Deaths: January 11
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- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Actress Carole Cook showed a knack for comic timing from early on, so much so that the legendary Lucille Ball took her on as a protégée. Cook would make many appearances on Ball's TV shows The Lucy Show (1962) and Here's Lucy (1968), as well as other shows like Magnum, P.I. (1980), Dynasty (1981), and Grey's Anatomy (2005). She would also appear in several movies, like Sixteen Candles (1984) and Home on the Range (2004), while maintaining an active stage career and supporting many AIDS charities.- Alana Filippi was born on 3 September 1960 in France. She was a writer, known for Calogero: En Apesanteur (2003) and Taratata (1993). She died on 11 January 2020 in France.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Ángel Goded was born on 19 October 1947 in Mexico. He was a cinematographer, known for Frida (1983), Love Lies (1989) and El tres de copas (1986). He died on 11 January 2020 in Mexico.- Actress
- Additional Crew
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg was born on September 29, 1931 in Malmo, Sweden. Growing up with seven brothers and sisters was not an adventure, but Anita's adventure began when she was elected Miss Sweden in 1950. She did not win the Miss Universe contest but she got a modeling contract in the United States. She quickly got a film contract with Howard Hughes's RKO that did not lead anywhere (but Anita herself has said that Hughes wanted to marry her). Instead, she started making movies with Universal, small roles that more often than not only required her to look beautiful. After five years in Hollywood, she found herself in Rome, where Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960) meant her breakthrough. She stayed in Italy and made around 20 movies during the next ten years, some roles memorable, some to be forgotten. Her two marriages gave her a great deal of attention from the press. During the 1970s, the roles became less frequent, but she made a marvellous comeback with Fellini's Intervista (1987).
Anita Ekberg retired from acting in 2002 after 50 years in the motion picture industry. In December 2011, she was destitute following three months in a hospital with a broken thigh in Rimini, during which her home was robbed of jewelry and furniture, and her villa was badly damaged in a fire. Ekberg applied for help from the Fellini Foundation, which also found itself in difficult financial straits. She died at age 83 from complications of an enduring illness on January 11, 2015 at the clinic San Raffaele in Rocca di Papa, Italy. Ekberg had a new film project with exclusively female Italian producer "Le Bestevem", in which her character, as movie star, should have been recovered again as an icon of the silver screen, a project that was interrupted by her death.
Her funeral was held on January 14, 2015, at the Lutheran-Evangelical Christuskirche in Rome, after which her body was cremated and her remains were buried at the cemetery of Skanor Church in Sweden.- Ariel Sharon was an Israeli general and politician who served as the 11th Prime Minister of Israel from March 2001 until April 2006.
Sharon was a commander in the Israeli Army from its creation in 1948. As a soldier and then an officer, he participated prominently in the 1948 Palestine war, becoming a platoon commander in the Alexandroni Brigade and taking part in many battles, including Operation Bin Nun Alef. He was an instrumental figure in the creation of Unit 101 and the reprisal operations, as well as in the 1956 Suez Crisis, the Six-Day War of 1967, the War of Attrition, and the Yom-Kippur War of 1973. Yitzhak Rabin called Sharon "the greatest field commander in our history".
Upon retirement from the military, Sharon entered politics, joining the Likud party, and served in a number of ministerial posts in Likud-led governments in 1977-92 and 1996-99. As Minister of Defense, he directed the 1982 Lebanon War. An official enquirer found that he bore "personal responsibility" for the Sabra and Shatila massacre and recommended that he be removed as Defense Minister. His role in the massacre led to him being known as the "Butcher of Beirut" among Arabs.
From the 1970s through to the 1990s, Sharon championed construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. He became the leader of the Likud in 2000, and was elected Prime Minister of Israel after defeating Ehud Barak in the 2001 prime ministerial election. He served as Israel's prime minister from 2001 to 2006, during the Al-Aqsa Intifada. As Prime Minister, Sharon orchestrated Israel's unilateral disengagement from the Gaza Strip in 2004-05. Facing stiff opposition to this policy within the Likud, in November 2005 he left Likud to form a new party, Kadima. He had been expected to win the next election and was widely interpreted as planning on "clearing Israel out of most of the West Bank", in a series of unilateral withdrawals. After suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006, Sharon remained in a permanent vegetative state until his death in January 2014.
Sharon remains a highly polarizing figure in Middle East history. Israelis almost universally revere Sharon as a war hero and statesman who played a vital role in defining the country's borders. Palestinians revile Sharon as a war criminal, who suppressed their aspirations for statehood. - Avril Dunn was born on 6 April 1908 in Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, England, UK. She was married to Bill Dunn. She died on 11 January 1978 in the UK.
- Ben Masters was born on 6 May 1947 in Corvallis, Oregon, USA. He was an actor, known for Passions (1999), All That Jazz (1979) and Mandingo (1975). He died on 11 January 2023 in Palm Springs, California, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Character actress Beulah Bondi was a favorite of directors and audiences and is one of the reasons so many films from the 1930s and 1940s remain so enjoyable, as she was an integral part of many of the ensemble casts (a hallmark of the studio system) of major and/or great films, including The Trail of the Lonesome Pine (1936), Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939), Our Town (1940) and Penny Serenade (1941). Highly respected as a first-tier character actress, Bondi won two Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations, for The Gorgeous Hussy (1936) and Of Human Hearts (1938), and an Emmy Award in 1976 for her turn in the television program The Waltons (1972).
She was born Beulah Bondy on May 3, 1888, in Chicago, and established herself as a stage actress in the first phase of her career. She made her Broadway debut in Kenneth S. Webb's "One of the Family" at the 49th Street Theatre on December 21, 1925. The show was a modest hit, racking up 238 performances. She next appeared in another hit, Maxwell Anderson's "Saturday's Children," which ran for 326 performances, before appearing in her first flop, Clemence Dane's "Mariners" in 1927. Philip Barry's and Elmer Rice's "Cock Robin" was an extremely modest hit in 1928, reaching the century mark (100 performances), but it was Bondi's performance in Rice's "Street Scene," which opened at the Playhouse Theatre on Jamuary 10, 1929, that made her career. This famous play won Rice the 1929 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and was a big hit, playing for 601 performances. Most importantly, though, it brought Bondi to the movies at the advanced age of 43. She made her motion picture debut in 1931 in the movie adaptation (Street Scene (1931)), recreating the role she had originated on the Broadway stage. The talkies were still new, and she had the talent and the voice to thrive in Hollywood.
Bondi appeared in four more Broadway plays from 1931 to 1934, only one of which, "The Late Christopher Bean", a comedy by Sidney Howard, was a hit. Her last appearance on Broadway for a generation was in a flop staged by Melvyn Douglas, "Mother Lode" (she made two more appearances on the Great White Way, in "Hilda Crane" (1950) and "On Borrowed Time" in 1953; neither was a success). For the rest of her professional life, her career lay primarily in film and television.
