodes of "The Odd Couple", "That Girl", "Love, American Style", the animated "Wait Till Your Father Gets Home" in a cameo voice role, "The Love Boat", "Jennifer Slept Here", "The Wonder Years", "The Nanny", "Love & War", "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch", the reality show "The Surreal Life", the animated "American Dragon: Jake Long", "Providence", and "That'70s Show". He also appeared in the 1971 television production of "Li'l Abner" and the tele-film "The Courage and the Passion" (1978) as General Sam Brewster. Hall was also noted for his philanthropic work, raising and donating funds for such charities as Toronto's Mount Sinai Hospial and Philadelphia's Hahnemann University Hospital. He was awarded the Order of Canada for his humanitarian work in 1988, and received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Daytime Emmys in 2013. Hall was married to Marilyn Plottel from 1947 until her death in June of 2017. He is survived by their children, Tony Award-winning actress Joanna Gleason, television producer Richard Hall, and Endemol Shine Studios president Sharon Hall Kessler.
BEN HAMMER, 92
September 18, 2017
Character actor Ben Hammer died in New York City in September 18, 2017. Hammer was born in Brooklyn, New York, on December 8, 1924. He began his career on stage in the late 1940s. He performed frequently on Broadway throughout his career in such productions as "The Great Sebastians" (1956), "The Tenth Man" (1959), "In the Counting House" (1962), "Mother Courage and Her Children" (1963), "The Deputy" (1964), "The Royal Hunt of the Sun" (1965), "In the Matter of J. Robert Oppenheimer" (1969), "Murderous Angels" (1971), "The Crucible" (1972), "Golda" (1977), "Broadway Bound" (1986), "The Three Sisters" (1997), and "The Gathering" (2001). He appeared on television in episodes of "Colgate Theatre", "ABC Album", "Goodyear Television Playhouse", "Johnny Staccato", "M Squad", "Peter Gunn", "One Step Beyond", "87th Precinct", "The Edge of Night", "East Side/West Side", "The Nurses", "Mission: Impossible", "The Virginian", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "Dragnet", "Ironside", "Judd for the Defense", "The Outsider", "Bonanza", "Peyton Place", "My Friend Tony", "The Young Lawyers", "Monty Nash", "Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law", "Bridget Loves Bernie", "Jigsaw", "Barnaby Jones", "Hawkins", "Love, American Style", "Mannix", "Police Woman", "Petrocelli", "Police Story", "The Law", "Movin' On", "The Six Million Dollar Man", "The Streets of San Francisco", "Barbary Coast", "Matt Helm", "Kojak", "Gemini Man", "Holmes and Yo-Yo", "The Guiding Light", "Charlie's Angeks", "The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries", "Tenspeed and Brown Shoe", "Freebie and the Bean", "The Incredible Hulk", "CHiPs", "Cagney & Lacey", "Quincy", "Barney Miller", "Jennifer Slept Here", "Hart to Hart", "Simon & Simon", "Fame", "The A-Team", "Airwolf", "T.J. Hooker", "Highway to Heaven", "Santa Barbara", "Ed", "Difficult People", and "Girls". He was featured in the recurring role of Judge Herman Mooney on "Law & Order" from 1991 to 2002. Hammer was also seen in the tele-films "The Execution of Private Slovik" (1974), "Collision Course: Truman vs. MacArthur" (1976), "Griffin and Phoenix" (1976), "Street Killing" (1976), "Victory at Entebbe" (1976), "The Amazing Howard Hughes" (1977), "Beggarman, Thief" (1979), "Advice to the Lovelorn" (1981), "The Winds of War" (1983) as Sumner Welles, and "The Wizard of Lies" (2017). He appeared in the 1971 anti-war film "Johnny Got His Gun", and was Herb Kline in the cult science fiction film "Invasion of the Bee Girls" (1973). His other films include "Haunts" (1977), "The Competition" (1980), "The Beastmaster" (1982) as Dar's Father, "Running Hot" (1984), "Jagged Edge" (1985), "Mannequin" (1987), "Survival Quest" (1988), "Crazy People" (1990), "Miliardi" (1991), "Subterfuge" (1996), "Sleepers" (1996), "The Last New Yorker" (2007), "(Untitled)" (2009), "Don't Let the Sun Blast Your Shadow" (2012), and "The Comedian" (2016). He and his wife, Dorothea, have been married since 1958, and he is survived by her and their two children.
HUGH HEFNER, 91
September 27, 2017
Legendary magazine publisher Hugh Hefner, who sparked the sexual revolution by creating "Playboy" magazine in 1953, died at his home in Holmby Hills, Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 2017. Hefner was born in Chicago, Illinois, on April 9, 1926. He served as a military newspaper writer for the U.S. Army towards the end of World War II. He subsequently graduated from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1949, where he edited the campus humor magazine "Shaft". He worked as a copywriter for "Esquire" magazine and was circulation promotion manager for the publication "Children's Activities". He soon embarked on his own publishing endeavor, raising money from investors, including his mother, to launch a man's magazine. Originally to be called "Stag Party", it was renamed "Playboy" before its launch in December of 1953. Hefner was able to acquire the rights to nude photos of Marilyn Monroe taken from photo shoot for a calendar several years earlier as the magazine's centerpiece. The original print run of over 50,000 copies quickly sold out. Hefner soon became a millionaire and the magazine's ubiquitous rabbit mascot helped establish a massive empire. The unorthodox men's magazine combined thoughtful prose and interviews with ribald humor and photographs of nude women. He reinvented himself as the epitome of the playboy the magazine was designed for after leaving his first marriage in 1959. He established the original Playboy Mansion in Chicago, which became a leading venue for leading figures in the entertainment and sports world to mingle with the magazine's beautiful models. He served as host of the late-night television series "Playboy's Penthouse", introducing musical numbers and comedians in a party like setting. The first of numerous Playboy Clubs was opened in Chicago in 1960, with members and guests being served food and drink by the iconic Playboy Bunnies. Playboy Enterprises opened over forty clubs internationally before the chain ended in the 1990s. He changed his base of operations from Chicago to Los Angeles, acquiring what became known as the Playboy Mansion West in 1971. He and the magazine espoused a cultural and political philosophy that was liberal and libertine in a series of articles. He advocated civil rights, cessation of the Vietnam war, and liberalization of drug laws, and rejected the vestiges of societies Puritanical morality. He garnered fierce opposition because of his stances from such figures as FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and President Richard M. Nixon, securing a place on his infamous Enemies List. The magazine became a leading literary market, publishing the works of such authors as Saul Bellow, Kurt Vonnegut, Margaret Atwood, Bernard Malamud, Ray Bradbury including the early serialization of his classic novel "Fahrenheit 451", John Updike, Nadine Gordimer, Isaac Bashevis Singer, Vladimir Nabokov, Doris Lessing, and a host of others. The "Playboy Interview" likewise attracted many notable figures. Historian Alex Haley conducted interviews with Martin Luther King, Jr. and Malcolm X', as well as George Lincoln Rockwell, leader of the American Nazi Party. Other interview subjects included Frank Sinatra, Princess Grace, Ian Fleming, Muhammad Ali, Peter Sellers, Jawaharlal Nehru, Johnny Carson, Marshall McLuhan, Groucho Marx, Jimmy Hoffa, Bob Dylan, Marlon Brando, and presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, whose