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
1-38 of 38
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Actor and comedian fondly remembered as the curmudgeonly reprobate Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the long-running nostalgic police drama Heartbeat (1992). Greengrass had been written as a minor background character, but -- given a fair amount of latitude for interpreting his part -- Maynard was able to infuse the old rascal with outsize personality and humour which resulted into his becoming a popular mainstay. The son of a gardener and a laundry worker, Maynard (born Walter Frederick George Williams, he later adopted his nom de plume from Charles Gordon Maynard, creator of 'Maynard's Wine Gums') came from relatively humble beginnings. Displaying an early aptitude for music, he learned to sing and dance, play ukulele, mandolin and guitar.
By the age of nine he began performing in local clubs and music halls. From there, he progressed to repertory theatre, touring army camps with Jon Pertwee, making a few recordings for Decca and EMI, even managing a gig as a stand-up comic -- in between a strip show -- at The Windmill in London. In the 50s Maynard emerged as a proper TV star (sharing top billing with Terry Scott) in Great Scott, It's Maynard (1955). Having suddenly become a household name, he was now earning £ 1000 a week. Ironically, his ambition of becoming 'a serious actor' backfired and a return to repertory led to much reduced circumstances and a hiatus in his career. Though he eventually appeared in more than 30 films, he regarded none of them as particularly worthwhile and declared in a 2013 interview: "I enjoyed doing them. It was a laugh, but they weren't great. They damaged my reputation".
In the mid-70s, having very wisely returned to his forte with consecutive hits in TV sitcoms: as a roving-eyed widower in The Life of Riley (1975), as the hapless, klutzy protagonist of Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt (1974), and as grouchy, relentlessly misanthropic Fred Moffatt, forever evading and outwitting his creditors in The Gaffer (1981). In between, he also had diverse guest roles, including in, among others, Worzel Gummidge (1979), Minder (1979) and Dalziel and Pascoe (1996). Between 2003 and 2008, he also hosted his own -- sometimes controversial -- radio chat show on BBC Leicester, Maynard's Bill of Fare.
Having suffered a stroke in 2000 and forced to leave Heartbeat after season ten, Maynard eventually resurfaced in occasional guest appearances for the 2003 spin-off, The Royal (2003). Subsequently confined to wheelchairs and mobility scooters he latterly gave lectures at universities on humour and acting.
Bill Maynard passed away in a Leicestershire hospital on 30 March 2018 at the age of 89.- Stunts
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
He was a stuntman for over 30 years having left school at14 and started working with his father and the intention of being jockey riding point to point but he grew too big. As he was interested in films stuntman jimmy Lodge got him a job working with the horses on the film Arabesque, Some years down the line having become a professional stuntman he was in the Bond film You Only Live Twice in which he slid down a rope one handed while firing a machine gun with the other,- Michael was educated at Reading Blue Coat School in Sonning and made his professional acting debut as Jim Hawkins in a production of 'Treasure Island' at the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. He then appeared at Birmingham Rep, Leicester Phoenix, Soho Poly, the Royal Court and the National Theatre.
- Virginia Wetherell was born on 9 May 1943 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. She is an actress, known for A Clockwork Orange (1971), Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde (1971) and Doctor Who (1963). She was previously married to Ralph Bates.
- Director
- Writer
- Stunts
Born in England, Andy competed in many forms of two and four wheeled motor sport before entering the movie business. He began his film career in 1972 in England and France as a vehicle stunt performer. Andy's talent was mostly concentrated towards vehicles stunts. Andy decided in 1973 to make use of his organizational skills too and become an assistant film director.
This proved extremely successful and Andy enjoyed a meteoritic rise through the ranks of third, second and eventually first AD to become one of the World's most highly paid AD's. This work took him all over the world. Specializing particularly in very large international productions that involved complex, dangerous and logistically difficult stunts and action sequences, including the three of the largest James Bond films, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. From 1973 to 1987 Andy worked as an Assistant Director on more than 70 International Movies. As First Assistant Director, Andy's credits include, among many others, Hope and Glory, The Last Place on Earth, Getting it Right, Party Party, Another Country and The Dresser (Both Hope and Glory and The Dresser were nominated for Best Picture Oscars).
With these major credits under his belt, by 1987, Andy once again decided to concentrate on action but this time, creating and directing entire action sequences. This move led Andy to design, coordinate and or direct some of the largest action sequences ever achieved on many international productions. These are typified by the huge (Twelve hundred people) Teamster battle in Hoffa, the (Fourteen hundred people) charge and battles in Stargate; the action on Galaxy Quest, the World War One Battle Scenes for Oscar Winner Frank Pearson's TV Movie Truman, starring Gary Sinese and the huge battles in Tim Burton's Planet of the Apes, the car stunt sequences of Highwaymen, and most recently the action sequences on Scooby Doo 2, Cat Woman, I Robot and Eragon. In 1989, Andy moved permanently from England to set up base in California.
Andy is, with his Brother, Vic, a founding member of Armstrong Action, the largest privately owned and most comprehensive family operated Stunt and Action Facilities Company in the World. Andy has, working with Armstrong Action, Stunt Coordinated, Designed and Created the action elements for The Green Hornet, Thor, Season of the Witch and many TV Commercials and live action performances. For the last almost two years, Andy has concentrated largely on the totally new style of movement and action for Sony's, reinvention of The Amazing Spiderman.
Andy has worked in Thirty Eight Countries on Six Continents including, England, USA, France, Italy, Ireland, Israel, Egypt, Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay, Denmark, Norway, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Croatia, Slovenia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Scotland, Malta, Majorca, Switzerland, Canary Islands, Cayman Islands, Hong-Kong, Holland, Mexico, Lithuania, The Dominican Republic, Austria, China, Singapore, Borneo, Hungary, Japan.
