Birthdays: September 25
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- Actor
- Producer
Jordan Gavaris was born on 25 September 1989 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada. He is an actor and producer, known for The Lake (2022), Orphan Black (2013) and PEN15 (2019).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Aida Turturro is an American actress best known for playing Janice Soprano on the HBO drama series The Sopranos. Aida Turturro was born in Brooklyn, New York, daughter of a Sicilian mother, Dorothy, a homemaker, and an Italian-American father, Domenick Turturro, an artist. After graduating from high school, Turturro earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in theatre from the State University of New York at New Paltz.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Aldo DaRe was born in the borough of Pen Argyl, in Northampton County, Pennsylvania on 25 September 1926. He attended the University of California at Berkeley, served as a US Navy frogman during WWII and saw action on Iwo Jima.
While constable of Crockett, California, he drove his brother Guido to an audition for the film Saturday's Hero (1951). Director David Miller hired him for a small role as a cynical football player. Ray's husky frame, thick neck and raspy voice made him perfect for playing tough sexy roles. He was the star of George Cukor's The Marrying Kind (1952) and starred opposite Rita Hayworth in Miss Sadie Thompson (1953). Ray was the none-too-bright boxer in Cukor's Pat and Mike (1952) and an escaped convict in 'Michael Curtiz''s We're No Angels (1955). His career started downhill in the 1970s, with him appearing in a string of low-budget films as a character actor. His last film was Shock 'Em Dead (1991).
Ray was married three times, with one daughter Claire born in 1951 to his first wife Shirley Green whom he married on on 20 June 1947. Ray was then briefly married to actress Jeff Donnell and then had two sons and a daughter with his third wife, Johanna Ray, one of whom is the actor Eric DaRe. Aldo Ray died of throat cancer on 27 March 1991.- Alejo Ortiz was born on 25 September 1974 in Buenos Aires City, Distrito Federal, Argentina. He is an actor, known for Verdad consecuencia (1996), Sangre fría (2004) and El hacker (2001).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
- Producer
Anita Barone was born in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Friends (1994), The War at Home (2005) and One Last Ride (2004). She has been married to Matthew Glave since 2000. They have two children.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Anson Williams was born on 25 September 1949 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Happy Days (1974), Baywatch (1989) and ABC Afterschool Specials (1972). He has been married to Sharon MaHarry since 6 May 2023. He was previously married to Jackie Gerken and Lorrie Mahaffey.- Armando Barbeito was born on 25 September 1922 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was a producer, known for Los especiales de ATC (1979), El jugador (1979) and Almorzando con Mirtha Legrand (1968). He died on 9 March 2017 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Audrey Wasilewski is an actor/voice-over artist who's work can be seen and heard across film, television and video games. Starting her professional career in Baltimore/Washington DC theatre, she worked with the Woolly Mammoth & Everyman Theatre companies and portrayed "Barbara Demarco" in over 1200 performances of the long-running comedy SHEAR MADNESS at the Kennedy Center. She was introduced to TV audiences as a series regular "Gwen Sheridan" on the ABC drama PUSH in 1998. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner Lyle Kanouse.- Producer
- Writer
- Actress
Barbara Walters was born on 25 September 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She was a producer and writer, known for The Barbara Walters Summer Special (1976), The View (1997) and 20/20 (1978). She was married to Merv Adelson, Lee Guber and Robert Henry Katz. She died on 30 December 2022 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Beth Toussaint was born on 25 September 1962 in Pleasant Hill, California, USA. She is an actress, known for Scream 3 (2000), Red Eye (2005) and Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). She has been married to Jack Coleman since 21 June 1996. They have one child.
- Betty Ballantine was born on 25 September 1919 in British India. She was married to Ian Ballantine. She died on 12 February 2019 in Bearsville, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Les and Jane Dunkleman were the proud parents of nine children; and then Brian was born. Due to a desire to have his parents one day address him by the correct name, Brian started doing stand up comedy in 1992. That year he won the "Buffalo's Funniest New Comedian Contest". Granted, the contest was voted on by the audience and he brought 50 people with him, but that's not important. The point is, he never looked back.
Since then he's performed at HBO's US comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, on the "Tonight Show", NBC's "Late Friday", and TBS"s "Very Funny at the Laugh Factory". He has had acting roles on several hit television shows such as "Friends", "3RD Rock From the Sun", "That 70's Show", and "NYPD Blue", for which his performance was mentioned in TV Guide's "Cheers" section. Brian was the voice of 'Stanford' on the MTV animated series "3South", as well as characters on "The Family Guy" and "Proud Family".