admission that he had felt "lust in his heart" for other women sparked a political debate. "Playboy" frequently showcased the work of artist Leroy Nieman and featured cartoons by Jules Feifer, Shel Silverstein, Harvey Kurtzman, Jack Cole, Gahan Wilson, and many others. The magazine became most noted for its centerfold, featuring a pictorial of a beautiful model complete with a tri-fold picture in various stages of undress. Many models went on to notable careers in show business and included Jayne Mansfield, Bette Page, Yvette Vickers, Stella Stevens, Cynthia Myers, Claudia Jennings, Bebe Buell, Barbi Benton, Shannon Tweed, Julie McCullough, the ill-fated Dorothy Stratten, Erika Eleniak, Pamela Anderson, Jenny McCarthy, Anna Nicole Smith, and Brande Roderick. Hefner was reportedly involved romantically with many of the women who appeared in the pages of his magazine. He hosted another syndicated television series, "Playboy After Dark", from 1969 to 1970. He also appeared on such television series as "Tonight Starring Jack Paar", "The Merv Griffin Show", "What's My Line?", "ABC Stage 67", "The Joey Bishop Show", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show", "The Don Rickles Show", "Della", "The Dick Cavett Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", "Hee Haw", "Saturday Night Live" guest hosting in 1977, "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "Pink Lady", "Late Night with David Letterman", "The Daily Show", "WWE Monday Night RAW", "The Surreal Life", "The Sharon Osbourne Show", "Howard Stern", "The View", "The Tyra Banks Show", "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson", "Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show", and many others. He served as executive producer of numerous films through "Playboy"'s film division including Roman Polanski's adaptation of "Macbeth" (1971), "The Naked Ape" (1973), "The Crazy World of Julius Vrooder" (1974), "Saint Jack" (1979), and "The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu" (1980). He also produced numerous video pictorials featuring playmates and other models. Hefner suffered a minor stroke in 1985 that resulted in some changes to his lifestyle. He relinquished the helm of the Playboy empire to his daughter, Christie Hefner in 1988, and married Playmate of the Year Kimberley Conrad in 1989. They later separated and divorced in 2010. He made guest and cameo appearances on numerous television series including "Burke's Law", "Get Smart", "The Odd Couple", "Laverne & Shirley", "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air", "Just Shoot Me!", "According to Jim", "The Simpsons" in a voice role, "The Larry Sanders Show", "Blossom", "Roseanne", "V.I.P.", "Sex and the City", "Las Vegas", "The Bernie Mac Show", "Entourage", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", "Family Guy" again voicing himself, and "Shark". He was also seen in several films including Mel Brooks' "History of the World: Part 1" (1981), "Citizen Toxie: The Toxic Avenger IV" (2000), and "Miss March" (2009) earning a nomination for a Razzie Award for "worst supporting actor" portraying himself. He later joked on Twitter that "Maybe I didn't understand the character". He was a voice actor in the 2011 animated film "Hop". He was featured in the E! network reality series "The Girls Next Door", from 2005 to 2010, highlighting his living arrangement with a trio of beautiful models including Holly Madison, Kendra Wilkinson, and Bridget Marquardt. The series spawned several spin-offs that sometimes featured Hefner, including "Kendra", "Kendra in Top", "Bridget's Sexiest Beaches", and "Holly's World". Before the final season of "The Girls Next Door" in 2009, Hefner and the ladies had largely parted, and Crystal Harris and the twins Kristina and Karissa Shannon became his new significant others. Hefner was married to Mildred Williams from 1949 until their divorce in 1959, and is survived by their two children, daughter Christie and son David. His marriage to Kimberley Conrad produced sons Marston and Cooper. He became engaged to Crystal Harris in 2010, but she ended the relationship several days before their wedding. Though she became dubbed as "the runaway bride", she eventually reunited with Hefner, and they married in December of 2012.
MIKE HODGE, 70
September 10, 2017
Actor Mike Hodge, who was president of the New York chapter of the Screen Actor's Guild (SAG) since 2010, died in New York City on September 19, 2017. Hodge was born in McComas, West Virgnina, on February 24, 1947. He began his acting career in the 1980s, and appeared in the films "Forever, Lulu" (1987), "Magic Sucks" (1987), "The Shaman" (1988), "Blue Steel" (1989), "The Bonfire of the Vanities" (1990), Spike Lee's "Malcolm X" (1992), "Emma and Elvis" (1993), "Striking Distance" (1993), "Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hude" (1995), "To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar" (1995), Barbra Streisand's "The Mirror Has Two Faces" (1996), "Ransom" (1996), "Addicted to Love" (1997), "Office Killer" (1997), "Fiona" (1998), "Cuisine Americaine" (1998), "The Confession" (1999) "Brooklyn Sonnet" (2000), "Mambo Cafe" (2000), "Follow Me Outside" (2000), "Our Lips Are Sealed" (2000), "The Other Brother" (2002), "Head of State" (2003), "Undermind" (2003), "Beacon Hill" (2004), "The Kings of Brooklyn (2004), "Till Proven Innocent" (2004), "Fat Cats" (2005), "College Road Trip" (2008), "Cadillac Records" (2008), "Adam" (2009), and Elliott Gould's 2017 comedy "Humor Me". He was featured in the 1984 television mini-series "George Washington", and the tele-films "Perfect Witness" (1989) and "Boycott" (2001). He starred as Lt. Isaiah McQuade in the juvenile series "Ghostwriter" from 1992 to 1993. His other television credits include episodes of "Working Out", "Mathnet", "NYPD Blue", "The Adventures of Pete & Pete", "New York Undercover", the soap opera "Loving" as Sgt. Graham in 1995, "Due South", "Cosby", "Spin City", "D.C.", "Soul Food", "Ed" in the recurring role of the Judge from 2000 to 2001, "Third Watch", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "The Jury", "Law & Order" in the recurring role of Judge Delano Burns, the soap opera "As the World Turns" as Burt from 2005 to 2006, "White Collar", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", "Ringer", "NYC 22", "Blue Bloods", and "Blindspot". Hodge was active in union activities and was elected to the SAG national board in 2000. He became head of the New York chapter of the union 2010, and had been reelected shortly before his death.
JEMMA HYDE, 75
January 28, 2017
British actress Jemma Hyde died in Battersea, London, England, on January 28, 2017. She was born Jemima Jill Keen in Edmonton, London, England, on September 24, 1941. She was the daughter of actors Geoffrey Keen and Hazel Terry. She appeared in small roles in films in her teens from the mid-1950s including "John and Julie" (1955), "An Alligator Named Daisy" (1955), "Wicked As They Come" (1956), "Jacqueline" (1956), "It's Great to Be Young!" (1956), "A King in New York" (1957), "Blue Murder at St. Trinian's" (1957), "Carve Her Name with Pride" (1958), "In the Wake of a Stranger" (1959), "Petticoat Pirates" (1961), and "The Heroes of Telemark" (1965). She appeared on television in episodes of "Mary Britten, M.D.", "The Odd Man" as Viccy in 1960, "Armchair Theatre", "No Hiding Place", "Compact" as Beth Francis in 1962, "ITV Television Playhouse", "The Saint", "The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling", "The Rise and Fall of Cesar Birotteau", "Front Page Story", "Secret Agent", and "The Liars".