She was typecast as mothers and, later, grandmothers, and played James Stewart's mother four times, most famously as "Ma Bailey" in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Her greatest role is considered her turn in Leo McCarey's Depression-era melodrama Make Way for Tomorrow (1937), in which she played a mother abandoned by her children.
Beulah Bondi died on January 1, 1981, from complications from an accident, when she broke her ribs after falling over her cat. She was 92 years old.- César Bertrand was born on 19 January 1934 in Montevideo, Uruguay. He was an actor and writer, known for Humor a la italiana (1973), Olmedo 79 (1979) and Do What You Want (1973). He was married to María Rosa Fugazot. He died on 11 January 2008 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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- Soundtrack
Charles Kimbrough was born on 23 May 1936 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), Murphy Brown (1988) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame II (2002). He was married to Beth Howland and Mary Jane Wilson. He died on 11 January 2023 in Culver City, California, USA.- Claudio López Lamadrid was born on 7 January 1960 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He was married to Miriam Tey. He died on 11 January 2019 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- David Margulies was born on 19 February 1937 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Ghostbusters (1984), Ghostbusters II (1989) and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994). He was married to Carol Grant. He died on 11 January 2016 in New York City, New York, USA.
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David Nelson was born on October 24, 1936 in New York City to Ozzie Nelson and Harriet Nelson. He attended Hollywood High School. He later was a film producer (The Nelson Co.) and director, who directed several episodes of The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952).
Nelson had two sons with his first wife, June Blair. Daniel Blair Nelson was born on August 20, 1962 and James Eric Nelson was born June 8, 1966. After that marriage ended in divorce, he remarried to Yvonne O'Connor Huston in 1975, adopting her three children.
His stepdaughter Teri Nelson Carpenter was once married to game show host Chuck Woolery. His twin nephews Matthew and Gunnar, perform as The Nelsons. Matthew Nelson performs with Red37 and Gunnar Nelson is a radio host. His niece, Tracy Nelson, is an accomplished actress.- David Vine was a multi-purpose sports presenter and commentator for the BBC for 35 years, long associated with snooker and Ski Sunday. Known for his distinctive West Country tones, he always had the assured self-confidence to weather jokes about his middle-of-the-road spectacles and jumpers.
In the 1970s, so often was he targeted that he began to seem like a resident character in Clive James's Observer television column. Once, commenting on the return of one programme with which Vine was instantly identifiable, James wrote: "Back came Ski Sunday, bringing David Vine with it. 'Just watch the way this man has the rhythm through the gates ... ooh, and he's gone! Stenmark has gone!' By now even David must be falling prey to the suspicion that he has the evil eye. All he has to do is start praising a skier for his rhythm and you know the stretcher-bearers are already moving in."
Vine's star status was confirmed when a puppet of the snooker player Steve Davis was seen on Spitting Image boasting: "I'm a mate of David Vine." Later, his popularity led to cameo appearances in French and Saunders (1987) and as a skating commentator alongside the bungling sleuths played by Jasper Carrott and Robert Powell in The Detectives (1993).
Born in Newton Abbot, Devon, Vine was brought up in Barnstaple, where he attended the local grammar school before becoming a reporter on the North Devon Journal Herald. A keen rugby player, he played for South Molton and often covered matches in which he was taking part. After national service in the army's Intelligence Corps, he joined the Western Morning News in Plymouth and rose to be sports editor. Moving to the ITV regional company Westward Television (1962-66), he set up its sports department and was seen on screen as a reporter.
In 1966, the BBC hired Vine as a presenter of the national magazine show Sportscene and he was soon a familiar face in sports coverage on both BBC1 and BBC2. He was a stand-in presenter on the Saturday afternoon programme Grandstand, became a reporter on Rugby Special and hosted the first colour broadcasts from Wimbledon in 1967, remaining presenter of the tennis tournament's highlights programmes until 1982. Any viewers who thought of him as bland had to revise their opinions when he confronted John McEnroe following the US player's "you're the pits" jibe to a Wimbledon umpire in 1981. "What right have you got to call anyone an incompetent fool?" Vine asked McEnroe. "He told me he'd never talk to me again after that," the presenter recalled, "but he did, the following day."
Vine's face was also synonymous with snooker and skiing. Snooker had already built up a television following with Pot Black, which featured the BBC's own knockout snooker competition, when, in 1977, Vine started presenting its coverage of all the major tournaments. Eight years later, 18 million viewers saw Dennis Taylor take the World Championship title with the final black ball of the final frame against the then world No 1, Steve Davis.
"I have been delighted to have been part of one of the most successful and most watched sports on television and to have seen 'unknowns' like Steve Davis, Jimmy White, Stephen Hendry and many others become some of the most famous names in the sport," said Vine after presenting his final tournament in 2000.
Ski Sunday was launched in 1978 after public interest in Franz Klammer's dramatic downhill win at the 1976 Innsbruck Winter Olympic Games, and Vine continued with it for 18 years.
Throughout his time at the BBC, Vine proved adept at hosting sports entertainment programmes. He was a presenter and commentator for the first few years of It's a Knockout (1967-71), whose absurd games between amateur athletics teams in crazy costumes were described by one critic as "a competition to perform the pointless in the quickest possible time".
He will also be remembered by many as the first presenter (1970-78) of the quiz show A Question of Sport, in which two panels of stars - originally captained by the boxer Henry Cooper and the former Welsh rugby international Cliff Morgan - had their sports knowledge put to the test. The busy Vine was succeeded by David Coleman in the chair.
Then came The Superstars (1974-84), in which Vine and Ron Pickering challenged sportsmen and women, past and present, to compete against each other in running, swimming, shooting, canoeing and cycling events, as well as showing their strengths in the gym.
Vine also hosted showjumping events, including The Horse of the Year Show, commentated on bowls and gymnastics, and covered the return to Britain of the round-the-world yachtsman Robin Knox-Johnston. Away from sport, he commentated on the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest and, a year later, presented Miss World.
He underwent triple heart bypass surgery in 2001, the year after he retired from the BBC following his final Olympics, in Sydney, as a weightlifting commentator - a specialism he had developed over many games.