Most notably Brian hosted the first season of "American Idol", and since then has hosted pilots for VH1 and FOX, and has acted in pilots for ABC and 20th Century Fox. He recently finished acting in his first feature film "Comedy Hell" with Eric Roberts. Brian has also guest starred on the late night hit "Talk Show with Spike Fereston", "The Ghost Whisperer", & "Las Vegas".
Brian can also be seen doing stand up regularly in Los Angeles at the Laugh Factory and Improv, as well as comedy clubs all over the country. He makes regular appearances as the host of "Family Feud Live" in Las Vegas and Atlantic City for Fremantle Media. You can also currently tune into Brian on Fox's "American Idol Rewind".- Actor
- Soundtrack
In 1952 he did his National Service as an aircraftsman attaining 2nd class, Also in his company was Richard Briers. On being demobbed he joined RADA but after a year he had to leave as his money had run out. He then auditioned for Joan Littlewood in 1963 and was taken on for Oh! What a Lovely War in the West End then after the Lonon run went with the show to Broadway.- Producer
- Actress
Bridget Marquardt was born on 25 September 1973 in Tillamook, Oregon, USA. She is a producer and actress, known for Intolerable Cruelty (2003), The House Bunny (2008) and Scary Movie 4 (2006). She was previously married to Chad Christopher Marquardt.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Bridgette Wilson was born in Gold Beach, Oregon, on September 25, 1973. The brown-eyed actress grew up there with her parents, Kathy and Dale Wilson, and sister, Tracy Wilson. Her first taste of fame came in 1990 when she won Miss Teen USA. The next year she was in Los Angeles taking acting classes. Her break-through came in 1991 when she landed the role of Lisa Fenimore Castillo on the daytime soap Santa Barbara (1984). In 1992 she made her film debut as Arnold Schwarzenegger's daughter in Last Action Hero (1993). Soon after she was seen alongside Kristy Swanson in Higher Learning (1995). Her first lead role was in Billy Madison (1995) playing Veronica Vaughan, the love interest of Adam Sandler's Billy. Several serious films followed, including roles in Nixon (1995), Sweet Evil (1996) and Unhook the Stars (1996). Bridgette was later seen alongside many teen starlets in the horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997). Bridgette played the arrogant Elsa Shivers, who does not survive to the final credits. She is also an accomplished songwriter and singer, so far she has made two CDs; "Gimme a Kiss" and "I Only Want to Be with You." Besides the song and movie career, she is also an avid supporter of MADD, American Oceans Campaign, and several AIDS organizations. Her film House on Haunted Hill (1999) reached #1 at the box-office, over Halloween weekend, and she also starred in the comedy Just Visiting (2001).- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Caroline Kava was born on 25 September 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She is an actress and director, known for Born on the Fourth of July (1989), Number One (1998) and Year of the Dragon (1985).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Catherine Zeta-Jones was born September 25, 1969 in Swansea, Wales (and raised in the nearby town of Mumbles), the only daughter of Patricia (nee Fair) and David James "Dai" Jones, who formerly owned a sweet factory. She attended Dumbarton House School (Swansea). Her father (the son of Bertram (1912-1970) and Zeta Davies Jones (1917-2008)) is of Welsh descent and her mother (the daughter of William (1921-2000) and Catherine O'Callaghan Fair (1920-2001) ) is of English, Irish, and Welsh ancestry. Her brothers are David Jones (born 1967), a development executive, and Lyndon Jones (born 1972), who works at her production company. Her birth name was simply Catherine Jones, but she added her paternal grandmother's name ("Zeta") so as to stand out from the many other young women with the exact same name.
She showed an interest early on in entertainment. She starred on stage in "Annie", "Bugsy Malone" and "The Pajama Game". At age 15, she had the lead in the British revival of "42nd Street". She was originally cast as the second understudy for the lead role in the musical but when the star and first understudy became sick the night the play's producer was in the audience, she was given the lead for the rest of the musical's production. She first made a name for herself in the early 1990s when she starred in the Yorkshire Television comedy/drama series The Darling Buds of May (1991). The series was a success and made her one of the United Kingdom's most popular television actresses.