ANNE JEFFREYS, 94
September 27, 2017
Actress Anne Jeffreys, who co-starred with husband Robert Sterling in the supernatural comedy series "Topper" in the 1950s and starred as socialite Amanda Barrington on the soap operas "General Hospital" and "Port Charles" for over two decades, died at her home in Los Angeles, California, on September 27, 2017. She was born Anne Carmichael in Goldsboro, North Carolina, on January 26, 1923. She began her career as a singer, performing with the New York Municipal Operal Company in her teens. She also signed as a model with the John Robert Powers Agency. She made her film debut in the early 1940s, appearing with Nelson Eddy and Jeanette MacDonald in 1942's "I Married an Angel". She also appeared in small roles in the films "Yokel Boy" (1942), "Tarzan's New York Adventure" (1942), "Billy the Kid Trapped" (1942), "Mooonlight Masquerade" (1942), and "Olaf Laughs Last" (1942). She became a popular star in westerns and dramas throughout the decade, with such credits as "Joan of Ozark" (1942), "The Old Homestead" (1942), "Flying Tigers" (1942), "X Marks the Spot" (1942), "Chatterbox" (1943), "Calling Wild Bill Elliott" (1943), "The Man from Thunder River" (1943), "Crime Doctor" (1943), "Bordertown Gun Fighters" (1943), "Wagon Tracks West" (1943), "Overland Mail Robbery" (1943), "Death Valley Manhunt" (1943), "Mojave Firebrand" (1944), "Hidden Valley Outlaws" (1944), "Step Lively" (1944) with Frank Sinatra, "Nevada" (1944), the crime drama "Dillinger" (1945) opposite Lawrence Tierney, the horror comedy "Zombies on Broadway" (1945) with Alan Carney and Wally Brown, "Those Endearing Young Charms" (1945), "Sing Your Way Home" (1945), "Dick Tracy" (1945) as Tess Trueheart opposite Morgan Conway's Tracy, "Ding Dong Williams" (1946), "Step By Step" (1946), "Genius at Work" (1946) again with Carney and Brown, "Dick Tracy vs. Cueball" (1946) reprising her role as Tess Trueheart, "Vacation in Reno" (1946), "Trail Street" (1947), "Riff-Raff" (1947), and "Return of the Bad Men" (1948) with Randolph Scott and Robert Ryan. Jeffreys performed on Broadway in productions of "Street Scene" (1947), "My Romance" (1948), "Kiss Me Kate" (1948), and "Three Wishes for Jamie" (1952). She was a familiar face on television from the early 1950s, appearing in episodes of "Four Star Revue", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The Paul Whiteman's Goodyear Revue", "The Frank Sinatra Show", "The Ed Sullivan Show", "Texaco Star Theatre Starring Milton Berle", and "Musical Comedy Time", and "Max Liebman Presents" productions of "The Merry Widow" (1955) and "Dearest Enemy" (1955). She starred with husband Robert Sterling as the ghostly couple, George and Marion Kerby, in the supernatural comedy series "Topper" with Leo G. Carroll as Cosmo Topper from 1953 to 1955. She starred as Jill Johnson in the short-lived comedy series "Love That Jill" in 1958, again opposite Sterling. She also appeared in episodes of "Lux Video Theatre", "Star Stage", "The Red Skelton Show", "What's My Line?", "The Perry Como Show", "The 20th Century-Fox Hour", "The Woody Woodbury Show", "The Joey Bishop Show", "Cavalcade of America", "Telephone Time", The Polly Bergen Show", "Lux Playhouse", "The Bob Cummings Show", "Wagon Train", "Dr. Kildare", "Bonanza", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", the unsold pilot "Ghostbreakers", "Tarzan", "My Three Sons", the soap opera "Bright Promise" as Sylvia Bancroft in 1971, "Love, American Style", "The Delphi Bureau", "Police Story", "Flying High", "Battlestar Galactica", "Vega$", "Buck Rogers in the 25th Century", "Mr. Merlin", "Fantasy Island", "Falcon Crest" in the recurring role of Amanda Croft from 1982 to 1983, "Matt Houston", "Hotel", "Murder, She Wrote", "L.A. Law", and "Baywatch" in the recurring role of Irene Buchannon, David Hasselhoff's mother. She was also seen in the tele-films "Beggarman, Thief" (1979) and "A Message from Holly" (1992), and was Rita Hargrove in the series "Fiders of Lost Loves" from 1984 to 1985. She was featured as Amanda Barrington on the soap opera "General Hospital" from 1984 to 2004, and in the spin-off "Port Charles" from 1999 to 2003. Her later television credits include the 2008 tele-film "Empire State Building Murders" and an episode of "Getting On" in 2013. She also continued to make occasional films, including "Boys' Night Out" (1962), "Panic in the City" (1968), "Southern Double Cross" (1976), "Clifford" (1995), "Richard III" (2007), and "Sins Expiation" (2012). Jeffreys was married to Joseph Robert Serena in 1945 but this was later annulled. She married actor Robert Sterling in 1951, and they remained together until his death in 2006. She is survived by their sons Jeffrey, Robert, and Tyler. Actress Tisha Sterling was her step-daughter.
HOWARD KAMINSKY, 77
August 27, 2017
Author and publisher Howard Kaminsky, who served as president of Random House and Warner Books, died in Manhattan, New York, on August 27, 2017. Kaminsky was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 24, 1940. He graduated from Brooklyn College and continued his education at San Francisco State and the University of California at Berkley. He began work in publishing in the 1960s as director of subsidiary rights at the Random House division, Knopf. He co-scripted the 1974 horror satire film "Homebodies". He also became president and publisher of Paperback Library in 1972, which soon became known as Warner Books. He and his wife, Susan Stanwood, who he married in 1970, began writing novels under the pseudonym Brooks Stanwood. Their first novel, the thriller "The Glow", was published in 1979, and was adapted for a tele-film of the same name starring Portia de Rossi in 2002. He became chief executive officer of Random House in 1984 and headed the Hearst Corporation's trade publishing house Avon/William Morrow and Company later in the decade. He also served as editor for Doubleday and Harper Collins. He and his wife continued to write thrillers, sometimes using the pseudonym Arthur Reid, until her death in 2005. Kaminsky wrote several other novels including 2013's "Angel Wings. He also co-wrote the self-help books "Magic Words" and "Magic Words at Work". He was producer for the 2011 animated film "My Dog Tulip", and was executive producer of the 2014 documentary "Enquiring Minds: The Untold Story of the Man Behind the National Enquirer". His survivors include his daughter, television writer and producer Jessica Kaminsky.