Vine's first wife, Shirley May Thorpe, died in 1970; he was survived by his second wife, Mandy (born Joan C Silver), along with their son, Christian, and the son and two daughters of his first marriage, Martin, Kim and Katherine. - Director
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Edward Buzzell was born in Brooklyn, NY, and became a musical comedy star on Broadway. He went to Hollywood in 1929 to star in the movie version (Little Johnny Jones (1929)) of the old George M. Cohan stage show "Little Johnny Jones" in 1929. He starred also in Vitaphone shorts, where he started his career as director. Subsequently he directed shorts for Columbia Pictures before he started directing features in 1933. Later he came to MGM, where he made his best remembered films with the Marx Brothers ( At the Circus (1939), Go West (1940)), Eleanor Powell (Ship Ahoy (1942), Honolulu (1939)) and Esther Williams (Neptune's Daughter (1949)).- Director
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Admirers have always had difficulty explaining Éric Rohmer's "Je ne sais quoi." Part of the challenge stems from the fact that, despite his place in French Nouvelle Vague (i.e., New Wave), his work is unlike that of his colleagues. While this may be due to the auteur's unwillingness to conform, some have argued convincingly that, in truth, he has remained more faithful to the original ideals of the movement than have his peers. Additionally, plot is not his foremost concern. It is the thoughts and emotions of his characters that are essential to Rohmer, and, just as one's own states of being are hard to define, so is the internal life of his art. Thus, rather than speaking of it in specific terms, fans often use such modifiers as "subtle," "witty," "delicious" and "enigmatic." In an interview with Dennis Hopper, Quentin Tarantino echoed what nearly every aficionado has uttered: "You have to see one of [his movies], and if you kind of like that one, then you should see his other ones, but you need to see one to see if you like it."
Detractors have no problem in expressing their displeasure. They use such phrases as "tedious like a classroom play," "arty and tiresome" and "donnishly talky." Gene Hackman, as jaded detective Harry Moseby in Night Moves (1975), delivered a now famous line that sums up these feelings: "I saw a Rohmer film once. It was kind of like watching paint dry." Undeniably, his excruciatingly slow pace and apathetic, self-absorbed characters are hallmarks, and, at times, even his greatest supporters have made trenchant remarks in this regard. Said critic Pauline Kael, "Seriocomic triviality has become Rohmer's specialty. His sensibility would be easier to take if he'd stop directing to a metronome." In that his proponents will quote attacks on him, indeed Rohmer may be alone among directors. They revel in the fact that "nothing of consequence" happens in his pictures. They are mesmerized by the dense blocks of high-brow chatter. They delight in the predictability of his aesthetic. Above all, however, they are touched by the honesty of a man who, uncompromisingly, lays bear the human soul and "life as such."
Who is Eric Rohmer? Born Jean-Marie Maurice Scherer on December 1, 1920 in Nancy, a small city in Lorraine, he relocated to Paris and became a literature teacher and newspaper reporter. In 1946, under the pen name Gilbert Cordier, he published his only novel, "Elizabeth". Soon after, his interest began to shift toward criticism, and he began frequenting Cinémathèque Français (founded by archivist Henri Langlois) along with soon-to-be New Wavers Jean-Luc Godard, Jacques Rivette, Claude Chabrol and François Truffaut. It was at this time that he adopted his pseudonym, an amalgam of the names of actor/director Erich von Stroheim and novelist Sax Rohmer (author of the Fu Manchu series.) His first film, Journal d'un scélérat (1950), was shot the same year that he founded "Gazette du Cinema" along with Godard and Rivette. The next year, Rohmer joined seminal critic André Bazin at "Cahiers du Cinema", where he served as editor-in-chief from 1956 to 1963. As Cahiers was an influential publication, it not only gave him a platform from which to preach New Wave philosophy, but it enabled him to propose revisionist ideas on Hollywood. An example of the latter was "Hitchcock, The First Forty-Four Films", a book on which he collaborated with Chabrol that spoke of Alfred Hitchcock in highly favorable terms.
Rohmer's early forays into direction met with limited success. By 1958, he had completed five shorts, but his sole attempt at feature length, a version of La Comtesse de Ségur's "Les Petites filles modèles", was left unfinished. With Sign of the Lion (1962), he made his feature debut, although it was a decade before he achieved recognition. In the interim, he turned out eleven projects, including three of his "Six contes moraux" (i.e., moral tales), films devoted to examining the inner states of people in the throes of temptation. The Bakery Girl of Monceau (1963) and Suzanne's Career (1963) are unremarkable black-and-white pictures that best function as blueprints for his later output. They also mark the beginning of a business partnership with Barbet Schroeder, who starred in the former of the two. The Collector (1967), his first major effort in color, has been mistaken for a Lolita movie; on a deeper plane, it questions the manner in which one collects or rejects experience. Rohmer's first "hit" was My Night at Maud's (1969), which was nominated for two Oscars and won several international awards. It continues to be his best-known work. In it, on the eve of a proclaiming his love to Francoise, his future wife, the narrator spends a night with a pretty divorcée named Maud. Along with a friend, the two have a discussion on life, religion and Pascal's wager (i.e., the necessity of risking all on the only bet that can win.) Left alone with the sensual Maud, the narrator is forced to test his principles. The final parts in the series, Claire's Knee (1970) and Love in the Afternoon (1972) are mid-life crisis tales that cleverly reiterate the notion of self-restraint as the path to salvation.
"Comedies et Proverbs," Rohmer's second cycle, deals with deception. The Aviator's Wife (1981) is the story a naïve student who suspects his girlfriend of infidelity. In stalking her ex-lover and ultimately confronting her, we discover the levels on which he is deceiving himself. Another masterpiece is Pauline at the Beach (1983), a seaside film about adolescents' coming-of-age and the childish antics of their adult chaperones. Of the remaining installments, The Green Ray (1986) and Boyfriends and Girlfriends (1987) are the most appealing. The director's last series is known as "Contes des quatre saisons" (i.e., Tales of the Four Seasons), which too presents the dysfunctional relationships of eccentrics. In place of the social games of "Comedies et Proverbs", though, this cycle explores the lives of the emotionally isolated. A Tale of Springtime (1990) and A Tale of Winter (1992) are the more inventive pieces, the latter revisiting Ma Nuit chez Maud's "wager." Just as his oeuvre retraces itself thematically, Rohmer populates it with actors who appear and reappear in unusual ways. The final tale, Autumn Tale (1998), brings together his favorite actresses, Marie Rivière and Béatrice Romand. Like "hiver," it hearkens back to a prior project, A Good Marriage (1982), in examining Romand's quest to find a husband.