She subsequently played supporting roles in several films including Christopher Columbus: The Discovery (1992), the miniseries Catherine the Great (1995) and a larger role as the seductive Sala in The Phantom (1996) before landing her breakthrough role playing the fiery Elena opposite Anthony Hopkins and Antonio Banderas in The Mask of Zorro (1998). She starred in many big-budget blockbusters like Entrapment (1999), The Haunting (1999) and Traffic (2000), for which many believed she was robbed of an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. She won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress as murderous vaudevillian Velma Kelly in the musical comedy Chicago (2002). She then appeared opposite George Clooney in Intolerable Cruelty (2003), Ocean's Twelve (2004) and reprised her starring role in the sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005).
In November 2000, she married actor Michael Douglas. She gave birth to their son Dylan Michael in August 2000 followed by daughter, Carys, in April 2003. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for her services to drama.- Composer
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Cecil D. Womack was born on 25 September 1947 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Pineapple Express (2008), Tag (2018) and Alfie (2004). He was married to Linda M. Womack and Mary Wells. He died on 1 February 2013 in South Africa.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Charlotte Ayanna was born on 25 September 1976 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She is an actress, known for Training Day (2001), Love the Hard Way (2001) and Kate & Leopold (2001).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Cheryl Tiegs was born on 25 September 1947 in Breckenridge, Minnesota, USA. She is an actress, known for The Brown Bunny (2003), Moonlighting (1985) and Just Shoot Me! (1997). She was previously married to Rod Stryker, Tony Peck, Peter Beard and Stan Dragoti.- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
Chris Owen is an American actor and photographer. He is best known for his role as Chuck Sherman, a.k.a.The Sherminator in the American Pie film franchise, appearing in American Pie, American Pie 2, American Pie Presents: Band Camp and American Reunion. Aside from Eugene Levy, he is the only actor from the theatrical features to appear in the "American Pie Presents:" direct-to-video spin-off movies.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Christopher D'Olier Reeve was born September 25, 1952, in New York City, to journalist Barbara Johnson (née Barbara Pitney Lamb) and writer/professor F.D. Reeve (Franklin D'Olier Reeve). He came from an upper-class family; his paternal grandfather was CEO of Prudential Financial, and one of his maternal great-grandfathers was Supreme Court Associate Justice Mahlon Pitney.
When Reeve was four, his parents divorced. His mother moved him and his brother Benjamin to Princeton, New Jersey, and married an investment banker a few years later. After graduating from high school, Reeve studied at Cornell University while at the same time working as a professional actor. In his final year at Cornell, he was one of two students selected (Robin Williams was the other) to study at New York's famous Juilliard School, under the renowned John Houseman. Although Christopher is best known for his role as Superman (1978), a role which he played with both charisma and grace, his acting career spans a much larger ground. Paralyzed after a horse riding accident, he died suddenly at age 52 after several years of living and working with his severe disability.- Actress
- Writer
- Producer
Clea DuVall was born in Los Angeles on September 25, 1977, to Rosemary (Hatch) and actor Steph DuVall. DuVall's teenage years presented her with many challenges. Her parents divorced when she was twelve, and, when her mother remarried, DuVall moved out because she did not feel at home in the newly-reconstituted family, dropping out of high school and getting her own apartment. An only child, she sought entertainment in movies and television programs, which she consumed voraciously, memorizing entire scenes from movies. Though a rather shy person, DuVall decided she wanted to be an actress, and returned to high school, this time the Los Angeles High School of the Arts. However, the rigors of independent living (she had to work to support herself) meant that she could spend little time in class, and, as a result, she fared poorly in the school.
Nonetheless, DuVall had intensity, commitment and strong natural talent, and soon after graduating, the roles began to come, at first guest spots in television programs and small roles in small films. Soon her first major role came, in Robert Rodriguez's successful 1998 take on the alien-body-snatcher genre, The Faculty (1998), which featured many other up-and-coming young actors such as Elijah Wood and Josh Hartnett, as well as a strong cast of established adult performers. DuVall played Stokely, a bizarre, tough Goth Girl. This role was typical of DuVall's casting - the outsider, attractive though in an edgy and sometimes slightly disturbing way. (DuVall is pretty and can be glamorous, or can appear rough-around-the-edges, for a role.) Similar roles came in But I'm a Cheerleader (1999) as a tattooed lesbian and Girl, Interrupted (1999) as a mental patient.