ELIZABETH KEMP, 65
September 1, 2017
Actress Elizabeth Kemp died of cancer in Venice, California, on September 1, 2017. Kemp was born in Key West, Florida, on November 5, 1951. She moved to New York after graduating high school and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and the Actors Studio. She was featured in the original cast of "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" off-Broadway, and was featured in a small role in the 1978 Broadway production of "Once in a Lifetime". She performed frequently in regional theatre throughout the country including the California Actors Theatre in San Francisco, the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C., and the Center Stage in Baltimore. She appeared on television as Betsy Crawford in the daytime soap opera "Love of Life" from 1973 to 1977. She was also seen in episodes of "Skyways", "Vietnam War Story", "Thirtysomethng", "L.A. Law", "Police Rescue", and "Law & Order". Her other television credits include productions of "I Can Jump Puddles" (1981), "Police Story: Burnout" (1988), "Family of Spies" (1990), "Challenger" (1990), and "Murderous Vision" (1991). Kemp made her film debut in the 1980 horror film "He Knows You're Alone" with Tom Hanks. Her other films include "The Clairvoyant" (aka "The Killing Hour") (1982), "Sticky Fingers" (1988). "Eating" (1990), "Mom I Can Do It" (1992), "Venice/Venice" (1992), "Animal Room" (1995), the shorts "Pills" (2005) and "Thanks Dad" (2012), "Welcome to New York" (2014), and "A Crack in Everything" (2017). Kemp returned to New York City in the mid-1990s, where she taught at the Strasberg Institute and The Actors Studio Drama School at Pace University. She was married actor Michael Margotta in the 1980s and they later divorced.
SALLY KEMP, 84
March 21, 2017
Actress Sally Kemp died of cancer in Los Angeles, California, on March 21, 2017. Kemp was born on February 7, 1933. She appeared frequently on television from the late 1950s with roles in episodes of "Armstrong Circle Theatre", "The Kaiser Aluminum Hour", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Brenner", "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors", "Bonanza", "Gunsmoke", "Apple's Way", "Doc Elliot", "McCloud", "The Waltons", "Get Christie Love!", "Kojak", "How the West Was Won", "Quincy", "The Lazarus Syndrome", "Paris", "Bosom Buddies", "Three's Company", "ABC Afterschool Specials", "Dallas", "Strike Force", "Knots Landing", "American Playhouse", "Trapper John, M.D.", the soap opera "Days of Our Lives" as Nora Bassett in 1983, "Hart to Hart", "Dynasty" in the recurring role of Marcia from 1982 to 1984, "Simon & Simon", "Life with Lucy", "It's a Living", "CBS Schoolbreak Special", "Ed", and "Hope & Faith". Her other television credits include the tele-films "The Invasion of Carol Enders" (1974), "Planet Earth" (1974), "Roots" (1977), "A Death in Canaan" (1978), "The Millionaire" (1978), "Strangers: The Story of a Mother and Daughter" (1979), "Twirl" (1981), "Isabel's Choice" (1981), "Cocaine: One Man's Seduction" (1983), "Carpool" (1983), "The Secret Life of Kathy McCormick" (1988), "Return to Green Acres" (1990), "Brotherhood of the Gun" (1991), and "The Last Hit" (1993). Kemp also appeared in a handful of films during her career including "The Pale Faced Girl" (1969), "Carry on Camping" (1969), "Breakheart Pass" (1975), "Gable and Lombard" (1976), "The Glove" (1979), "The Last Hunt" (1985), "Vasectomy: A Delicate Matter" (1986), "Spellbinder" (1988), and "Communion" (1989).
DAMU KING, 78
September 13, 2017
Actor Damu King died in Johnson City, Tennessee, on September 13, 2017. King was born on January 31, 1939. He was featured as Hutch in the 1971 horror comedy film "Guess What Happened to Count Dracula?". He was also seen frequently in blaxploitation films of the 1970s including "Shaft" (1971), "Top of the Heap" (1972), "Black Girl" (1972), "Sweet Jesus, Preacherman" (1973), "Black Samson" (1974), "The Black Godfather" (1974), "Black Starlet" (1974) also serving as assistant director, "Bloodbrothers" (1978), and "Blackjack" (1978). He appeared on television in episodes of "Dan August", "Barnaby Jones", "Medical Center", "The Rookies", "The Blue Knight", "Serpico", "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Alice", and "Dynasty". His other television credits include productions of "Green Eyes" (1977), "Alexander: The Other Side of Dawn" (1977), "Roots: The Next Generation" (1979), "Dan August: The Trouble with Women" (1980), "To Save a Child" (1991), and "Revenge on the Highway" (1992).
BOBBY KNUTT, 71
September 25, 2017
British television actor Bobby Knutt died while on vacation in France on September 25, 2017. He was born Robert Andrew Wass in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on November 25, 1945. He sang with several groups in the late 1950s and early 1960s, and teamed with Geoff Morton to form the comedy act Pee & Knutt. He went solo in 1965, and performed comedy around the country. He was soon appearing on television in episodes of "The Comedians", "The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club", "Seaside Special", "Search for a Star", "Starburst", "Blankety Blank", "Cryer's Crackers", and "Through the Keyhole". He was featured in the "Play for Today" production of "The Price of Coal" in 1977. He also appeared in "Marti" in 1977, and was featured in episodes of "ITV Playhouse", "The Paul Squire Show", "Hallelujah!", "Knees-Up", "All Creatures Great and Small", "Screen Two", "How We Used to Live", "Stay Lucky", "All Changes", "Rich Tea and Sympathy", "Common As Muck", "Jake's Progress", "Hetty Wainthropp Investigates", "Heartbeat", "The Bill", "Doctors", "Last of the Summer Wine", "City Central", "The Afternoon Play", and "The Syndicate". He was Ron Sykes in the soap opera "Coronation Street" in the early 1980s. His other television credits include productions of "Body & Soul" (1993), "Earthfasts" (1994), "Three Seven Eleven" (1994), "The Bare Necessities" (1996), "Cuts" (1996), "The Missing Postman" (1997), "In Denial of Murder" (2004), and "Everything But the Ball" (2009). He was Albert Dingle in the series "Emmerdale" in 2004, and was Eddie Dawson in the comedy "Benidorm" from 2016 to 2017. He published his autobiography, "Eyup Knutty" in 2008, and the sequel "Eyup Again" in 2010. Knutt was married to British runner Donna Hartley from 1986 until her death in 2013.