Since 1976, Rohmer has made various non-serial releases. Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle (1987) and Rendez-vous in Paris (1995), both composed of vignettes, are tongue-in-cheek morality plays that merit little attention. The lush costume drama The Marquise of O (1976), in contrast, is an excellent study of the absurd formalities of 18th century aristocracy and was recognized with the Grand Prize of the Jury at Cannes. His other period pieces, regrettably, have not been as successful. Perceval le Gallois (1978), while original, is a failed experiment in stagy Arthurian storytelling, and the beautifully dull The Lady and the Duke (2001) is equally unsatisfying for most fans of his oeuvre. Nonetheless, the director has demonstrated incredible consistency, and that he was able to deliver a picture of this caliber so late in his career is astounding. The legacy that this man has bestowed upon us rivals that of any auteur, with arguably as many as ten tours de force over the last four decades. Why, then, is he the least honored among the ranks of the Nouvelle Vague and among all cinematic geniuses?
Stories of Rohmer's idiosyncrasies abound. An ardent environmentalist, he has never driven a car and refuses to ride in taxis. There is no telephone in his home. He delayed the production of Ma Nuit chez Maud for a year, insisting that certain scenes could only be shot on Christmas night. Once, he requested a musical score that could be played at levels inaudible to viewers. He refers to himself as "commercial," yet his movies turn slim profits playing the art house circuit. Normally, these are kinds of anecdotes that would endear a one with the cognoscenti. His most revealing quirk, however, is that he declines interviews and shuns the spotlight. Where Hitchcock, for instance, was always ready to talk shop, Rohmer has let his films speak for themselves. He is not worried about WHAT people think of them but THAT, indeed, they think.
It would be dangerous to supplant the aforementioned "je ne sais quoi" with words. Without demystifying Rohmer's cinema, still there are broad qualities to which one may point. First, it is marked by philosophical and artistic integrity. Long before Krzysztof Kieslowski, Rohmer came up with the concept of the film cycle, and this has permitted him to build on his own work in a unique manner. A devout Catholic, he is interested in the resisting of temptation, and what does not occur in his pieces is just as intriguing as what occurs. Apropos to the mention of his spirituality is his fascination with the interplay between destiny and free will. Some choice is always central to his stories. Yet, while his narrative is devoid of conventionally dramatic events, he shows a fondness for coincidence bordering on the supernatural. In order to maintain verisimilitude, then, he employs more "long shots" and a simpler, more natural editing process than his contemporaries. He makes infrequent use of music and foley, focusing instead on the sounds of voices. Of these voices, where his narrators are male (and it is ostensibly their subjective experience to which we are privy), his women are more intelligent and complex than his men. Finally, albeit deeply contemplative, Rohmer's work is rarely conclusive. Refreshingly un-Hollywood, rather than providing an escape from reality, it compels us to face the world in which we live.- Etienne Draber was born on 26 March 1939 in Strasbourg, Bas-Rhin, France. He was an actor, known for Madame Bovary (1991), Le fou du roi (1984) and Plus belle la vie (2004). He died on 11 January 2021 in Paris, France.
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Fernando Luján was born on 23 August 1938 in Bogotá, Colombia. He was an actor and writer, known for Nora's Will (2008), The Last Call (2013) and En el país de no pasa nada (2000). He was married to Martha Mariana Castro. He died on 11 January 2019 in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, Mexico.- Additional Crew
George Brady was born on 9 February 1928 in Nové Mesto na Morave, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He is known for Inside Hana's Suitcase (2009), Show Jana Krause (2010) and Uvolnete se, prosím (2004). He was married to Teresa and Carol. He died on 11 January 2019 in Canada.- Grace Robertson was born on 13 July 1930 in Manchester, Lancashire, England, UK. She was married to Thurston Hopkins. She died in January 2021 in the UK.
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Gregory Boyington served as fighter pilot in the Unites States Marine Corps in World War II. He commanded VMF-214, The Black Sheep Squadron. He shot down 28 Japanese aircraft, for which he received the Navy Cross and the Medal of Honor.
He was shot down himself on January 3rd, 1944, over the St. George Channel in the Soloman Islands. He was rescued by a Japanese submarine and spent the remainder of the war as a POW.- Of Irish descent, Helena Carter pursued a master's degree in English Literature at Columbia University with which she hoped to teach, but due to her striking beauty was sidetracked into modeling, signing with the Conover agency. Renowned photographer Dick Isaacs shot some magazine covers of her that drew the notice of film studios, and soon producer Leonard Goldstein at Universal Pictures offered her a contract. She made only thirteen films before leaving show business, her best-known the cult sci-fi classic Invaders from Mars (1953).
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Henri Verneuil was born on 15 October 1920 in Rodosto, Ottoman Empire [now Tekirdag, Turkey]. He was a director and writer, known for I... For Icarus (1979), The Sheep Has Five Legs (1954) and Mother (1991). He was married to Françoise Bonnot and Véronique Sedro. He died on 11 January 2002 in Bagnolet, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.- Music Department
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Howard Johnson was born on 7 August 1941 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for The Guardian (2006), Malcolm X (1992) and The Cotton Club (1984). He died on 11 January 2021 in New York City, New York, USA.- Additional Crew
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Hugo Fregonese was born on 8 April 1908 in Mendoza, Argentina. He was a director and writer, known for Hardly a Criminal (1949), My Six Convicts (1952) and Savage Pampas (1965). He was married to Faith Domergue. He died on 17 January 1987 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Humberto Duvauchelle Concha was born on november 14, 1929 in Bulnes, Concepción, Chile. He was the son of Humberto Duvauchelle a businessman and Amandina Concha a pianist. In Concepción (Chile) he founded with his brother Hector the Teatro Universitario and the Teatro Libre de la Federación de Estudiantes de la Universidad de Concepción.
In 1973 after the coup, he went to exile in Venezuela, where he works in theater and cinema. When he returns to Chile in 1987 returns to the theater as an actor and teacher.
Founded the Theater Company "Los Cuatro" and was a member of the Teatro Experimental de la Universidad de Chile. He was married to Gabriela Schanz Fischer and Orieta Escámez. He died on january 11, 2019 in Santiago de Chile. - Isabel Randolph was born on 4 December 1889 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for The Missing Corpse (1945), The Shanghai Story (1954) and The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1950). She died on 11 January 1973 in Burbank, California, USA.
- Discovered on Broadway by director Howard Hawks, La Rue was originally brought to Hollywood to play a gangster in Scarface (1932). He lost that role to George Raft, and similarly was replaced by Humphrey Bogart in the film version of The Petrified Forest (1936). Eventually, he became well-known to movie-goers as a mean, sexy gangster type in sadistic roles like Miriam Hopkins' abductor in The Story of Temple Drake (1933). Film audiences, who loved to loathe him on-screen, were occasionally surprised by his being cast against type in such movies as A Farewell to Arms (1932). His final film was in the low-budget film Paesano: A Voice in the Night (1975).