DuVall is a complex person - soft-spoken and friendly, yet tough and independent - and she ably lends this complexity to her characters, making her a popular casting choice. She continues to turn in strong performances in such productions as the ensemble thriller Identity (2003), the HBO supernatural series Carnivàle (2003) and the critically-praised 21 Grams (2003). DuVall is a chain smoker and a close friend of director Jamie Babbit. She is no relation to veteran actors Robert Duvall or Shelley Duvall.- Colin Friels was born on 25 September 1952 in Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, UK. He is an actor, known for Darkman (1990), Water Rats (1996) and Dark City (1998). He has been married to Judy Davis since 30 October 1984. They have two children.
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Additional Crew
Colleen Atwood was born on 25 September 1948 in Ellensburg, Washington, USA. She is a costume designer, known for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), Memoirs of a Geisha (2005) and Chicago (2002).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Lovely, sunny and appealing blonde sprite Cynthia Wood was born on September 25, 1950 in Burbank, California. Her father Harold was a recording executive and her mother Erma was an actress. Cynthia attended both Los Angeles City College and Los Angeles Valley College as a music major but eventually switched to theater. She ultimately dropped out of college altogether in 1971. Wood was the Playmate of the Month in the February, 1973 issue of "Playboy." She was named Playmate of the Year in 1974. Cynthia did a follow-up pictorial ten years later in the April, 1984 of "Playboy." Wood made her film debut with a small role as a beauty shop customer in "Shampoo." Cynthia gave an especially lively and winning performance as sassy spitfire Moon in the enjoyable drive-in comedy romp "Van Nuys Blvd." She was likewise memorable as one of the dancing "Playboy" Playmates in "Apocalypse Now;" this particular part was greatly expanded in the 2001 "Redux" version of the movie. Moreover, Wood appeared as herself on episodes of the TV programs "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour" and "The Jim Stafford Show." Cynthia Wood has worked as a casting agent for director Michael Lesner and has a Ph.D. in psychology.- Daria Strokous was born on 25 September 1990 in Moscow, RSFSR, USSR [now Russia]. She is an actress, known for Contagion (2011), Dior: Secret Garden 2 - Versailles (2013) and Dior: Secret Garden III - Versailles (2014).
- Actor
- Soundtrack
David Bedella was born on 25 September 1962 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Batman Begins (2005), Rocky Horror Show Live (2015) and Alexander (2004).- Producer
- Writer
- Director
David Benioff was born on 25 September 1970 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a producer and writer, known for Game of Thrones (2011), The Kite Runner (2007) and 25th Hour (2002). He has been married to Amanda Peet since 30 September 2006. They have three children.- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Declan Donnelly was born on 25 September 1975 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Love Actually (2003), Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway (2002) and I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! (2002). He has been married to Ali Astall since 1 August 2015. They have one child.- One of the most powerful soul singers of all time, Dee Dee Warwick was born Delia Warrick on September 25, 1942, in Newark Heights, New Jersey, into a musical family with its roots steeped in gospel music. Her mother, Arthur Lee Drinkard Warrick, was a founding member of the acclaimed Drinkard Singers, whose line-up included her aunt Cissy Houston. The Drinkard Singers sang regularly at the New Hope Baptist Church in Newark, New Jersey.
As a young teen, Warwick and her older sister Dionne formed their own group called the Gospelaires; the group often appeared with the Drinkard Singers. In 1959, the Warwick sisters got their first big break in the music industry at the famed Apollo Theater in Harlem when they were asked to sing background vocals in a studio session for Sam Taylor. During this session with Savoy Records, the song 'Won't You Deliver Me' was recorded; this was the Warwick sisters' recording debut. Warwick would go on to be featured in hundreds of recordings that were made in New York between 1960 and 1965.
In 1963, Warwick launched her prolific solo recording career, in which she would become one of the most respected voices in Soul music. Warwick's discography includes such hits as 'I Want To Be With You' and 'Foolish Fool'; both of which were recorded for Mercury Records. During the 1970s, Warwick continued to record, adding 'She Didn't Know, She Kept On Talking', recorded for Atco Records, to her long list of hits. During the 1980s, Warwick recorded albums for Sutra Records and Heritage Records; both of which have become collectors' items.
After living in Los Angeles and Georgia for a number of years, Warwick moved back to New Jersey, where she started making soul music and appearing in Gospel musicals. Warwick passed away on October 18, 2008, at the age of 66. - Actor
- Additional Crew
- Stunts
Derek was born in London and from an early age was fascinated with film and TV. He would regularly entertain friends and family with his impersonations of famous actors of the day. He attended a local theatre school later in his teens.