Andy wrote, produced and directed the original movie, Moonshine Highway for Showtime Networks. Starring Kyle MacLachlan and Randy Quaid, this Movie received very favorable trade and public reviews and as a Paramount home video release, has proved to be a successful, popular and extremely profitable rental title. Andy also directed several episodes of The New Adventures of Robin Hood for Warner Brothers TV. Andy directed Biff Henderson Travels Around America for Late Night with David Letterman. Co-directed two Metallica music videos, the now classic Sheryl Crowe "Steve McQueen" music video, and several commercials.- Yvan Ponton was born on 22 October 1945 in Farnham, Québec, Canada. He is an actor, known for Slap Shot (1977), Lance et compte III (1989) and Lance et compte II (1988).
- Richard Tice was born on 13 September 1964 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is a producer, known for Freedom March Live (2021), Sky News: Sunrise (1989) and Plank of the Week (2022).
- Producer
- Actor
Born in England, Benedict Carver graduated from Edinburgh University with an M.A. in Spanish and Politics. He started his career in entertainment as a film reporter for Variety.
In 1999, Carver joined Sony Pictures' genre division, Screen Gems, rising to become its senior vice president of acquisitions and co-productions. He was involved in a string of successful releases for the studio including "Resident Evil," "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," "Underworld" and "Silent Hill", among others.
Carver was also responsible for acquiring a slew of critically lauded specialized dramas, including "Girlfight," the Oscar-nominated "El Crimen del Padre" and Golden Globe-nominated "The Squid and The Whale".
In 2005, Carver left Screen Gems to produce the post-apocalyptic thriller "Doomsday," directed by Neil Marshall. His other credits include "Tekken", based on the bestselling videogame. He also executive produced the forthcoming dance movie "Beat The World".
In 2009 Carver formed Dark Hero Studios, together with writer/director David Hayter ("X-Men") to focus on the production of film and television properties. The partners signed an overall first-look television deal with Entertainment One. Dark Hero's debut feature production will be the action/thriller "Wolves," to be written and directed by Hayter.- Actress
Amélie Sorel was born on 15 March 1983 in Farnham, Québec, Canada. She is an actress, known for 300 (2006), Taking the Plunge (2007) and The Broken Line (2008).- Additional Crew
- Writer
- Producer
Patricia Losey was born on 21 December 1930 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. She is a writer and producer, known for Steaming (1985), La truite (1982) and Don Giovanni (1979).- Actor
- Additional Crew
Jeffrey Kime was born on 22 September 1950 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The State of Things (1982), Jacquot of Nantes (1991) and Invitation au voyage (1982). He died on 1 October 1992 in Paris, France.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
- Actor
Graham Berry was born in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is known for Treasure Hunt (1982), The Princess and the Warrior (2000) and Memory Lane (1982).- Writer
- Actor
- Music Department
Richard Ommanney was born on 14 March 1948 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is a writer and actor, known for The Bill (1984), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Side by Side (1992). He has been married to Louisa Rix since 9 July 1994.- Godfrey Jackman was born on 20 April 1924 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Melissa (1974), Silver Dream Racer (1980) and Treasure Island (1982). He died on 22 January 2014 in London, England, UK.
- Susie Sudlow was born on 29 March 1960 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Ark of the Sun God (1984).
- Benedicta Leigh was born on 19 June 1922 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Serena (1962), Hands of Destiny (1954) and The Eternal Question (1956). She was married to Richard Vernon. She died on 8 February 2000 in Kingston-upon-Thames, England, UK.
- Augustus Montague Toplady was born on 4 November 1740 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. Augustus Montague died on 11 August 1778 in Kensington, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Mike Busson was born on 2 November 1969 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Change (2013), Screen (2013) and Stag Night of the Dead (2010).- Writer
- Art Department
- Additional Crew
John Burningham was born on 27 April 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Jackanory (1965), Doctor Yes: The Hyannis Affair (1983) and Cannonball! (1984). He was married to Helen Oxenbury and Helen Oxenbury. He died on 4 January 2019 in London, England, UK.- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Director
Simon Perry was born in 1943 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is a producer and director, known for 1984 (1984), Brimstone (2016) and Perfect Sense (2011).- Tony Crawley was born on March 26, 1938, in Farnham, England and has been resident in Marly-le-Roi, France, since July 1980. Author of the first biography of Steven Spielberg (in 1983) and of two books about Brigitte Bardot.
Journalist since 1955 (starting at the Salisbury Journal and the Bourneouth Times), he has supplied celebrity interviews and reportage for UK, US, European newspapers and magazines: Paris Match, Variety, Photoplay, Daily Mail, Sunday Telegraph, Today, Films Illustrated, Film Review, Film Monthly, Xposé, Cinema X, Cinema Blue, Ciné-News, Cinéphage, Panorama, Premiere, Theatre Crafts, Watch It, Hollywood Reporter; Starburst, Starfix, Screen International, Electronic Media International, Nouvel Observateur, Télé Cable Satellite Hebdo, Télé-Visions, etc. - Hope Calvert was born in 1929 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. She was previously married to Gordon Mulholland.
- Sound Department
Mike Bassett was born in 1921 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. Mike is known for Lady Chatterley's Lover (1981) and The Shout (1978). Mike was married to Margaret Faulkner. Mike died in 2001 in Camberley, Surrey, England, UK.- Robin Ardra was born in 1936 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Far from the Madding Crowd (1998). He died on 22 February 2016 in Taunton, Somerset, England, UK.
- Kristian Wilkin was born in 1979 in Farnham, Surrey, England, UK. He is an actor, known for EastEnders (1985), Sari & Trainers (1999) and Risk (2001).