Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-50 of 122
- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Born in Oklahoma, Ben Johnson was a ranch hand and rodeo performer when, in 1940, Howard Hughes hired him to take a load of horses to California. He decided to stick around (the pay was good), and for some years was a stunt man, horse wrangler, and double for such stars as John Wayne, Gary Cooper and James Stewart. His break came when John Ford noticed him and gave him a part in an upcoming film, and eventually a star part in Wagon Master (1950). He left Hollywood in 1953 to return to rodeo, where he won a world roping championship, but at the end of the year he had barely cleared expenses. The movies paid better, and were less risky, so he returned to the west coast and a career that saw him in over 300 movies.- J.T. Walsh was born on 28 September 1943 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Breakdown (1997), Sling Blade (1996) and Needful Things (1993). He was married to Susan West. He died on 27 February 1998 in La Mesa, California, USA.
- Rugged-looking James Gammon first broke into the entertainment industry not as an actor but as a TV cameraman. From there, his weatherbeaten features, somewhat menacing attitude and a tough-as-nails voice--the kind that used to be described in detective novels as "whiskey-soaked"--reminiscent of '40s noir icon Charles McGraw got him work in front of the cameras in TV westerns (though he sounds as if he's from Texas or Oklahoma, he was actually born and raised in Illinois) and he made his film debut in 1967. Not the kind of guy you'd see in a tuxedo in a Noël Coward drawing-room comedy--unless he was one of a gang holding them up--Gammon could play lighter parts also, as evidenced by his work as the manager in the baseball comedy Major League (1989) and in his regular role as Don Johnson's rambunctious father in Johnson's Nash Bridges (1996) series.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
An apple dumpling of a darling, character actress Nedra Volz had one of those slightly vacant, twinkly-eyed faces absolutely designed for light sitcoms and commercial work. Although she didn't come into her own until past retirement age, she enjoyed a solid two-decade ride delightfully amusing audiences all over.
The diminutive Iowa native was born in a trunk to vaudeville parents in 1908 and was immediately thrust onto the stage as "Baby Nedra" in tent shows and similar venues. A band singer and radio performer in her early adult years, maternal instincts took over after marrying her husband in 1944 and she raised two children. But the spark never completely died. In the 1950s she was performing again in community theater shows.
As others of her ilk have done, she took a "what the heck" attitude and went for the professional gigs again in the early 1970s, making her film debut at age 65 with Your Three Minutes Are Up (1973) starring Beau Bridges and Ron Leibman. Light comedy would become her forte and she geared herself up, bouncing back and forth between the large and small screen. Irresistible as a feisty oldster, dotty neighbor or pot shot-taking granny who wasn't above giving a karate chop to a bad guy out of nowhere, producer Norman Lear gave her TV career a booster shot with a couple of his late 1970s series.
She peaked with the popular Gary Coleman sitcom Diff'rent Strokes (1978). Stepping in as the resident Drummond family housekeeper following the departure of hired help Charlotte Rae, who spun off into her own series, Nedra stayed on the show two seasons and then was herself replaced by Mary Jo Catlett. During the run of the sitcom she was actually doing triple duty as a recurring postmistress on The Dukes of Hazzard (1979) from 1981-1983 and as Mother B on Filthy Rich (1982). She subsequently served alongside Lee Majors' stunt-man detective character on The Fall Guy (1981) for a season starting in 1985.
A popular guest presence on such established sitcoms as "Alice," "Maude," "One Day at a Time," "Night Court," "Coach," "The Commish," "Who's the Boss?" and "Step By Step," she could be seen as an elderly wisenhammer at the movies as well in the bawdy, raucous comedies Moving Violations (1985), Lust in the Dust (1984), Earth Girls Are Easy (1988), and Mortuary Academy (1988), among others. She ended her career most fittingly at age 88 in the The Great White Hype (1996) briefly providing on of her token prune-faced old lady bits. The endearing Nedra passed away of complications from Alzheimer's disease in 2003 at the ripe old age of 94.- Actor
- Soundtrack
As Rusty, the boy whose parents were killed by Native Americans, and who was subsequently adopted by a cavalry unit at Fort Apache on the popular adventure The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954), tyke actor Lee Aaker left a lasting mark in the early days of television, but he had in fact appeared in several major films prior to this series.