Derek was fortunate enough to meet the stage and screen actor Sir Nigel Hawthorne, who was a close neighbour and friend, and encouraged him to think about working within the acting profession and generously agreed to sponsor his application to join British Actor's Equity.
Derek worked on the first Star Wars film, 'A New Hope' in 1976 - this was in fact his first job within the film business. He was chosen to appear as a Medal Bearer and Massassi Guard at the end of the film.
From this start, Derek has been able to cultivate his career in film, winning parts in many major films made in England, including, Flash Gordon, Krull, The Living Daylights, Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade plus many others. He has also worked on TV productions and was PC Craig Lovell in The Bill from 1987 to 1991. He has rubbed shoulders with many great actors, including Robert Mitchum, Julie Andrews, Jack Nicholson, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Sir Laurence Olivier, John Rhys-Davies and most recently Alec Baldwin. Derek was a close friend of the late Marvin Gaye, whilst the singer was recording his last album for Motown, `In Our Lifetime', in London.- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Dmitri Shostakovich, one of Russian culture's most acclaimed intellectuals who was censored under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, was an internationally recognized composer whose music was in over 100 films.
He was born Dmitri Dmitrievich Shostakovich on September 25, 1906, in St. Petersburg, Russia. He was the second of three children of Dmitri Boleslavovich Shostakovich, a chemical engineer, and Sofia Kokaoulina, a pianist. Young Shostakovich studied piano under his mother tutelage and at a private school in St. Petersburg. His greatest influences were Johann Sebastian Bach, Ludwig van Beethoven and Modest Mussorgsky. From 1919-1925 he studied piano and composition at St. Petersburg (Leningrad) Conservatory. He wrote his First "Classical" symphony as his graduation piece. In 1927 he won an "honorable mention diploma" at the 1st International Piano Competition in Warsaw. In 1929 he collaborated with writer Vladimir Mayakovsky, artist Alexander Rodchenko and director Vsevolod Meyerhold.
In 1934 Shostakovich collaborated with Aleksei Dikij on the legendary opera Katerina Izmailova" (aka Lady Makbeth of Mtsensk). Dikij's production of "Katerina Izmailova" had over 100 performances in Leningrad and Moscow, and was considered a highlight in his directing career. However, in 1936, the opera was severely criticized by some critics on the Pravda, the Communist Party's official newspaper, and accused of formalism and intellectualism.
In the summer of 1941 Nazi Germany and its allies invaded the Soviet Union, and German and Finnish forces and encircled Leningrad (St. Petersburg). Defenders and civilians in besieged Leningrad were doomed, because the besieging forces cut supplies of food and energy to the surrounded city. It wasn't long before the city's population of birds, pets and even rats were eaten, and not long after there were reports of cannibalism brought about by starvation. The siege of Leningrad was so impenetrable that by December of that year an average of 4000 to 6000 residents a day were dying of starvation, disease, shellfire, bombardment and a variety of other causes.
During the first months of the siege Shostakovich was in Leningrad. He survived the first bombardments and joined the "night watch" patrol, helping to put out fires during massive German air bombardments. Shostakovich personally neutralized several incendiary bombs and was actively involved in firefighting. After aerial and artillery bombardments, during the rare quiet moments, Shostakovich was back to his piano composing new music. He was evacuated from the besieged city in the end of 1941.
The Seventh "Leningrad" Symphony, which Shostakovich started composing during the Nazi aerial and artillery attacks during the siege, was the masterpiece that won him national and international recognition. His music helped lift the spirits of Leningrad citizens in a time when they were struggling to survive.
On August 9, 1942, Karl Eliasberg gave a premiere performance of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony in Leningrad. That famous concert was made possible because Eliasberg specially created an orchestra of survivors who were still able to perform in spite of starvation and dystrophy.
Eliasberg, who was also extremely emaciated, spent some time in the hospital in the Astoria hotel and came to the rehearsals straight from the sick ward. On the score of one of the musicians of that legendary orchestra you can still see a drawing showing hollow-cheeked Eliasberg conducting his orchestra sitting on a chair. The legendary performance was broadcast live from the Radio Hall in Leningrad, so millions of civilians and defenders of the besieged city were able to hear the powerful music. The symphony written in the conventional four movements is Shostakovich's longest, and one of the longest in the repertoire, with performances taking approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. The scale and scope of the work is consistent with Shostakovich's other symphonies as well as with those of composers considered to be his strongest influences, including Bruckner, Gustav Mahler and Igor Stravinsky.