MARK LaMURA, 68
September 11, 2017
Actor Mark LaMura, who starred as Mark Dalton on the television soap opera "All My Children" for over a decade, died of lung cancer on September 11, 2017. LaMura was born in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, on October 18, 1948. He attended Kent State University and St. Joseph's College, and continued his training at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. He starred as Mark Dalton, who was later revealed as the brother of Susan Lucci's character, on "All My Children" from 1977 to 1989, and earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination in 1988. He occasionally returned as the character through the mid-2000s. He was also seen in episodes of "Kojak", "ABC Afterschool Specials", "Matlock", "Heartbeat", "Hunter", "Star Trek: The Next Generation" as John Doe in the 1990 episode "Transfigurations", "L.A. Law", "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventures", "Cybill", "Diagnosis Murder", "As the World Turns", "Air America", "Deadline", "Law & Order", "Law & Order: Criminal Intent", "One Life to Live", "Six Degrees", "The Sopranos", "Gossip Girl", "30 Rock", "Damages", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and "Army Wives". His other television credits include the tele-films "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" (1976), "Soldier's Home" (1977), "Those Secrets" (1992), "Criminal Behavior" (1992), "Danielle Steel's "Star" (1993), "Christmas Cupid" (2010), and "Trinity Goodheart" (2011). He appeared in several films during his career including "See You in the Morning" (1989), "The Russia House" (1990), "City by the Sea" (2002), "Mattie Fresno and the Holoflux Universe" (2007), "The Lucky One" (2007), "Trim" (2010), "Something Borrowed" (2011), "One Fall" (2011), and "Baked in Brooklyn" (2016). LaMura also appeared frequently on the New York stage, and performed on Broadway in productions of "Taking Sides" (1996) and "Dinner at Eight" (2002). He was married to actress Elizabeth Maclellan and is survived by their daughter.
LOIS LAUREL, 89
July 28, 2017
Lois Laurel Hawes, the only daughter of comedian Stan Laurel, died after a long illness in a Mission Hills, California, hospital on July 28, 2017. Laurel was born in Beverly Hills, California, on December 10, 1927, the daughter of Stan Laurel and his first of four wives, actress Lois Neilson. Her father was half of a legendary comic team with Oliver Hardy, and Lois frequently visited him on the set. She appeared in uncredited roles in several of the short, "The Chimp" (1932) and "Swiss Miss" (1938). She was also seen in a cameo role in the 1956 documentary short "One Moment Please" with Laurel and Hardy. Her father died in 1965, and she later appeared in several documentaries about the team. She was married to actor Rand Brooks, who appeared in the film classic "Gone with the Wind", from 1948 until their divorce in 1978, and is survived by their daughter, Laurel. She was married to British television writer Tony Hawes from 1981 until his death in 1997.
BOOTS LeBARON, 85
August 25, 2017
Child actor, journalist and publicist Boots LeBaron died in Manhattan Beach, California, on August 25, 2017. LeBaron was born in Los Angeles, California, on July 10, 1932. He performed as a child actor from the late 1930s, appearing in the films "Captains Courageous" (1937), "One Million B.C." (1940), and "Pan-Americana" (1945). He worked as a copyboy for the "Los Angeles Times", and rose to become a staff writer. He later became a crime reporter before leaving the "Times" in the early 1960s. He was publicist and promoter for the Seattle World's Fair in 1962. He also promoted the Beatles U.S. concert tour in 1964. He created several slogans for the California State Park Commission including the iconic "Give a Hoot, Don't Pollute!". LeBaron also served as publicist for the Universal City Studio tours, The Ringling Bros. & Barnum & Bailey Circus, The Chrysler Corp., composer Henry Mancini, Caesars Palace, and the Circus-Circus Casino. He worked as a freelance writer from the 1980s, with many articles published in Los Angeles' "Daily Breeze". A collection of his essays, articles, and poetry, "The Human Race", was published in 2013. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, JoAnne, their sons, Beau and Brandon, and daughter Brooke.
HARVEY LEVINE, 78
September 9, 2017
Actor Harvey Levine died of lung cancer in Ladera Ranch, California, on September 9, 2017. Levine was born in the Bronx, New York, on March 6, 1939. He was featured in small roles in the films "MASH" (1970), "Murph the Surf" (1975), "Skateboard: The Movie" (1978), "They Call Me Bruce?" (982), "Odd Jobs" (1986), "Say Yes" (1986), "Mannequin" (1987), "King B.: A Life in the Movies" (1993), and "Fatal Instinct" (1993). He was also seen on television in episodes of "The Wild Wild West", "The Pruitts of Southampton", "Bridget Loves Bernie", "Dream On", "Limboland", and "Just Shoot Me!". Levine was predeceased by his wife, Anne, and is survived by children Sarah and Marc.
CHUCK LOW, 89
September 18, 2017
Actor Chuck Low died in New Jersey on September 18, 2017. Low was born in New York City on July 21, 1928. He was a friend and real estate consultant for actor Robert DeNiro. He began his career in films in a small role with DeNiro in Martin Scorcese's "The King of Comedy". He was also seen in the films "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984), "The Mission" (1986), "Goodfellas" (1990) as Morris Kessler, "Mistress" (1992), "Night and the City" (1992), "Sleepers" (1996), and "Kill the Poor" (2003). He was Charlie in the television series "Tribeca" in 1993, and appeared in episodes of "Law & Order", "The Sopranos", and "100 Centre Street".
HOWARD PARKER, 83
May 24, 2017
Dancer Howard Parker died in San Diego, California, on May 24, 2017. Parker was bprn on August 3, 1933. He was a dancer on stage and screen from the 1950s, with such film credits as "There's No Business Like Show Business" (1954), "Love Me or Leave Me" (1955), "Anything Goes" (1956), "Silk Stockings" (1957), "The Pajama Game" (1957), "The Helen Morgan Story" (1957), and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" (1967). Howard also performed on Broadway in productions of "Juno" (1959), "Once Upon a Mattress" (1959), and "Happy Town" (1959). He served as choreorgrapher for Johnny Mann's 1971 television variety series "Stand Up and Cheer". He owned and operated a gift and greeting card business in his later years. His survivors include his long-time partner David Greenberg, who he married in 2009.
JUDY PARKER, 79
September 14, 2017
Actress and songwriter Judy Parker Gaudio died of respiratory compliations in a Nashville, Tennessee, hospital on September 14, 2017. Parker was born in Michigan on September 14, 1938. She attended Michigan State University before pursuing a career as a model and actress. She spent several years in Italy in the early 1960s, where she was featured in the 1963 film "Jacob: The Man Who Fought with God". She returned to the United States later in the decade, and appeared in the films "Winter A-Go-Go" (1965) and "Get to Know Your Rabbit" (1972). He appeared in the recurring role of Kim in the television comedy series "Hank" from 1965 to 1966, and was one of the Penguin's henchwomen in a 1966 episode of "Batman". Her other television credits include episodes of "My Three Sons" and "Bonanza". She was also seen in commercials of United Airlines, Breck, Halo, and Prell. She met singer Bob Gaudio, co-founder of the group The Four Seasons, in 1973, and they married in April of 1981. She and her husband wrote several songs together including the hits "December, 1963 (Oh, What a Night)" and "Who Loves You" for Frakie Valli & The Four Seasons.
PATRICIA RAINIER, 76
July 29, 2017
Actress Patricia Rainier died at her home in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on July 29, 2017. Rainier was born in Fort Lauderdale on October 8, 1940. She graduated from Marquette University in the early 1960s, and embarked on an acting career. She was seen on television in episodes of "G.E. True", "77 Sunset Strip", and "Adam-12". She also appeared in several films including "Revenge Is My Destiny" (1971), "The Daredevil" (1972), "Scared Stiff" (1987), and "Cocoon: The Return" (1988).