He was born on September 25, 1943, in Los Angeles, where his mother owned a dance studio. On TV almost from infancy, he started appearing in unbilled film bits at the age of eight in such classics as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and High Noon (1952). He quickly moved to featured status before year's end. He showed promise as the kidnapped Indian "Red Chief" in a segment of the film O. Henry's Full House (1952) and another kidnap victim as the son of scientist Gene Barry in _Atomic City (1952)_. From there he co-starred in the John Wayne western classic Hondo (1953) as the inquisitive blond son of homesteader Geraldine Page, and appeared to good advantage in other movies such as the film noir thriller Jeopardy (1953) with Barbara Stanwyck, the opera drama Arena (1953) with Gig Young and the comedies Mister Scoutmaster (1953) with Clifton Webb and Ricochet Romance (1954) with Marjorie Main.
Stardom, however, was assured after nabbing the role of the famous dog's young master on the "Rin Tin Tin" series. After the show's demise, however, Aaker did not make the transition into adult roles. He instead moved into the production end of the business, serving as an assistant to producer Herbert B. Leonard on the Route 66 (1960) series, then later dropped out altogether to become a carpenter. He still attended nostalgia conventions and was a "Kids of the West" honoree at the 2005 Golden Boot Awards.- Robert Winley was born on 9 December 1952 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Joy Ride (2001) and Near Dark (1987). He died on 21 October 2001 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Kathryn Card was born on 4 October 1892 in Butte, Montana, USA. She was an actress, known for I Love Lucy (1951), Born to Kill (1947) and The Hucksters (1947). She was married to Erwin Foster Card. She died on 1 March 1964 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.- Khigh Dhiegh was born on 25 August 1910 in Spring Lake, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for The Manchurian Candidate (1962), Seconds (1966) and Noble House (1988). He was married to Mary Pearman Dickerson. He died on 25 October 1991 in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
If you've ever seen a war picture, sci-fi epic or western from the 1940s or 1950s, then you've seen Thomas Browne Henry, and more than once. Along with Morris Ankrum, Henry is probably the army officer most responsible for helping Earth drive off hordes of invading outer-space monsters, aliens and other unwelcome intruders. His stocky build, sharply etched face, commanding voice and no-nonsense, get-down-to-business style were just right for the scores of generals, colonels, bankers, political leaders and other authority figures he played over his long and prolific career. Born in California, he had a very successful career as a stage actor and director, and was closely associated with the renowned Pasadena Playhouse, before breaking into films in 1948 (his brother, William Henry, was also an actor) and played a succession of cops, sheriffs, district attorneys, professors and, of course, army officers over the next 20+ years. He finally retired in 1970 and went back to his first love, the theater, again back to the Pasadena Playhouse. He died in 1980.- Kam Tong was born on 18 December 1906 in Oakland, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Flower Drum Song (1961), Women of the Prehistoric Planet (1966) and Have Gun - Will Travel (1957). He was married to Betty Sakata. He died on 8 November 1969 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Lucille Bliss was an American voice actress from New York City who was known for voicing Smurfette from The Smurfs, Anastasia from Cinderella and Ms. Bitters from Invader Zim. She voiced in other animated projects and video games including Robots and The Secret of NIMH. She passed away in November 8th, 2012.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jean Muir was an attractive blonde-haired U.S. stage, screen and television actress from the 1930s through the mid-1960s.
Upon retiring from acting Jean went on to teach drama, first, for eight years beginning in 1968, at Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri, where she headed their new drama department, and afterwards at a university in Mexico.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Sheila Darcy was born on 8 August 1914 in York, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for The Man in the Iron Mask (1939), Terry and the Pirates (1940) and Tumbledown Ranch in Arizona (1941). She was married to Preston Foster and Erich von Stroheim Jr.. She died on 27 February 2004 in Kearny Mesa, California, USA.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Beulah Quo was born on 17 April 1923 in Stockton, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Brokedown Palace (1999), Chinatown (1974) and Meeting of Minds (1977). She was married to Edwin Sih-Ung Kwoh. She died on 23 October 2002 in La Mesa, California, USA.- Actress
Gloria (Maylia) Fong was born Gloria Chin in Detroit, Michigan. She married actor Benson Fong and received great reviews for her first film, Singapore (1947). She and Benson later ran the fabulous "Ah-Fong" Chinese restaurant in Beverly Hills. They have five children including Pamela Kwong Fong and Lisa Fong.- John R. Reilly was born on 9 September 1920 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Story of G.I. Joe (1945), Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944) and The Well Groomed Bride (1946). He died on 19 July 2000 in La Mesa, California, USA.
- Peter Strudwick was born on 19 January 1930 in Germany. He died on 6 March 2014 in Costa Mesa, California, USA; from cancer/sepsis/dementia. Due to his mother contracting Rubella, Strudwick was born without feet and deformed hands.
He appeared in a minor role in the 1964 movie "The Time Travelers" playing the role of a mutant human who is befriended by Merry Anders as Carol White.
