Deaths: February 8

Robert Conrad was a graduate of Northwestern University, spending his first few years out of school supporting himself and his family by driving a milk truck and singing in a Chicago cabaret. Conrad befriended up-and-coming actor Nick Adams during this period, and it was Adams who helped Conrad get his first Hollywood work in 1957. A few movie bit parts later, Conrad was signed for a comparative pittance by Warner Bros. studios, and in 1959 was cast as detective Tom Lopaka on the weekly adventure series Hawaiian Eye. Upon the 1963 cancellation of this series, Conrad made a handful of Spanish and American films and toured with a nightclub act in Australia and Mexico City. Cast as frontier secret agent James West in The Wild Wild West (1965) in 1965, Conrad brought home $5000 a week during the series' first season and enjoyed increasing remunerations as West remained on the air until 1969. There are those who insist that Wild Wild West would have been colorless without the co-starring presence of Ross Martin, an opinion with which Conrad has always agreed. The actor's bid to star in a 1970 series based on the venerable Nick Carter pulp stories got no further than a pilot episode, while the Jack Webb-produced 1971 Robert Conrad series The D.A. was canceled after 13 episodes. When Roy Scheider pulled out of the 1972 adventure weekly Assignment: Vienna, Conrad stepped in--and was out, along with the rest of Assignment: Vienna, by June of 1973. Conrad had better luck with 1976's Baa Baa Black Sheep, aka Black Sheep Squadron, a popular series based on the World War II exploits of Major "Pappy" Boyington. Cast as a nurse on this series was Conrad's daughter Nancy, setting a precedent for nepotism that the actor practiced as late as his tenth TV series, 1989's Jesse Hawkes, wherein Conrad co-starred with his sons Christian and Shane.

Though few of his series have survived past season one, Conrad has enjoyed success as a commercial spokesman and in the role of G. Gordon Liddy (whom the actor admired) in the 1982 TV movie Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (1982). As can be gathered from the Liddy assignment, Conrad's politics veered towards conservatism; in 1981, he and Charlton Heston were instrumental in toppling Ed Asner and his liberal contingent from power in the Screen Actors Guild.

As virile and athletic as ever in the 1990s, Robert Conrad continued to appear in action roles both on TV and in films; he also maintained strong ties with his hometown of Chicago, and could be counted on to show up at a moment's notice as a guest on the various all-night programs of Chicago radio personality Eddie Schwartz.

Albert Ray, born in New Rochelle, NY, attended Townsend Harris Hall and City College of New York. He spent summer vacations as a member of the Vitagraph stock company, on 14th St. in New York City. He appeared in summer stock in White Plains (NY), Florida and the Harlem Opera House in New York City. He directed short subjects for Pathe on the East Coast, went to Hollywood in 1915 and directed Ben Turpin pictures for the Vogue Film Co. and then Sunshine Comedies for Fox. He also acted opposite Ruth Clifford and Mildred Harris at Universal and co-starred with Elinor Fair at Fox. His first feature-length film as director was Scrap Iron (1921) starring Charles Ray (his cousin) for First National, and altogether he directed nine of his cousin's comedies for the studio. He returned to Fox and directed the "Helen and Warren" series and 19 features.

Allan Cuthbertson was born on 7 April 1920 in Perth, Western Australia, Australia. He was an actor, known for The Guns of Navarone (1961), Life at the Top (1965) and Room at the Top (1958). He was married to Gertrude Willner. He died on 8 February 1988 in Chelsea, Kensington & Chelsea, London, England, UK.

Amelia Bence was born on 13 November 1914 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for A sangre fría (1947), La danza del fuego (1949) and Lauracha (1946). She was married to Alberto Closas and Charlie Ortiz Basualdo. She died on 8 February 2016 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Anna Nicole Smith was born on 28 November 1967 in Houston, Texas, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult (1994), Be Cool (2005) and Illegal Aliens (2007). She was married to J. Howard Marshall II and Billy Smith. She died on 8 February 2007 in Hollywood, Florida, USA.

Anne D. Bernstein is a comedy/animation writer and story editor. Her association with the influential animated series Daria endears her to clever misfits around the world. She was head writer for the MTV Animation development department and the highly original series MTV Downtown. In recent years, she's scripted for numerous cartoons including Backyardigans, Tutenstein, Viva Piñata and Angelo Rules. She began her writing career in print, penning articles for Spy and National Lampoon. She was the founding Senior Editor and Comics Editor of Nickelodeon Magazine. Recent credits include Head Writer for 52 episodes of Super Wings at Little Airplane and joining Baboon Animation as one of their stable of writers, working on an international slate of animated series and features as a screenwriter, script doctor and show bible creator.

Bamber Gascoigne was born on 24 January 1935 in London, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for Dig This Rhubarb (1963), Jonathan Creek (1997) and Connoisseur (1988). He was married to Christina Ditchburn. He died on 8 February 2022 in Richmond, London, England, UK.