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A genial, laid back, slumber-eyed character player especially adept at the relaxed wisecrack or dry comment, Japanese-American actor Jack Soo was born in Oakland, California, in 1917, his real name being Goro Suzuki. In the post-WWII years, he entertained as a stand-up performer in nightclubs and had made a reasonable dent on the Midwest circuit by the time he earned his big break playing the club MC/comedian in the Rodgers and Hammerstein hit Broadway musical "Flower Drum Song" in 1958. Three years later, Soo was upgraded to the Sammy Wong character in the film version and decided to settle in Hollywood. Over the next decade, despite a typical lack of roles for Asian-Americans, he managed to find a niche for his hip, deadpan demeanor on TV and a few other films including Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed? (1963), the musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (1967), and John Wayne's controversial pro-Vietnam War film The Green Berets (1968). Soo is probably best remembered for his smart-aleck Detective Sgt. Nick Yemana on Barney Miller (1975), one of the more popular sitcoms of the 1970s alongside Hal Linden and Abe Vigoda. Sadly, he died of cancer during the show's fifth season in 1979 at the height of his popularity.- Composer
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Jeremy Inkel is known for Red X Flags, Happily Ever Evil (2014) and Front Line Assembly: Kampfbereit (2015).- Stunts
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Jophery C. Brown was born on 22 January 1945 in Grambling, Louisiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Wanted (2008), Cyborg (1989) and Jurassic Park (1993). He died on 11 January 2014 in Newhall, California, USA.- Julie Van Zandt was born on 27 June 1929 in San Diego, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Twilight Zone (1959), Science Fiction Theatre (1955) and The Gallant Men (1962). She was married to Frederick Clemens May, Robert H. Rains and Richard L. Bare. She died on 11 January 2018 in Santa Monica, California, USA.
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Juliet was born in Burbank, California on July 23, 1938. After teaching English as a second language for several years in Japan, Mexico, Greece and Finland, she moved to the United States wanting to radically change her life. She stumbled into the adult film industry at the age of 39. For the next couple years she went on to make several dozen movies including the renowned Aunt Peg series.- Kurt Oddekalv was born on 27 July 1957 in Senja, Norway. He was married to Elin Janne Nilsen. He died on 11 January 2021 in Bergen, Norway.
- Leah Waggner was born Rosemarie Dianne Waggner in 1927 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Her parents were Glenn S. Waggner, manager of Harris Dental, a dental supplies company, and Rose E. Waggner. Following graduation from St. Gertrude's High School (Richmond, Virginia), she entered Longwood State Teachers College (Farmville, Virginia) as a freshman in 1943 to study drama. In January 1944 she was pledged to a woman's sorority, Mu Omega. She moved with her family to California in 1948.
She became an actress, known as Leah Waggner. Among her eighteen film and television appearances she is known for The Twilight Zone (1959), Gunsmoke (1955), and two appearances each on The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961) and The Patty Duke Show (1963). She wed actor William Schallert, former president of The Screen Actors Guild, on February 26, 1949 in Santa Barbara, California, and had four sons: William Joseph (born 1949), Edwin G. (born 1952), Mark M. (born 1954), and Brendan C. Schallert (born 1961). Leah Waggner died in 2015, aged 88, predeceasing her husband by one year. - Make-Up Department
Lindiwe Ndlovu is known for iNumber Number: Jozi Gold (2023), Getroud met rugby (2009) and Reyka (2021).- Manfred Moore was born on 22 December 1950 in Martinez, California, USA.
- Music Department
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Maria Cristina Brancucci was born on 20 April 1940 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. She was an actress, known for Operation Kid Brother (1967), Tepepa (1969) and Danger: Diabolik (1968). She died on 11 January 2022 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Mariangela Melato was born on 19 September 1941 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. She was an actress and writer, known for Flash Gordon (1980), Swept Away (1974) and Love & Anarchy (1973). She died on 11 January 2013 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Maurice Pialat was a French film director. Film critics have noted the naturalist style of his films, and their autobiographical elements.
Pialat obtained his first camera when only 16-years-old, but his early career involved creating documentary short films. His ambition was to become a painter and not a filmmaker. He made his feature film debut at the age of 43 with the drama film "Naked Childhood" (1968), concerning a child of the French foster care system who is moved through a series of foster families. The film also explored aspects of French working-class life in the 1960s, while being apolitical.
Pialat's second feature film was "We Won't Grow Old Together" (1972),concerning a loveless marriage. Lead actor Jean Yanne won the Best Actor Award at the Cannes Film Festival for his role in the film. Pialat's third feature film was the "The Mouth Agape" (1974), depicting in realistic fashion a woman struggling with a terminal illness. The film also dealt with the escapades of the woman's husband and son in their attempts to find new sexual partners. The film was noted for its lack of sentimentality, and incorporated experiences that Pialat had from the death of his own mother.
Pialat's fourth feature film was the teen drama "Graduate First" (1978). It dealt with teenagers from working class families dealing with the end of their school lives, with their limited prospects of passing their final exams and gaining a Baccalauréat academic qualification, and with the ominous specter of high unemployment in northern France in their immediate future.
Pialat's fifth film was "Loulou" (1980), concerning the self-destructive affair between a married woman and a lower-class criminal (the eponymous Loulou) who has just been released from prison. The film dealt with the issues of pregnancy and abortion in a realistic manner. The film was nominated for the Golden Palm award at the Cannes Film Festival.
Pialat's sixth film was "To Our Loves" (1983), and concerned the sexuality of a 15-year-old girl. The film's protagonist Suzanne (played by Sandrine Bonnaire) becomes increasingly promiscuous, as sex is the only pleasure in her life. But at the same time struggles with an inability to feel genuine love for any of her sexual partners, struggles with growing feelings of boredom and frustration about other aspects of her life, and even struggles with suicidal thoughts. The film won the César Award for Best Film, while film critics noted that the film's message was that happiness was rare and sorrow last forever.
Pialat's seventh film was the crime drama "Police" (1985). It concerned a jaded police detective investigating a drug smuggling ring, while being romantically attracted to the girlfriend of a drug smuggler. The film's lead actor Gérard Depardieu won the Best Actor of the Venice Film Festival for this role.
Pialat's eighth film was the romantic drama "Under the Sun of Satan" (1986), an adaptation of the 1926 novel by Georges Bernanos (1888-1948). The film dealt with a Catholic priest who falls in love with a female murderer. The film won the Palme d'Or award at the 1987 Cannes Film Festival, despite being seen as controversial due to its subject matter. It was the first time in 21 years that a French film won the Palme d'Or.
Pialat's ninth film was the biographical film "Van Gogh" (1991), concerning the last months in the life of painter Vincent van Gogh (1853-1890) and dealing with van Gogh's relationship with his few close associates. The film dealt primarily with van Gogh's "difficult personal relationships and declining mental state", and not with his paintings. Film critics commented that it successfully covered the artist's humanity, without being either melodramatic or sensationalist.
