Deaths: April 17
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- Actress
- Director
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Doris Roberts was born in St. Louis, Missouri, to Ann (Meltzer) and Larry Green. She was raised in New York, and took her stepfather's surname. Roberts was a 20-year veteran of the Broadway stage before she began appearing steadily in character roles in film and on television during the 1970s. A versatile player with an inescapably "mom-like" presence, she was adept at playing sympathetic roles but made her most memorable mark as hard-boiled dames, gossips, and nags who were often too savvy of the ways of the world to be fooled by anyone. Roberts built up some face recognition with regular appearances in the sitcoms Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman (1976) (syndicated) and Angie (1979) (ABC), but truly came into her own as a widely known comedienne when she was cast as the meddling, strong-willed family matriarch on Everybody Loves Raymond (1996) (CBS). The show became of the best-loved sitcoms in history, and Roberts earned seven Emmy nominations and four wins for her colorful characterization. Well past the common age of retirement and well past the show's celebrated end, Roberts maintained a reputation as one of the big and small screen's most iconic mothers, and she continued to be a welcome sight as a television guest star and film player.- Alan García was born on 23 May 1949 in Lima, Peru. He was married to María del Pilar Nores Bodereau and Carla Buscaglia Castellano. He died on 17 April 2019 in Lima, Peru.
- Visual Effects
- Director
- Special Effects
Alex Weil is the award-winning executive creative director and founder of New York-based "design and build" digital atelier - Charlex. As designer, storyteller and technical innovator, he has delivered breakthrough moments in digital imagemaking for over 25 years.
From groundbreaking work with multi-layered video effects for projects like The Cars' 'You Might Think' - netting the young director MTV's first ever Best Music Video Award - to acclaimed projects for Saturday Night Live, IBM and Budweiser, Weil has become synonymous with the aesthetics and language of digital communication.
Weil broke ground early by embracing video as his creative medium at a time when it was considered only a primitive delivery system. Motivated by a 'never before' attitude he developed innovative alternatives for producing motion graphics and effects. By the early 1980s Charlex was single-handedly challenging the slower and expensive optical houses and quickly earning a reputation in the advertising and broadcast industries as post-production mavericks. These early days were captured in the 1988 film "Tapeheads" with John Cusack playing Alex.
Even during the early days of crude daisy-chained video decks and gaffer tape ingenuity, Weil recognized the limits of relying solely on technology to deliver a message. To further the creative experience - 'the personality' of the work - Weil started to collaborate more deeply with ad agencies to develop a new turnkey approach to post-production. Charlex became the first shop to successfully integrate design, effect, editorial, sound and live-action production services into a single working environment.
During this time Weil partnered with new software company Discreet Logic and equipped his team and New York with the latest evolution in post-production technology. This potent combination re-contextualized the potential of design and effects in commercial production. During this period Charlex and Weil were also gaining acclaim in the realm of design and branding for their work for the Fortune 500, including Coca Cola, Ford, Exxon, GM and Microsoft. Alex Weil had come to successfully harness both the art and the science of his discipline.
Challenged by the endless appetite for 'new stuff,' Weil embraces the potential of the latest talent and technology to push the work forward- including creating a thriving new CG team. Under his direction,
- Actress
- Soundtrack
April Stevens was born on 29 April 1929 in Niagara Falls, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Passengers (2016), The Little Death (2014) and The Big Tip Off (1955). She died on 17 April 2023 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.- Arlene Saunders was born on 5 October 1935 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Die Hochzeit des Figaro (1967), Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (1971) and Der Freischütz (1968). She was married to Raymond Adrian Raskin. She died on 17 April 2020.
- Soundtrack
Barbara Bush was born on 8 June 1925 in New York City, New York, USA. She was married to George Bush. She died on 17 April 2018 in Houston, Texas, USA.- Soundtrack
Barney Ales was born on 13 May 1934 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He was married to Eileen 'Mitzi' Cauley. He died on 17 April 2020 in Malibu, California, USA.- Beto Gianola was born in 1924 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor and writer, known for El puerto de las culpas (1957), Herencia de amor (1981) and Ciclosis (1971). He died on 17 April 1981 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Bobby Winkles was born on 11 March 1930 in Tuckerman, Arkansas, USA. He was married to Ellie Hoeman. He died on 17 April 2020 in Indian Wells, California, USA.
- Bradley Welsh played gangster kingpin Mr. Doyle in T2 Trainspotting (2017) co-starring with Ewan McGregor, Jonny Lee Miller and Robert Carlyle. He had no prior acting experience before T2 Trainspotting. He also appeared as himself in a documentary The Boxer From Somewhere Else (2012). It was his appearance on Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men that Welsh was noticed for T2 Trainspotting. Dyer's documentary profiled Welsh as one of the most dangerous men in the UK who more than lived up to the title when he worked in the protection rackets as a bodyguard and enforcer. He used boxing to turn his life around which cause Dyer to feature Welsh on Season Two of his show on the Bravo Channel.