Robert F. Hoy was equally at home as a stuntman and as an actor. He appeared as Joe Butler on the acclaimed TV Western, The High Chaparral. He stunt-doubled for such actors as Charles Bronson, Tony Curtis, Robert Forrester, Ross Martin, Tyrone Power, David Jansen, and Telly Savalas. He appeared in such films as The Outlaw Josey Wales, The Lone Ranger, Gambler II, Nevada Smith, Bronco Billy, and The Enforcer, and on television in such programs as Wanted Dead or Alive, Walker Texas Ranger, JAG, Dallas (recurring role), The Wild Wild West, Magnum P.I. (five episodes), and The Young Riders. Aside from appearing in front of the cameras, he was the 2nd Unit Director and Stunt Coordinator in Spain on the TV series Zorro and on the pilot episode of The Three Musketeers.

In his work as a stuntman, Bob specialized in horse work, although he was also called upon to double in fight scenes, do car work and handle high falls. The films in which lead actors and others were doubled for stunts are too numerous to mention but include: Operation Petticoat, The Defiant Ones, Spartacus, Tobruk, They Call Me Bruce, River of No Return, To Hell and Back, Drumbeat, Wings of the Hawk, and Revenge of the Creature From the Black Lagoon.

He held lifetime membership in the Stuntmen's Association, of which he was a founding member. He was also a member of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences, Directors Guild of America, AFTRA, and the Screen Actors Guild (later SAG-AFTRA).

Borivoj Dovnikovic-Bordo was born on 12 December 1930 in Osijek, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He was a director and writer, known for Curiosity (1966), Krek (1968) and Dillo con i fiori (1972). He died on 8 February 2022 in Zagreb, Croatia.

Branka Veselinovic was born on 16 September 1918 in Becej, Austria-Hungary [now Serbia]. She was an actress, known for Muzej vostanih figura (1962), Pop Cira i pop Spira (1957) and Velika turneja (1961). She was married to Mladen 'Mladja' Veselinovic. She died on 8 February 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.

Burt Bacharach was a well known and multi award winning singer and song writer.

Over 1,000 different artists have recorded Bacharach's songs. From 1961 to 1972, most of Bacharach and David's hits were written specifically for and performed by Dionne Warwick, but earlier associations (from 1957 to 1963) saw the composing duo work with Marty Robbins, Perry Como, Gene McDaniels, and Jerry Butler. Following the initial success of these collaborations, Bacharach wrote hits for singers such as Gene Pitney, Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield, Tom Jones, and B.J. Thomas. Bacharach wrote 73 U.S. and 52 UK Top 40 hits. He worked on many sound tracks including the smash hit, "Beware of the Blob" for the version of The Blob (1958) starring Steve McQueen.

He was married four times, lastly to Jane Hansen from 1993 until his death. They had two children. He also had two other children.

Carlos Cores was born on 19 April 1923 in San Fernando, Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor and director, known for Lindor Covas, el cimarrón (1963), The Bitter Stems (1956) and Asalto a la ciudad (1968). He died on 8 February 2000 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Cliff Clark was born on 10 June 1889 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Falcon's Brother (1942), The Falcon Strikes Back (1943) and The Falcon and the Co-eds (1943). He was married to Stella Delauries. He died on 8 February 1953 in Hollywood, California, USA.

Cody Longo was an American actor and musician. The early stages of his career began onstage before eventually moving to Los Angeles to pursue film and television. He studied psychology and film at UCLA.

Cody had various film and television roles since he started his professional career in 2009. He was a singer/songwriter who broke into the Billboard Top 100 charts in 2014 with his song "She Said", which charted #3 along with his debut album. He was a music supervisor and executive producer on various film and television projects. He had his hand in charities and pushed to keep both art programs in schools domestically, and continue to help build housings that provides schooling for children around the world. He headed his own non-profit LiveAlive, and was heavily involved with Make a Wish foundation and Pencils of Promise.

Cody relocated to Nashville, Tennessee to write and produce music. He co-founded and served as chief music executive officer of Circle 11 Entertainment, a company that would help create and mold up-and-coming talent. He was poised to return to acting in 2023 before his untimely death.

Cyril Luckham was born on 25 July 1907 in Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for A Man for All Seasons (1966), The Guardians (1971) and The Barchester Chronicles (1982). He was married to Violet Lamb. He died on 8 February 1989 in London, England, UK.

Dave McCoy was born on 24 August 1915 in El Segundo, California, USA. He was married to Roma. He died in February 2020 in Bishop, California, USA.

David was Native American - Miami/Peoria tribes. Taught at the College of American Indian near Lawrence Kansas in the early 1970s . He was married to a fellow acting student named Lynna during the first few years of 1970s. Played the Evil German Butler/ henchman on the defunct daytime soap opera "The Edge of Night" 1979-1980 (approx). He was studying for a master's degree in Theater at the University of Kansas in Lawrence Ks. during the early seventies and as a graduate student he directed 18-year-old Mandy Patinkin in the play "Indians" by Arthur Kopit (in which he cast Mandy in 3 separate roles),

David had a wry sense of humor and joked when he grew a beard that he did it to prove it was possible and repudiate the old myth that Native Americans weren't able to.