Pialat's tenth was "The Son Of..." (1995), concerning the family life of a 4-year-old boy. The titular boy's parents are divorced, and the boy is raised by a single father who has an unsteady love life. The film was poorly received compared to Pialat's previous works, and Pialat had plans to re-edit the film to achieve better results. Pialat's increasingly poor health aborted these plans, and Pialat retired from filmmaking in 1995, at the age of 70.
Pialat died in January, 2003, at the age of 77. His work is considered unique among the French directors, but he has had few imitators. Film critic Kent Jones has commented that Pialat always marched to the beat of a different drummer, and never cared whether anyone marched beside or behind him.- Michael Bates was born on 4 December 1920 in Jhansi, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, British India. He was an actor, known for A Clockwork Orange (1971), Frenzy (1972) and Patton (1970). He was married to Margaret M. J. Chisholm. He died on 11 January 1978 in Chelsea, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Writer
Michael Williams was born on 9 July 1935 in Liverpool, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Henry V (1989), Eagle in a Cage (1972) and A Fine Romance (1981). He was married to Judi Dench. He died on 11 January 2001 in Hampstead, London, England, UK.- Mihir Das was born on 17 February 1959 in Baripada, Mayurbhanj, India. He was an actor, known for Je Panche Para Manda (2003), Sakhi Rahila Ae Singha Duara (1994) and Kiese Dakuchi Kouthi Mate (2011). He died on 11 January 2022 in Cuttack, Odisha, India.
- Mikhail Zelenskiy was born on 7 September 1975 in Moscow, Russia. He was an actor, known for Kazhdyy desyatyy (1984), Sobytiya (1997) and Stilyagi shou (2010). He was married to Mila Rubinchik, Elena Grushina and Olga Drobina. He died on 11 January 2022 in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.
- Music Department
Narcís Bonet is known for Conxita Badia no existeix (2012).- Actress
- Writer
- Art Department
Noemí Lapzeson is known for Medea-Medea (1989) and Trace (2014).- Norma Michaels was born on 13 March 1924 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Easy A (2010), You Don't Mess with the Zohan (2008) and Wedding Crashers (2005). She died on 11 January 2020 in Palm Springs, California, USA.
- Transportation Department
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Paulie DiCocco was born on 15 February 1951 in Schenectady, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for xXx: State of the Union (2005), Taken (2008) and Armored (2009). He died on 11 January 2022 in Stuart, Florida, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Piers Haggard was born on 18 March 1939 in London, England, UK. He was a director and writer, known for Blow-Up (1966), Conquest (1998) and Pennies from Heaven (1978). He was married to Anna Sklovsky and Christiane Stokes. He died on 11 January 2023 in the UK.- Pilar Schneider was born on 19 February 1928 in the Philippines. She was an actress, known for Big Stan (2007), The Animal (2001) and Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo (1999). She was married to Marvin Schneider. She died on 11 January 2021 in Pacifica, California, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Rebecca Blair was born on 12 September 1965 in Toledo, Ohio. She was an actress and writer, known for Keeping Up with Mom (2022), Moving On (2014) and Shadows of Honor (2017). She died on 11 January 2022 in Florida, USA.- Actress
Rekha Kamat was born in 1932. She was an actress, known for Bhoot (2003), Simhasan (1979) and Pak Pak Pakaak (2005). She was married to G.R. Kamath. She died on 11 January 2022 in Mumbai.- Born in St. Paul, Minnesota, Richard Simmons later moved to Minneapolis where he attended West High School and then the University of Minnesota. While at university he competed in fencing and swimming and also acted in a few theater productions. He left the Twin Cities in the 1930s and spent several years traveling the world, working on freighters and tankers.
Eventually he settled in Los Angeles where, according to one story, Louis B. Mayer saw him breaking in an Arabian horse and immediately offered him a screen test. Simmons played a number of minor parts in MGM movies but finally achieved a degree of fame in the mid-1950s when he starred in the half-hour syndicated TV series, Sergeant Preston of the Yukon (1955). With his horse Rex, and his husky King, Preston brought law-and-order into the 1890s Gold Rush as a member of the Northwest Mounted Police. Each episode ended with Preston hugging his dog and saying: "Well, King, it looks like this case is closed."Richard Simmons - Director
- Actor
- Producer
Robert Douglas' real last name was Finlayson - a Scots name - and perhaps it was that side of him that meant to do what he wanted to do. The males of the family had followed the military for several generations - his father and grandfather were commanders of the West Sussex regiment - but he decided on another road for his career. He was interested in acting and showed enough talent and potential to debut on stage at 16 and enter theater training for two years at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London the next year. Using his given middle name as a professional surname, in 1930 he moved up to a feature role with an all-star cast in the London revival of "A Bill of Divorcement". Other choice roles followed quickly: "Kind Lady" with Sybil Thorndike and the "Last Enemy" with Laurence Olivier. Even then Douglas was destined for a trans-Atlantic career. At the end of that same year of 1930 he came to Broadway to do the American version of "Last Enemy" with Jessica Tandy. Still he was back in London in 1931 to open yet another page in his acting career with the potential to be found in film work. With a rather rugged, squared-off good looks and purposeful acting voice, he found further work in the movies - comedies at first. But he had less than a dozen roles through 1939, for he was pursuing yet another interest - and that on the other side of the stage with producing and directing plays in the West End beginning in 1932 at age 23.
The few film roles nevertheless kept ramping up in significance. By 1937 his first lead dramatic role in Torpedoed (1937) tapped him for a real adventure. Bergfilms or mountain films, being a heroic if emotional epitomizing of Teutonic spirit against stark but beautiful nature, had been popular in Germany through the later silent era largely through the significant talents of German geologist-turned-director Arnold Fanck. His influenced on others included one of his leading men, a young Austrian World War I veteran officer of mountain troops named Luis Trenker. Trenker had already starred in two Fanck mountain films and was the first leading man (1926) of the controversial Leni Riefenstahl, Fanck's muse - of sorts. Fanck did the screenplay of a dramatic interpretation of the 1865 race between England, Switzerland, and Italy to first climb the Matterhorn in Switzerland for a 1928 film directed by Italian actor-director Mario Bonnard with Trenker as the historical Italian competitor 'Jean-Antoine Carrel'. Trencker, a gifted sort of Renaissance man of many talents, turned to being director, writer, and producer as well in 1930. After several of his own Bergfilms and other efforts he decided to once again visit the Matterhorn subject in concert with British also actor-turned-director Milton Rosmer and then expatriate Hungarian writer Emeric Pressburger to do a British version of his German rendition of the drama which he called The Mountain Calls (1938). Trenker directed and co-starred as Carrel-once again-in his version, while he co-directed as alpine action supervisor and again played Carrel in the British version The Challenge (1938). Historically, the race was won by a little known young British mountaineer, 'Edward Whymper', and Douglas with a striking theatrical resemblance to Whymper got the part. Due to Trenker's expertise as a mountaineer, the climbing sequences are very realistic and even the somewhat over dramatic dialog is stirring. Of the two films fortunately Douglas was perhaps the best remembered performer, although the German version on a whole was the more even, largely due to Trenker's considerable abilities as the go-to guy for just about anything needed to put a film in the can.