As a young adolescent growing up in Moredun, a district of Edinburgh, Scotland, Welsh was a member of a gang of neighborhood terrors who quickly graduated from causing dust-ups in Edinburgh's neighborhoods to violent bloody brawls as soccer casuals - attacking the opposing team players and their supporters. By age 13, his size and his anger were put to use as he moved out of the gangs into the neighborhood protection rackets, guarding anything from dubious warehouse shipments to people to drugs. He was incarcerated at age 14 and upon release, it was his brother who steered his aggression into boxing at the neighborhood gym.
It paid off. At age 17, Bradley Welsh became the 1993 lightweight champion in the Amateur Boxing Association of England, the youngest age allowed to register in the ABA. He learned how to market himself and earned enough money as a boxer to eventually buy his Holyrood Boxing Gym. He spoke locally to young people who were on the wrong path and used his gym to steer them in. Edinburgh Evening News editor Liam Rudden said on Twitter that Welshh was able to train his actors in two sessions to make them into believable boxers for a local stage play "A Cock and Bull Story."
Bradley Welsh came into notice by his appearance on Danny Dyer's Deadliest Men. He was cast in T2 Trainspotting which was released in 2017. There were no acting jobs after the movie wrapped and Welsh went back to part time bodyguard work and devoting his time to charities to keep young people out of trouble. His age has been misreported as 48. The official report of his death lists his age as 42, born in 1976.
On the night of April 17, 2019, after leaving his Holyrood Gym to go home, Welsh was walking down the steps to his flat in Chester Street when he was shot. The gunman ran off. His partner and young child who were inside didn't hear the gunshot. Bradley Welsh was found by a neighbor on the staircase around 8pm and he died at the scene. Police searched for the gunman and two days later, tips led to the arrest of a 28-year-old man who was also charged in the assault of a 22-year-old Pitcairn Grove man in March 2017. Police said that murders were extremely rare in the capital city and the use of a firearm were even more rare. The Daily Star newspaper reported they had an underworld source who claimed that Welsh was targeted by a hit man. In the process of providing muscle to protect 3 kg of heroin and 2 kg of cocaine, the shipment suddenly went missing on his watch. The source said the reason Welsh was targeted was because he could not explain the disappearance of the drugs. As of 2020, the accused hit man has not had a court date.
Bradley Welsh started out life as a street fighter in the ghettos of Moredun who turned his life around to become a lightweight boxing champ. owner of Holyrood Boxing Gym and a great supporter of children at risk. Police said it was likely that he fell back into old illegal activities which caused him to be gunned down at age 42. - Bruce Boa was born on 10 July 1930 in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was an actor, known for Full Metal Jacket (1987), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Octopussy (1983). He was married to Cherry. He died on 17 April 2004 in Surrey, England, UK.
- Carl Kasell was born on 2 April 1934 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Alice Jacobs Is Dead (2009), The Simpsons (1989) and Wait Wait Don't Tell Me Live! (2013). He was married to Mary Ann Foster and Clara de Zorzi. He died on 17 April 2018 in Potomac, Maryland, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Catherine Spaak was born on 3 April 1945 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Seine [now Hauts-de-Seine], France. She was an actress and writer, known for The Cat o' Nine Tails (1971), The Easy Life (1962) and The Empty Canvas (1963). She was married to Vladimiro Tuselli, Daniel Rey, Johnny Dorelli and Fabrizio Capucci. She died on 17 April 2022 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Charles Lampkin was born on 17 March 1913 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for Cocoon (1985), That Girl (1966) and Ben Casey (1961). He was married to Myrtle L. Caldwell. He died on 17 April 1989 in San Jose, California, USA.
- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Cheo Feliciano was born on 3 July 1935 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was an actor and composer, known for Something Wild (1986), Fires Within (1991) and Born Romantic (2000). He was married to Socorro Prieto Leon, Socorro Prieto, Coco and Coco Prieto Leon Feliciano. He died on 17 April 2014 in Cupey, Puerto Rico.- Actor
- Producer
Chet Coppock was born on 30 April 1948 in Winnetka, Illinois, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for The Express (2008), Game Changers (2018) and WrestleMania 2 (1986). He was married to Anna Marie Busalacchi. He died on 17 April 2019 in South Carolina, USA.- Daya Tennekoon is known for The Fishing Net (1997), Metamophorsis (2014) and The Wasps Are Here (1978). He is married to Grace Ariyawimal.