HARRY DEAN STANTON, 91
September 15, 2017
Character actor Harry Dean Stanton, who was a familiar face in such films as "Alien", "Repo Man", "Pretty in Pink", "The Last Temptation of Christ", "The Green Mile", and numerous others, died in a Los Angeles, California, hospital on September 15, 2017. Stanton was born in West Irvine, Kentucky, on July 14, 1926. He served in the U.SZ. Navy in the Pacific during World War II. He studied journalism and radio at the University of Kentucky in Lexington before leaving to become an actor. He moved to Los Angeles and trained at the Pasadena Playhouse. He made his television debut in an episode of "Inner Sanctum" in 1954, and was frequently billed as Dean Stanton early in his career. He was soon appearing in small roles in such films as "Revolt at Fort Laramie" (1956), "The Wrong Man" (1956), "Tomahawk Trail" (1957), "The Proud Rebel" (1958), "Voice in the Mirror" (1958), "Pork Chop Hill" (1959), "The Jayhawkers!" (1959), "A Dog's Best Friend" (1959), "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1960), "Hero's Island" (1962), "How the West Was Won" (1962), "The Man from the Diners' Club" (1963), "Ride in the Whirlwind" (1966) with Jack Nicholson, "In the Heat of the Night" (1967), "A Time for Killing" (1967), "The Hostage" (1967), "Cool Hand Luke" (1967), "Day of the Evil Gun" (1968), "The Mini-Skirt Mob" (1968), and "Lanton Mills" (1969). He was also seen on television in episodes of "Suspicion", "The Walter Winchell File", "The Court of Last Resort", "Panic!", "Decision", "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin", "Man with a Camera", "U.S. Marshal", Disney's "The Nine Lives of Elfego Baca", "Bat Masterson", "The D.A.'s Man", "Adventure Showcase", "The Texan", "The Rifleman", "The Lineup", "Rescue 8", "Lock Up", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "The Man from Blackhawk", "Johnny Ringo", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Gunslinger", "The Roaring 20's", "The Law and Mr. Jones", "Zane Grey Theater", "The Untouchables", "The Lawless Years", "Cain's Hundred", "Have Gun - Will Travel", "Checkmate", "Stoney Burke", "Combat!", "Laramie", "Bonanza", "Empire", "Rawhide", "Gunsmoke", "The Fugitive", "A Man Called Shenandoah", "The Big Valley", the unsold "Frank Merriwell" pilot on "Vacation Playhouse", "The Wild Wild West", "The Guns of Will Sonnet", "Cimarron Strip", "The Andy Griffith Show", "The High Chaparral", "The Virginian", "Mannix", "The Name of the Game", "Daniel Boone", "Adam-12", and "Petticoat Junction". He appeared in the recurring role of Jake Walters in the television comedy series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman". He also appeared in the tele-films "The Dangerous Days of Kiowa Jones" (1966), "The Intruders" (1970), "The Legendary Curse of the Hope Diamond" (1975) as President Warren G. Harding, and "Flatbed Annie & Sweetiepie: Lady Truckers" (1979). Stanton graduated to more substantial supporting and character roles by the 1970s, and was seen in the films "The Rebel Rousers" (1970), "Kelly's Heroes" (1970), "Two-Lane Blacktop" (1971), "Cisco Pike" (1972), "Cry for Me, Billy" (1972), "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973) with Bob Dylan, "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid" (1973), "Dillinger" (1973), "Where the Lilies Bloom" (1974), "Zandy's Bride" (1974), "Cockfighter" (1974), "Win, Place or Steal" (1974), "The Godfather: Part II" (1974) in the small role of an FBI Agent, "Rafferty and the Gold Dust Twins" (1975), "Rancho Deluxe" (1975), "The Fortune" (1975), "Farewell, My Lovely" (1975), "92 in the Shade" (1975), "The Missouri Breaks" (1976), "Renaldo and Clara" (1978), "Straight Time" (1978), "Up in Smoke" (1978), John Huston's "Wise Blood" (1979) as the blind preacher, and "The Rose" (1979) with Bette Midler. He was featured as the ill-fated crewman Brett in the 1979 science fiction/horror classic "Alien" (1979). He continued his career in "Death Watch" (1980), "The Black Marble" (1980), "Private Benjamin" (1980) as Goldie Hawn's recruiting officer, John Carpenter's "Escape from New York" (1981), "One from the Heart" (1981), "Young Doctors in Love" (1982), Carpenter's 1983 adaptation of Stephen King's "Christine" (1983), and Alex Cox's off-beat cult comedy "Repo Man". He starred as amnesiac drifter Travis Henderson in Wim Wenders 1984 film "Paris, Texas", co-written by Sam Shepard and L.M. Kit Carson. He was also seen in "The Bear" (1984), the cold war action film "Red Dawn" (1984), "UFOria" (1985), "One Magic Christmas" (1985), "Fool for Love" (1985), John Hughes' high school romantic comedy "Pretty in Pink" (1986) as Molly Ringwald's father, "Slam Dance" (1987), "Stars and Bars" (1988), "Mr. North" (1988), Martin Scorcese's "The Last Temptation of Christ" (1988) as the apostle Paul, "Dream a Little Dream" (1989), "Twister" (1989), "Stranger in the House" (1990), "The Fourth War" (1990), director David Lynch's "Wild at Heart" (1990) as Johnnie Farragut and "Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me" (1992) as Carl Rodd, "Man Trouble", "Cruise Control" (1992), "Gentleman Who Fell" (1993), "Blue Tiger" (1994), "One Hundred and One Nights" (1995), "Never Talk to Strangers" (1995), "Nothing to Believe In" (1996), Playback" (1996), "Down Periscope" (1996), "Midnight Blue" (1997), "She's So Lovely" (1997), "Fire Down Below" (1997), "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" (1998), "The Mighty" (1998), "A Civil Action" (1998), "Ballad of the Nightingale" (1999), "The Straight Story" (1999), the 1999 film adaptation of Stephen King's "The Green Mile" as death row inmate Toot-Toot, "The Man Who Cried" (2000), "Sand" (2000), "The Pledge" (2001), "The Animal" (2001), "Sonny" (2002), "Ginostra" (2002), "Anger Management" (2003), "Chrystal" (2004), "The Big Bounce" (2004), "The Wendell Baker Story" (2005), "Alpha Dog" (2006), "Alien Autopsy" (2006), "You, Me and Dupree" (2006), "Inland Empire" (2006), "The Good Life" (2007), "The Open Road" (2009), "On Holiday:" (2010), "Athena" (2010), the animated "Rango" (2011) as the voice of Balthazar, "This Must Be the Place" (2011), Marvel's "The Avengers" (2012) in a cameo as a security guard, "Seven Psychopaths" (2012), "The Last Stand" (2013), "9 Full Moons" (2013), "Carlos Spills the Beans" (2013), "The Pimp and the Rose" (2014), and "Sick of It All" (2017). He starred in the title role of John Carroll Lynch's 2017 film "Lucky". Stanton appeared in the tele-films "The Oldest Living Graduate" (1980), "I Want to Live" (1983), "Payoff" (1991), "Hostages" (1992), "Against the Wall" (1994), and "Dead Man's Walk" (1996). He was a guest in several episodes of "Late Night with David Letterman", and was host of "Saturday Night Live" in 1986. His other television credits include episodes of "Young Maverick", "Laverne & Shirley", the 1987 producer of "Faerie Tale Theatre"'s "Rip Van Winkle", "The French as Seen by...", "The Jim Henson Hour", "Beyond the Groove", "Hotel Room", "Penn & Teller's Sin City Spectacular", "Two and a Half Men", "Alice", "Chuck", and "Getting On". He starred as polygamous sect leader Roman Grant in the HBO series "Big Love" from 2006 to 2010, and was the voice ov Baron Kleberkuh in the animated series "Mongo Wrestling Alliance" in 2011. Stanton reprised his role as Carl Rodd in David Lynch's return to "Twin Peaks" on Showtime in 2017. He was the subject of the documentaries "Harry Dean Stanton: Crossing Mulholland" (2011) and "Harry Dean Stanton: Partly Fiction" (2013). He was also an accomplished singer and musician, touring with the American Male Chorus early in his career, and leading the Harry Dean Stanton Band later in life.