For Douglas it was a busy 1939 with film work capped by his being one of the first British actors to enlist as World War II loomed. He became a Royal Navy pilot and would serve until 1946. He did one more British film and also produced, directed, and starred in "Lighten Our Darkness" on stage in London before heading over the Atlantic for good in 1947. He had been back to Broadway in 1931-32 and 1935 for two plays, the second, "Most of the Game", with his first wife, British actress Dorothy Hyson. And he had returned in 1942 for the musical "The Time, the Place, and the Girl". But now he had a Warner Bros. contract in hand and was on his way to a future in Hollywood. What followed was a few years of WB contract work that found Douglas the noble villain - and with his iron lipped scowl and a contrived harsh voice he could look any such part with a steady verve. He was first cast opposite a fast dissipating Errol Flynn, walking through the rather lackluster Adventures of Don Juan (1948). But he and Flynn got along fine and became friends and teamed again for Kim (1950), a much better film. A much more substantial role came to Douglas in the next year's The Fountainhead (1949), part of individualist Ayn Rand's corpus of heavy-handed hedonistic philosophy which amid the cast included vivacious-wholesome but downright sexy-newcomer Patricia Neal. With its dense and challenging dialog, Douglas considered it one of his favorite efforts. And there were other substantial amid many good efforts as Douglas moved into the 1950s and toward some freelance studio hopping. But certainly he was much in demand if not something of a fixture as the less than noble noble in such well known literary yarns as Ivanhoe (1952) and The Prisoner of Zenda (1952), and the concocted At Sword's Point (1952) all in one year.
By the mid 1950s he was spending half his time exploring acting on the small screen and like his now more modest movie parts as a more senior character actor. But Douglas was not one to waste time. He was noticeably absent from acting in 1956 for the very reason that he had returned to Broadway - not as an actor but as a director (and producer for one) of four original comedy plays through that year. Though he had occasional roles into the late 1970s, Douglas launched into an unusually prolific life as a TV director starting in 1960. As such he supervised the shooting of nearly 40 episodic series - a full spectrum of popular shows from his start with "Maverick" and the list of heartthrob private eye series, to TV playhouse productions, many other westerns, law and order fare, and varied dramas. In many cases he returned to do multiple episodes, and in fact he became a directorial regular (16 episodes) on the World War II drama "Twelve O'Clock High", during its sagging second and third seasons, no doubt his own air combat experience being a telling factor in his longevity. Douglas's one directorship on the big screen was for the British well regarded if economic spy thriller Night Train to Paris (1964).
Still active as a TV director in 1982, Douglas thereafter retired but continued to appear on TV, providing historical perspective of the movie past, one in particular being his remembrances of an old friend in the 1983 documentary "Errol Flynn: Portrait of a Swashbuckler". At nearly 90 years old Robert Douglas passed away after as thoroughly an engaging film life as could ever be imagined.- Actor
- Producer
Robert Sutton had five brothers named Charles, David, Maurice, Joseph, and Albert Sutton. Robert who was known as Bob to his family was an all-city basketball, swimming and football player for Hollywood High School in the 1950's. He was a longtime member of the YMCA in Hollywood, California. As an actor he had written a few plays. and he is well known his own performance in "Mr. Egregious."- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ronald Lewis was born on 11 December 1928 in Port Talbot, West Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for Helen of Troy (1956), Storm Over the Nile (1955) and Billy Budd (1962). He was married to Elizabeth Phillips and Norah Gorsen. He died on 11 January 1982 in Pimlico, London, England, UK.- Composer
- Soundtrack
Rosa Lee Hawkins was born on 23 October 1945 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. She was a composer, known for Knockin' on Heaven's Door (1997), Mission: Impossible II (2000) and The Skeleton Key (2005). She died on 11 January 2022 in Tampa, Florida, USA.- Sabine Deitmer was born on 21 October 1947 in Jena, Thuringia, Germany. She was a writer, known for Kalte Küsse (1997) and Neonnächte - Der U-Bahn-Schlitzer (2000). She died on 11 January 2020 in Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- He grew up poor in Boston. Even as a young boy, he had to support his family financially, for which he worked as a newspaper seller. After military service, various fields of activity followed; Adelson worked as a mortgage dealer, investment advisor and financial expert. After gaining a lot of experience in a wide variety of companies, Adelson moved to Las Vegas, where he wanted to attract new audiences to the gaming city by founding a computer trade fair. The COMDEX (Computer Dealers Exhibition) achieved great success in its founding year in 1979. From year to year, Adelson's Interface Group continued to expand the trade fair, growing from 4,000 visitors in 1979 to 110,000 visitors in 1989.
Under Adelson's leadership, COMDEX became one of the world's largest trade fairs, taking place in over 20 countries. During this time, Sheldon Adelson made a considerable fortune, which he used to purchase the "Sands Hotel & Casino" in Las Vegas in 1989. The "Sands" was mainly known for Frank Sinatra and the performances of the legendary Rat Pack. A year later, Adelson opened the Sands Expo and Convention Center, the only privately owned convention center in the United States to date. The doctor Miriam Ochshorn married in 1991; they became parents of two sons. In 1995, Adelson sold his Interface Group including COMDEX to the Japanese Softbank Corporation. He received US$860 million. Always looking for new business areas and investment opportunities, he was inspired by Venice during his honeymoon in 1991. Adelson had the vision of a new mega-resort hotel and wanted to create the water city of Venice in the Nevada desert.