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
One-of-a-kind comedian Dick Shawn was as intriguingly clever and off-the-wall as they came. As such, he proved to be rather an acquired taste on film and TV. A counterculture favorite far ahead of his time, it became a hit-and-miss effort in proper vehicles for this man's eccentric genius. He certainly found his element on the live comedic stage, however, in between his offbeat on-camera assignments.
Born Richard Schulefand on December 1, 1923, in Buffalo, New York, Dick was raised in nearby Lackawanna where his father owned a clothing store. The family, including a brother, lived in the back room of the store. Athletics dominated his youth and, following high school, he tried out and won a contract with the Chicago White Sox. Before he could join the team, however, he was drafted into the Army where he sang and did comedy in USO shows. Following his discharge, he briefly attended the University of Miami, but the stand-up comedy stage seemed to beckon and he moved to New York City to follow his wacky desire.
Dick auditioned for Arthur Godfrey's "Talent Scouts" show (he didn't win) and changed his sir name to an easier sounding "Shawn" at this point. He began appearing at all the New York clubs and even played the New York Palace. He also found work on the Vegas comedy stage, and finally made his TV debut in 1955 guesting on "The Ed Sullivan Show," making eight appearances in total over the years. Other late 1950's and 60's variety shows came his way, increasing his popularity on "The Tonight Show," "The Kraft Music Hall," "The Eddie Fisher Show," "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show," "The Jimmy Dean Show," "The Jerry Lewis Show," "The Judy Garland Show," "The Andy Williams Show," "The Pat Boone Show" and "The Joan Rivers Show," among others.
Dick slowly moved into the forefront during the be-bop 50s and early 60s with a comical penchant for playing cool, hip cats, Dick made his film debut featured in The Opposite Sex (1956), the musical remake of "The Women," in which he had a cameo in "The Psychiatrist" sketch. A few years later he returned to co-star with equally "way out" comic idol Ernie Kovacs in the military spoof Wake Me When It's Over (1960) as a hustling soldier out to make a buck in the Far East. During this mild bid for film stardom, he found himself top-billed as a hip, laid back genie in the thoroughly anemic satire The Wizard of Baghdad (1960).
Dick made a distinct impression when he replaced the legendary Zero Mostel in the bawdy Broadway musical "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum." On film, he stole a small scene as a deadbeat character in the all-star epic chase comedy It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World (1963). By far, the one role that would completely overshadow all of his other film work was his mock, hammy portrayal of a singing Adolf Hitler in the show-within-a-show The Producers (1967), written and directed by Mel Brooks. In the film, which also starred Mostel and Gene Wilder as two con artists deliberately producing a stage "bomb" called "Springtime for Hitler," Shawn sang the absurdly narcissistic song "Love Power." This stroke of genius of matching actor to role would not happen again for him, but he certainly tried. For the most part, Dick's slick and smarmy persona got caught up too much in mediocre material.
On TV, Dick stepped up his visibility appearing on the well-oiled comedy shows of the day, including "The Lucy Show," "That's Life," "Love, American Style," "Mary," "Laverne & Shirley," "Private Benjamin," "Three's Company," and a regular role as Russian Premier Zolotov in the short-lived political satire Hail to the Chief (1985) starring Patty Duke as a female U.S. president. He also could show a serious, dramatic side on such programs as "The Bold Ones," "Medical Center," Magnum P.I.," "The Fall Guy" and "St. Elsewhere."
Dick seemed to be best taken in smaller doses. He provided a gallery of over-the-top oddballs during his three-decade career: a nerdy fiancé in the Rock Hudson battle-of-the-sexes comedy A Very Special Favor (1965); a wacky West Point captain alongside James Coburn in the slapstick war comedy What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (1966); a Russian counterpart to Brian Keith's space-chosen civilian in the sci-fi comedy Way... Way Out (1966); an unhappy husband married to Tina Louise in The Happy Ending (1969); a psychiatrist to Natalie Wood's title character in Penelope (1966); an adulterous Jewish husband in the family drama Looking Up (1977); an investigating officer in the vampire spoof Love at First Bite (1979) starring George Hamilton as Dracula; a very rare lead as a suicide-prone anchorman in the black comedy Good-bye Cruel World (1982); a rock-and-roller character called Weevil, King of Evil in Rock 'n' Roll Hotel (1983); an annoying college professor in Young Warriors (1983); an aging drag queen in the crime thriller Angel (1983); a patient of Bud Cort's title character in The Secret Diary of Sigmund Freud (1984); a smug talk show host in Beer (1985); an equally smug psychiatrist in The Perils of P.K. (1986); an eccentric blueblood who hires Ally Sheedy in Maid to Order (1987); and a documentary filmmaker who, with Martin Mull, is forced to make porn in the comedy farce Rented Lips (1987). This final film of his was released posthumously.