FRANK VINCENT, 80
September 13, 2017
Character actor Frank Vincent, who was noted for his role as mobsters in the films "Goodfellas" and "Casino" and television's "The Sopranos", died during surgery after a heart attack in Nutley, New Jersey, on September 13, 2017. He was born Frank Vincent Gattusso, Jr., in North Adams, Massachusetts, on April 15, 1937. He originally aspired to a career as a musician, performing as a dummer for such artists as Paul Anka, Del Shannon, Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gorme. before making his film debut in the 1976 gangster film "The Death Collector" with Joe Pesci. He co-starred with Robert DeNiro and Pesci in Martin Scorcese's 1980 boxing classic "Raging Bull". He continued his career in such films as "Dear Mr. Wonderful" (1982), "Baby It's You" (1983), "Easy Money" (1983), "The Pope of Greenwich Village" (1984), "Stiffs" (1985), "Wise Guys" (1986), "Made in Argentina" (1987), "Lou, Pat & Joe D" (1988), Spike Lee's "Do the Right Thing" (1989), "Last Exit to Brooklyn" (1989), "The Afterlife of Grandpa" (1989), "Goodfellas" (1990) as ill-fated Gambino family mobster Billy Batts, "Street Hunter" (1990), "Mortal Thoughts" (1991), "Jungle Fever" (1991), "Men Lie" (1994), "Hand Gun" (1994), "Animal Room" (1995), "Noithing to Lose" (1995), "Casino" (1995) reuniting with Scorcese, DeNiro, and Pesci, "West New York" (1996), "She's the One" (1996), "Night Falls on Manhattan" (1996), "The Good Life" (1997), "Made Men: (1997), "Grind" (1997), "Cop Land" (1997), "The North End" (1997), "The Deli" (1997), "Undercurrent" (1998), "Belly" (1998), "Entropy" (1999), "Penance" (1999), "Isn't She Great" (2000), "Gun Shy" (2000), "If You Only Knew" (2000), "Ropewalk" (2000), "The Crew" (2000), "Under Hellgate Bridge" (2000), "Smokin' Stogies" (2001), "Snipes" (2001), "Hamlet in the Hamptons" (2002), "Remembering Mario" (2003), "A Tale of Two Pizzas" (2003), "This Thing of Ours" (2003), the animated "Shark Tale" (2004) as the voice of a Great White, "Coalition" (2004), "Remedy" (2005), "Van Vorst Park" (2005), "The Last Request" (2006), "City Teacher" (2007), "Chicago Overcoat" (2009), "Stiffs" (2010), "Exit 102" (2010), "The Tested" (2010), and "Spy" (2011). He was seen in the tele-films "Dead and Alive: The Race for Gus Farace" (1991), "On Seventh Avenue" (1996), "Gotti" (1996), "Witness to the Mob" (1998), "Vig" (1998), "NetForce" (1999), and "Rubout" (2003). His other television credits include episodes of "The Paradise Club", "Civil Wars", "The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles", "Walker, Texas Ranger", "Swift Justice", "Cosby", "New York Undercover", "Law & Order", "NYPD Blue", "Stargate: Atlantis", "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit", and the animated "Mr. Pickles" as the voice of Jon Gabagooli. He starred as rival crime boss Phil Leotardo on the HBO series "The Sopranos" from 2004 to 2007. Vincent was co-author of the 2006 book "A Guy's Guide to Being a Man's Man".
PATRICK WESTWOOD, 92
April 21, 2017
British actor Patrick Westwood died in Putney, London, England, on April 21, 2017. Westwood was born in Kingswinford, West Midland, England, on December 10, 1924. He began his career on stage in the 1940s, and was soon appearing on television in productions of "He Who Gets Slapped" (1947), "Boys in Brown" (1947), "Shadow and Substance" (1953), "Our Marie" (1953), "All on a Summer's Day" (1953), "The Quatermass Experiment" (1953), "Jesus of Nazareth" (1956), "The New Apprentice" (1956), "Murder in Mind" (1958), "Captain Brassbound's Conversion" (1960), "The Master of Ballantrae" (1962), "House of Glass" (1964), "Where Are They Now" (1964), and Disney's "The Secret of Boyne Castle" (1969). His other television credits include episodes of "Silk, Satin, Cotton, Rags", "Saturday Special", "Fabian of the Yard", "Lilli Palmer Theatre", "Nom-de-Plume", "Assignment Foreign Legion", "The Crime of the Century" as M. Bernard in 1956, "The Adventures of Aggie", "The Machine Breakers", "Sailor of Fortune", "Buckskin", "Wagon Train", "General Electric Theater", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "One Step Beyond", "The Thin Man", "The Loretta Young Show", "The Alaskans", "Johnny Staccato", "Para Handy - Master Mariner", "Riverboat", "Markham", "The Islanders", "The Twilight Zone", "Hawaiian Eye", "Maverick", "Lassie", "ITV Play of the Week", "No Hiding Place", "The Indian Tales of Rudyard Kipling" as Mian Rukn Din in 1964, "The World of Wooster", "Comedy Playhouse", "Dr. Finlay's CasebooK", "Softly Softly", "The Saint", "The New Forest Rustler", "Vendetta", "The Man Craig", "The Revenue Men", "The Newcomers", "Thirty-Minute Theatre", "The Gamblers", "The Troubleshooters", "The Avengers", "The Wednesday Play", "Z Cars", "Imperial Palace", "Detective", "Department S", "Ryan International", "Dixon of Dock Green", "Jamie", "Jason King", "The Adventures of Black Beauty", "Love Thy Neighbour", "Oil Strike North", "My Son Reuben", "Poldark", "Spring & Autumn", "The Emigrants", "Space: 1999", "Shoestring", "Breakaway", "Shelley", "Potter", "Up the Elephant and Roung the Castle", and "The Last Detective". He was also seen in numerous films including "A Gunman Has Escape" (1948), "Hunted" (1952), "The Planter's Wife" (1952), "Folly to Be Wise" (1952), "One Stop Shop" (1953), "Genevieve"{ (1953), "Happy Ever After" (1954), "Third Party Risk" (1954), "Passing Stranger" (1954), "Night Plane to Amsterdam" (1955), "Passage Home" (1955), "Night Plane to Amsterdam" (1955), "Passage Home" (1955), "The Woman for Joe" (1955), "Private's Progress" (1956), "Reach for the Sky" (1956), "The Battle of the River Plate" (aka "Pursuit of the Graf Spee") (1956), "The Tommy Steele Story" (aka "Rock Around the World") (1957), "Battle of the Coral Sea" (1959), "The Miracle" (1959), Roger Corman's 1961 adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe's "Pit and the Pendulum" as Maximillian, "Lassie's Great Adventure" (1963), "Carry On... Up the Khyber" (1968), "Guns in the Heather" (1969), "The Last Valley" (1971), "The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones" (1976), and "Cash in Hand" (1998).