He also appeared in the 1981 documentary "Being Different" where Strudwick talks about his life and accomplishments.
In 1969, he commenced jogging and ran many marathons.
He was the author of "Come Run With Me" which was released by Exposition Pr of Florida, Pompano Beach, Florida, U.S.A. in 1976. The book focuses on running - but far more importantly, it is about life. - Actress
- Soundtrack
Pamela Blair was born on 5 December 1949 in Bennington, Vermont, USA. She was an actress, known for Annie (1982), Mighty Aphrodite (1995) and Beavis and Butt-Head Do America (1996). She was married to Don Scardino and Alfred Anthony Feola. She died on 23 July 2023 in Mesa, Arizona, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
The popular singer and saxophone player began with the Ben Young Orchestra (1935-1937), and joined the Miller band in 1938, becoming one of the bands's most popular personalities and soloists (though he was not seen or even referred to in The Glenn Miller Story). His personality and talents led him to the top of the Downbeat and Metronome magazine polls, with his vocal work on "Chattanooga Choo Choo", "(I've Got a Gal in) Kalamazoo", and "Don't Sit Under the Apple Tree". In 1946, Glenn Miller's widow requested that Tex take the orchestra back out on road trips, and the band, under Tex, had a string of Top 10 hits. But disputes arose between the band's manager/producer (who wanted to keep the band's music in the pre-war mode) and Tex, who wanted to introduce new music and sounds. Tex left to start his own band, which became "Tex Beneke and His Orchestra: Playing the Music Made Famous by Glenn Miller", with his first album, "Shooting Star" (released on Magic Records in 1948), where Tex could express his desire for fresh sounds while still perpetuating the classic Glenn Miller trademarks. He worked consistently into the 1990s, making personal live appearances, playing his own kind of music in the style we still closely identify with the Miller sound.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Stephen C. Apostolof (25 February 1928 in Burgas, Bulgaria - 14 August 2005, Mesa, Arizona), sometimes credited under aliases A.C. Stephen(s) or Robert Lee, was a Bulgarian-American filmmaker specializing in the "erotic" film genre.
Born in the Bulgarian Black Sea town of Burgas, he claimed asylum in the US in the 1940s. His large body of work was produced mainly between the late 1960s and the late 1970s. In 1957 he produced Journey to Freedom (1957), an anti-Communist picture inspired by his own life. The film teamed Apostolof with director of photography William C. Thompson and Swedish-born actor 'Tor Johnson', both now best-known for their work with the infamous director Edward D. Wood Jr.. Thompson later introduced Apostolof to Wood. In an interview conducted in the beginning of the 1990s, Apostolof recalls his first meeting with the eccentric director, who appeared at the "Brown Derby" restaurant in Los Angeles, in drag and with a mustache.
Apostolof made his directorial debut with Orgy of the Dead (1965). Ed Wood wrote the script and acted as production assistant. The film starred Criswell, the famous television oracle immortalized in Wood's Plan 9 from Outer Space (1957). Outtakes from this film and interview segments with Apostolof are included in the 1994 documentary Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora (1994), released by Rhino Home Video. During the 1960s and 1970s Apostolof directed nine screenplays written by Wood.
Apostolof was interviewed for an in-depth article on the making of "Orgy of the Dead" in the horror/science fiction magazine Femme Fatales (7:1, June 1998). In 1990 the specialized magazine Psychotronic Video published an eight-page interview with Apostolof entitled "Stephen C. Apostoloff: Bulgarian nude director".
Stephen Apostolof died on August 14, 2005, aged 77. He is survived by his second wife and five children.- Dale Ballard was born on 1 December 1946 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Deadly Dentists (2017). He died in October 2021 in Mesa, Arizona, USA.
- Brandon Beach was born on 18 October 1879 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was an actor, known for Under Western Stars (1938), This Theatre and You (1949) and Whirlybirds (1957). He died on 22 November 1974 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.
- Rudy Germane was born on 24 March 1910 in Portland, Maine, USA. He was an actor, known for The Doris Day Show (1968). He died on 28 March 1997 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.
- Bridget Carr was born on 29 July 1928 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for That Midnight Kiss (1949), Please Believe Me (1950) and Mark of the Renegade (1951). She was married to Robert Hutton. She died on 29 October 2017 in Costa Mesa, California, USA.
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
George Estregan was born on 10 July 1939 in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Kid kaliwete (1978), Sa bulaklak ng apoy (1984) and Lumakad kang hubad... Sa mundong ibabaw (1980). He died on 8 August 1988 in Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.