Born Charles Westover in Coopersville, Michigan, on December 30, 1934, rocker Del Shannon claimed legendary country-western singer Hank Williams as an early influence, but his first record was unadulterated rock: the classic "Runaway" in 1961, highlighted by Shannon's falsetto and keyboardist Max Crook's wailing Musitron (an invention of his). It shot to #1 in both the US and the UK. He had several follow-up hits, including "Hats Off to Larry" and "Little Town Flirt", but his last big hit came in 1965, with "Keep Searchin' ". His career decline didn't keep him from working, however, and he had a few modest hits, notably a cover of Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance?". Shannon spent much of the late 1960s and early 1970s touring Great Britain, where he found a more receptive and admiring audience than he did in the US. In 1985 he had a minor hit on the US country music charts with "In My Arms Again". Shortly afterwards he began touring in rock-n-roll revival shows. On February 8, 1990, after battling a combination of drugs, alcohol and depression for years, he shot himself to death.

Handsome, pipe-smoking South-African born singer and actor who reached the peak of his popularity in Britain during the late 1950s and early '60s. Lotis began his career in the entertainment industry at the tender age of nine after winning a talent contest. He then made several stage appearances and sang on radio. After leaving school, aged fifteen, he briefly worked as a bus conductor and as an electrician before leaving for England with a letter of introduction to the bandleader Ted Heath. Engaged as a regular vocalist with the Heath orchestra during the early 1950s, Lotis often crooned ballads which proved especially popular with female audiences. He straddled different genres, his repertoire encompassing jazz, pop and rock 'n' roll.

As a solo act from the mid-'50s, Lotis recorded a number of albums for Decca, Pye Nixa and Columbia, was featured frequently on BBC radio, toured the variety circuit and performed at the London Palladium. His singing career peaked in the '60s when he became a regular guest on TV pop music shows like Six-Five Special (1957) and Dial for Music (1959). He also acted in a few motion pictures, including The City of the Dead (1960) and Sword of Sherwood Forest (1960). As changing musical trends began to adversely affect his career by the end of the decade, Lotis reinvented himself as a restaurateur and antique store owner, based in the market town of Tring in Hertfordshire. He did, however, make a brief nostalgic comeback in the 1980s.

Lotis was married to the South African singer Alexandrena Maie (Rena) Mackie (1929-1997). After her death from cancer, he remarried and moved to North Norfolk where he passed away, aged 97, on February 8 2023.

Eliot Makeham was born on 22 December 1881 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for A Christmas Carol (1951), Dark Journey (1937) and Night Train to Munich (1940). He was married to Betty Shale and Johanna Geertruida De Vries. He died on 8 February 1956 in Westminster, London, England, UK.

Erazim Kohák was born on 21 May 1933 in Prague, Czeckosolavkia (now Czech Republic). He died on 8 February 2020.

Eva Dahlbeck was born on 8 March 1920 in Saltsjö-Duvnäs, Stockholms län, Sweden. She was an actress and writer, known for Smiles of a Summer Night (1955), Brink of Life (1958) and A Lesson in Love (1954). She was married to Sven Lampell. She died on 8 February 2008 in Hässelby, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Gennadi Tarasul was born on 20 January 1935 in Odessa, Ukrainian SSR, USSR. He was an assistant director and writer, known for Dolgaya pamyat (1985), Brief Encounters (1967) and Otvetnaya mera (1975). He died on 8 February 2022 in Odessa, Ukraine.

George Dolenz was born in Italy in 1908 to a large family. He left Italy in the 1920s to start a new life and it seemed that he didn't want to look back on his old one. He arrived in Los Angeles in the 1940s and it was there that he somehow met up with Howard Hughes. Hughes signed him up as a leading man at RKO Pictures--which he owned--but, under Hughes' contract, George only starred in one film, Vendetta (1950), with Faith Domergue. He became a master of several dialects, and could play urbane Continental roles such as "Baron Sergei" in In Society (1944), with Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, Latin-American types such as the mysterious "Cortega" in Scared Stiff (1953), with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, and even Roman-era royalty such as "Emperor Theodosius" in Sign of the Pagan (1954). When his contract with Hughes ran out, George appeared in many films for other studios throughout the 1950s and 1960s, and starred in the TV series The Count of Monte Cristo (1956). George was the father of actor Micky Dolenz of The Monkees (1965), husband of actress Janelle Johnson Dolenz and the grandfather of actress Ami Dolenz.

George Spiro Dibie was born on 15 November 1931 in Jerusalem, Palestine [now Israel]. He was a cinematographer and producer, known for Growing Pains (1985), Just the Ten of Us (1987) and Dudley (1993). He was married to Daniele Parker. He died on 8 February 2022 in Encino, California, USA.