JOAN WINMILL, 95
June 29, 2017
British actress Joan Winmill Brown died in Maui, Hawaii, on June 29, 2017. Winmill was born in London, England, on December 21, 1921. She began her career as an actress on stage shortly after World War II. She starred in the hit play "The Chiltern Hundreds" in London's West End in 1947. She met Robert F. Kennedy after a stage performance and the two became romantically involved over the following year. Their romance was ended when Kennedy's family put an end to the relationship. Her career took a downward turn as she frequently turned to barbiturates and sleeping pills to help with her insecurities. She took the small role of Mary Wells, the maid, in Bela Lugosi's British tour with the play "Dracula" from April through July of 1951. She appeared in a handful of films in the early 1950s including "White Corridors" (1951), "Innocents in Paris" (1953), "The Harassed Hero" (1954), "Souls in Conflict" (1954), and "Forbidden Cargo" (1954). She starred as Mark Skelton in the television series "Epitaph for a Spy" in 1953. She attended a Billy Graham Crusade in London in 1954, and soon became a devoted follower. She became an active member of Graham's Evangelistic Association in America. She was later featured in the 1973 film "Time to Run", produced by Graham's company World Wide Pictures. Her autobiography, "No Longer Alone", was also adapted for film, and Belinda Carroll starred as Winmill. She was married producer William F. Brown, who served as president of World Wide Pictures, and they had two children. Brown died earlier in 2017.
BENJAMIN WHITROW, 80
September 28, 2017
British actor Benjamin Whitrow, who starred as Mr. Bennet in the television version of "Pride and Prejudice" in 1995, died in London, England, on September 28, 2017. Whitrow was born in Oxford, England, on February 17, 1937. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began his acting career on stage in Belfast in 1959 after national service. He performed frequently in repertory theatre and appeared in a small role n the 1963 films "The Small World of Sammy Lee". He was also seen on television in episodes of "ITV Play of the Week", "Detective", "Crossroads", "Londoners", "The Power Game", "Theatre 625", "Emergency-Ward 10", and "Dr. Finlay's Casebook". He performed on stage with the Old Vic from the late 1960s, and joined the Royal Shakespeare Company in 1981. He continued to appear on television in such productions of "The Merchant of Venice" (1973), "The Brontes of Haworth" (1973), "The Aweful Mr. Goodall" (1974), "King Lear" (1975), "Able's Will" (1978), "A Dog's Ransom" (1978) for "Armchair Thriller", "Afternoon Off" (1979), "One Fine Day" (1979), "A Moment in Time" (1979), "Suez 1956" (1979) as Sir Patrick Dean, "Troilus & Cressida" (1981), "On Approval" (1982), "Harry's Game" (1982), "Shackleton" (1983) as Roald Amundsen, "Bingo!" (1983), "The Starlight Ballroom" (1983), "Sharma and Beyond" (1984), "Hay Fever" (1984), "Coming Through" (1985), "Muzzy in Gondoland" (1986) as the voice of Norman, "Natural Causes" (1988), "A Man for All Seasons" (1988), "Muzzy Comes Back" (1989), "Pride and Prejudice" (1995) earning a BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor, "The Merchant of Venice" (1996), "Embassy" (1997), "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling" (1997), "The Blonde Bombshell" (1999), "Other People's Children" (2000), "Pevsner Revisited" (2001), "Henry VIII" (2003), "Wren: The Man Who Built Britain" (2004), and "The Queen's Sister" (2005). His other television credits include episodes of "The Pallisers", "Microbes and Men", "Clayhanger", "The Squirrels", "Fathers and Families", "Yes, Honestly", "Wings", "The Sweeney" in the recurring role of Detective Chief Superintendent Braithwaite, "Danger UXB", "Bognor" as Eric Gringe in 1981, "Play for Today", "Nanny", "BBC2 Playhouse", "Tales of the Unexpected", "All for Love", "Agatha Christie's Partners in Crime: The Tommy & Tuppence Mysteries", "Danger: Marmalade at Work", "Summer Season", "Minder", "Dempsey and Makepeace", "Bergerac", "Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV", "Theatre Night", "Tickets for the Titanic", "Screen Two", "Muzzy Comes Back", "A Bit of Fry and Laurie", "Screenplay", "Ffizz" as Hugo Walker from 1987 to 1989, the 1990 production of "Sauce for the Goose" for "Patricia Highsmith's Tales", "Chancer" as Robert Douglas in 1990, "Boon", "Perfect Scoundrels", "Rumpole of the Bailey", "Brookside", "The New Statesman" as Paddy O'Rourke, "Peak Practice", "Men of the World", "Moving Story", "The Bill", "Inspector Morse", "Kiss Me Kate", "Jonathan Creek", "Monarch of the Glen", "Island at War" as Bailiff Francis La Palotte in 2004, "Murder in Suburbia", "Agatha Christie's Poirot", "Trial & Retribution", "Bonekickers", "Midsomer Murders", "Doc Martin", "The Royal", "Little Crackers", "Casualty", "New Tricks", "Toast of London", "Wolf Hall", "Man Down", and "The Musketeers". He appeared in occasional films throughout his career, with roles in "Quadrophenia" (1979), "Brimstone & Treacle" (1982), "A Shocking Accident" (1982), "Clockwise" (1986), "Personal Services" (1987), "Hawks" (1988), "On the Black Hill" (1988), "Damage" (1992), "Chaplin" (1992), "Restoration" (1995), "The Saint" (1997), "Fairytale: A True Story" (1997), "Jilting Joe" (1998), the animated "Chicken Run" (2000) as the voice of Fowler, "Scenes of a Sexual Nature" (2006), "Last Light" (2009), "Bomber" (2009), and "A Cake for Mabel" (2013). He married Catherine Cook in 1972, and is survived by their children Hannah and Thomas. They later separated and he is also survived by a son, actor Angus Imrie, with actress Celia Imrie.
Thanks to Carla Clark, Tom Weaver, Ray Nielsen, Boyd Magers, John Beifuss, Jimmy Covington, Laura Wagner, Steven Smith, Tom Betts