The comedian's biggest fan base, however, was the result of his one-man stage tours which contained a weird mix of songs, sketches, satire, philosophy and even pantomime. A bright, innovative wit, one of Dick's most notorious shows was called "The Second Greatest Entertainer in the World." During the show's intermission, Shawn would lie visibly on the stage floor absolutely still during the entire time. By freakish coincidence, the 63-year-old Shawn was performing at the University of California at San Diego on the evening of April 17, 1987, when, during the show, he suddenly collapsed on stage. The audience, at first laughing and thinking it was part of his odd shtick, had suffered a fatal heart attack. A not surprising end for this thoroughly intriguing character, Dick was survived by his four children from a previous marriage.- Earl A. Glick was born on 17 May 1921. He was a producer, known for Children of the Corn (1984), The Groundstar Conspiracy (1972) and Starship Invasions (1977). He was married to Essie Dorfman. He died on 17 April 2017 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Eddie Cochran was born as Ray Edward Cochran on October 3, 1938 in Albert Lea, Minnesota. When Eddie was 14, his parents moved to Bell Gardens, California where he began playing the guitar. In 1954, Eddie joined a local band with songwriter Hank Cochran where Eddie performed as the second vocalist. The group became known as "The Cochran Brothers" even though Eddie and Hank were not related. The Cochran Brothers were, more or less, a country-western act until Elvis Presley began overshadowing their acts in 1955. Shortly thereafter, the duo broke up with Eddie hurtling towards a career in rock and roll and Hank moving to Nashville where he became a successful songwriter. In 1956, Eddie hooked up with Jerry Capehart, an old friend who was also a songwriter. The two landed a recording contract with Crest Records, a small label in Hollywood, California.
Si Warmoker, an executive at Liberty Records, heard Eddie's singing and thought he could make Eddie into Liberty's answer to Elvis. To help launch Eddie's career, Liberty Records arranged for him to have a cameo in the movie The Girl Can't Help It (1956) which starred Jayne Mansfield. Eddie, in his cameo role as himself, sang the song "Twenty Flight Rock". Eddie also appeared as himself in the grade-B movie Untamed Youth (1957). Eddie's first single "Sittin' in the Balconcy" became one of the top 20 on the music charts. It was almost a year later that Eddie had another hit record titled "Summertime Blues" in 1958. "Summertime Blues" scored top with the teenage listeners and Eddie became one of Liberty's biggest successes. With this song, Eddie was established as an important influence on music in the late 1950s.
In 1959, Eddie met songwriter Sharon Sheeley, whom he asked to write a song with him and their collaboration produced the single "Somethin' Else", which Liberty released in September 1959. In early 1960, Eddie toured England for several weeks. Sharon joined Eddie on his tour which concluded with a concert in Bristol. The day after the concert, Eddie, Sharon and singer Gene Vincent were scheduled to return to the United States on an early morning flight. During the ride to Heathrow Airport, the Ford consul taxi they were riding in blew a tire and skidded into a lamp post off the road. Sharon was badly injured, Vincent suffered a broken leg and other broken ribs, while Eddie suffered severe head injuries and died several hours later at a local hospital on the afternoon of April 17, 1960 at age 21.- Filipe Duarte was born on 5 June 1973 in Nova Lisbon, Angola, Portugal [now Angola]. He was an actor, known for Variações: Guardian Angel (2019), Cinzento e Negro (2015) and Nothing Ever Happened (2022). He died on 17 April 2020 in Lisboa, Portugal.
- Actor
- Writer
Floren Delbene was born in 1898 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor and writer, known for The Last Meeting (1938), Sol de primavera (1937) and El rufián (1961). He died in 1978 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Writer
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Major Latin-American author of novels and short stories, a central figure in the so-called magical realism movement in Latin American literature. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982. Studied law and journalism in Bogotá and Cartagena. He began his career as a journalist in 1948, was a foreign correspondent in Europe during the late 1950s, Cuba and N.Y. early 1960s, and a screenwriter, journalist and publicist in Mexico City during the 1960s. During the 1980s he moved to Mexico when restrictions where imposed on his continued traveling due to his left-view political views.- Gene Shay was born on 4 March 1935 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was married to Gloria Segall. He died on 17 April 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Producer
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George Finkel was born on 29 July 1936 in Paris, France. George was a producer and director, known for Major League Baseball on NBC (1947), 1986 World Series (1986) and 1976 World Series (1976). George died on 17 April 2019 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, USA.