The realization of the construction project cost 1.5 billion US$, but also set new standards in Las Vegas. "The Venetian" was expanded in 2003 and has since included 4,049 suites, 18 first-class restaurants, its own shopping mall and the typical Venice canals with gondolas and singing gondoliers. Sheldon Adelson, chairman and owner of Las Vegas Sands Corp., opened the Sands Macau casino hotel in China in May 2004. Macau was a Portuguese colony until December 1999 and is now considered the gambling mecca of Asia. With an estimated personal fortune of US$15.6 billion, Sheldon Adelson was ranked 19th on the Forbes list of the world's richest people in 2005. In 2007, he made an unsuccessful bid to acquire a majority stake in the Israeli newspaper Maariw . He therefore decided to start his own newspaper. On July 30, 2007, the first issue of the newspaper "Israel HaYom" was published. - Actress
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Shirley Boone was born on 24 April 1934 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress and assistant director, known for Captain Nice (1967), Hollywood Without Make-Up (1963) and The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969). She was married to Pat Boone. She died on 11 January 2019 in Beverly Hills, California, USA.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Solveig Dommartin was born on 16 May 1961 in Constantine, Constantine, France [now Algeria]. She was an actress and director, known for Wings of Desire (1987), Until the End of the World (1991) and It Would Only Take a Bridge (1998). She died on 11 January 2007 in Paris, France.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
Stacy Title was born on 21 February 1964 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA. She was a director and producer, known for Let the Devil Wear Black (1999), The Last Supper (1995) and The Bye Bye Man (2017). She was married to Jonathan Penner. She died on 11 January 2021 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Casting Director
Stan Kirsch was an American actor and acting coach from New York City. He appeared in television commercials as a child. His most notable acting role was that of young immortal Richie Ryan in the fantasy television series "Highlander: The Series" (1992-1998). His character was introduced as a student and surrogate son for the protagonist Duncan MacLeod (played by Adrian Paul). Richie remained as one of the series' main characters until his death in the finale of the 5th season. Kirsch also depicted an alternate-reality version of Richie in the two-part finale of the 6th season.
In 1972, he appeared in television commercials for Campbell's soup. He would continue to appear in commercials during his early career. He decided to pursue an acting career. His earliest credited role in television was a guest star role in the short-lived western series "Riders in the Sky" (1991). In 1992, Kirsch made a few appearances in the soap opera "General Hospital" (1992-).
Kirsch had his first recurring role as Richie Ryan "Highlander: The Series" . Richie was initially depicted as an orphaned thief, who became a surrogate son for the centuries-old immortal Duncan MacLeod. He was a wisecracking teenager, who felt bewildered when surrounded by immortals with lifelong obsessions and hidden agendas. By the 2nd season, Richie realized that he was also immortal. He started becoming a more cynical character, with lethal conflicts of his own. He also displayed a ruthless streak. The screenwriters eventually decided to write him out. In his final regular episode, the demon Ahriman manipulates Duncan into killing Richie. The event shatters Duncan's self-confidence. Richie's episode turned out to be one the most controversial episodes in the series, as Richie was a fan-favorite character.
In 1995, Kirsch had a memorable guest-star role in the sitcom "Friends" (1994-2004). He played Ethan, the new boyfriend of regular character Monica Geller (played by Courteney Cox). Monica has been told that Ethan is a college student, and she is initially thrilled to date a younger man. Until Ethan confesses that he is a high school student and still underage. Monica breaks up with him in disgust.
Kirsch played two different roles in the legal drama television series "JAG" (1995-2005). He first appeared as a young ensign in 1996, and then as a lieutenant in 2001. He appeared frequently as a guest in other series of this period, such as "Love Boat: The Next Wave" and "Family Law".
Kirsch had a rare role in a theatrical film, when playing deputy sheriff Stuart Dempsey in the horror film "Shallow Ground" (2004). In the film, local police officers arrest an adolescent boy who is covered in blood. The boy becomes the main suspects in several unsolved disappearances in the area. The boy somehow has access to the memories of the dead, and Stuart and several other characters are revealed to have skeletons in their closet. The film debuted at the "Dead by Dawn Edinburgh Horror Film Festival".
Kirsch's acting roles became fewer in the late 2000s, but he had a change in his career path. In 2008, he founded the acting studio "Stan Kirsch Studios.". He primarily worked as an acting coach for the rest of his life. He reportedly had many students, and he was regarded as very good at his job.
Kirsch committed suicide by hanging on January 11, 2020, at the age of 51. The causes for his suicide were unknown. He was survived by his wife and business partner Kristyn Green. The official "Highlander" Facebook page posted an obituary for him, and the press reported grieving reactions by Kirsch's former students. Despite a rather brief career, Kirsch is fondly remembered for his acting roles.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
- Director
Stephane Gauger was born on 30 August 1969 in Saigon, Vietnam. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Owl and the Sparrow (2007), Saigon Electric (2011) and Six-String Samurai (1998). He died on 11 January 2018.- Actor
- Writer
Stephen Churchett was born on 10 April 1947 in Bromley, London England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Secrets & Lies (1996), A Bridge Too Far (1977) and Marple (2004). He died on 11 January 2022 in England, UK.- Tatjana Patitz was born on 25 March 1966 in Hamburg, West Germany. She was an actress, known for Rising Sun (1993), The Larry Sanders Show (1992) and Ready to Wear (1994). She was married to Jason Johnson. She died on 11 January 2023 in Santa Barbara, California, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Tato Bores was born on 27 April 1927 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina. He was an actor and writer, known for La Argentina de Tato (1999), Viaje de una noche de verano (1965) and Propiedad (1962). He was married to Berta Szpindler. He died on 11 January 1996 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina.- Tom Belsø was born on 27 August 1942 in Copenhagen, Denmark. He was married to ??? and Barbara. He died on 11 January 2020.
- Tommy Allsup was an American rockabilly and swing musician. He was well known as a famous member of the Cherokee Nation. He worked with famous artists like Buddy Holly, Bob Wills, His Texas Playboys, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, the Ventures, The Crickets, Ronnie Smith, Roy Orbison, Willie Nelson, and Waylon Jennings, to name a few. In 1959, Tommy was supposed to be in the plane with Buddy Holly when he died but ended up giving his seat to Ritchie Valens by losing a coin toss. In 1979, he started a night club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Dallas. He died on January 11, 2017, at 85 years old
- Tord Peterson was born on 21 April 1926 in Danderyd, Stockholms län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Änglagård - Andra sommaren (1994), House of Angels (1992) and Änglagård - Tredje gången gillt (2010). He was married to Ulla Blomstrand. He died on 11 January 2021 in Sweden.
- Valdir de Moraes was born on 23 November 1931 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. He died on 11 January 2020 in Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.
- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Vassilis Alexakis was a Greek-French writer and self-translator of numerous novels in Greek, his mother tongue, and in French. The son of actor Giannis Alexakis, he was born in Greece. He first came to France in 1961 to study journalism at the university in Lille and returned to Greece in 1964 to perform his military service. Because of the military junta he went into exile to Paris in 1968 and stayed. But he traveled regularly to Greece throughout his lifetime. In 1995, he received the prestigious Prix Médicis for "La langue maternelle." In 2007, he received the Grand Prix du roman de l'Académie française for "Ap. J.-C."