Before they tackled Shostakovich's work, Eliasberg had the players go through pieces from the standard repertoire - Ludwig van Beethoven, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov - which they also performed for broadcast. Because the city was still blockaded at the time, the score was flown by night in early July for rehearsal. The concert was given on 9 August 1942. Whether this date was chosen intentionally, it was the day Hitler had chosen previously to celebrate the fall of Leningrad with a lavish reception for the top Nazi commanders. But instead of Hitler's plan, all loudspeakers delivered the live broadcast of the symphony performance throughout the city as well as to the German forces in a move of psychological warfare. The Russian commander of the Leningrad front, General Govorov, ordered a bombardment of German artillery positions in advance of the broadcast to ensure their silence during the performance of the symphony; a special operation, code-named "Squall," was executed for precisely this purpose. Three thousand high-caliber shells were lobbed onto the enemy. Then the music of Shostakovich came out of the speakers all over the siege perimeter, so the Nazis had to face the music. The music of Shostakovich brought the much needed support and catharsis to survivors who loved the symphony and applauded to Eliasberg and his orchestra. General Govorov with his staff came backstage to thank Eliasberg and his musicians for their art and courage.
The news about Dmitry Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony premiere in besieged Leningrad spread all over the world. It was an important message to all nations that Hitler's attack on Leningrad failed. Shostakovich who began to write his famous symphony before evacuation from besieged Leningrad in 1941, could not go back to attend its premier performance in 1942. The composer sent the conductor and the musicians who performed his work in the besieged city a telegram with words of gratitude.
After WWII Shostakovich was again accused of formalism in 1948. At that time, Shostakovich gained international recognition in the free world, and received several invitations to participate in music festivals and other cultural events. He was awarded the International Peace Prize (1954), State Prize five times (in 1941-1952), State Prizes of Russia and the USSR, and was designated People's Artist of the USSR. From 1957-1975 he was secretary of the Union of Composers of Russia and the USSR. He taught and promoted many talented musicians, such as Andrey Petrov, Georgi Sviridov, Karen Khachaturyan, and Boris Tishchenko among others.
Shostakovich and Yevgeniy Yevtushenko worked together on the famous Symphony No. 13 titled "Babi Yar", a vocal setting of poems by Yevtushenko. It was first performed in Moscow on December 18, 1962 under the baton of Kirill Kondrashin. Yevtushenko and Shostakovich toured many countries with the performances of "Babi Yar", and made several recordings of the Symphony No. 13. Among Shostakovich's best known film scores are 'Suite from The Gadfly' from The Gadfly (1955), and the score for director Grigoriy Kozintsev's acclaimed film Hamlet (1964) starring Innokentiy Smoktunovskiy.
In 1965 Shostakovich raised his voice in defense of poet Joseph Brodsky, who was sentenced to five years of exile and hard labor. Shostakovich co-signed protests together with such prominent figures as Korney Ivanovich Chukovskiy, Anna Akhmatova, Samuil Marshak, Yevgeniy Yevtushenko, and the French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre. After the protests his sentence was commuted, and Brodsky returned to Leningrad. At that time, Shostakovich joined the group of 25 distinguished intellectuals in signing the letter to Leonid Brezhnev asking not to rehabilitate Joseph Stalin.
Dmitri Shostakovich was a towering figure in Russian music of the 20th century along with 'Sergei Prokofiev (I)' and Aram Khachaturyan. He wrote 15 symphonies, of which the Fifth (1937), the Sevenths "Leningrad" (1942), and the Thurteenth "Baby Yar" (1968) are the best known. His other compositions include cantatas and oratorios, seven operas and operettas, four ballets, twelve musical comedies and other music for stage plays, 36 original motion picture scores, fifteen quartets and other chamber music for, piano, violin, and cello. Shostakovich, who was an awarded pianist himself, had composed outstanding works for piano, such as his Piano concertos No1 and No2. His 24 Preludes and Fugues for piano received numerous awards and recognitions, and were recorded in critically acclaimed performance by Vladimir Ashkenazy.
Shostakovich died of a heart attack on august 9, 1975, in Moscow, and was laid to rest in Novodevichi Convent Cemetery in Moscow, Russia. His legacy is continued by his son, conductor Maxim Shostakovich, and his grandson, pianist Dmitri Shostakovich Jr.- Actor
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- Producer
The multi-talented Donald Glover is a writer, actor, musician, comedian, producer and director, who performs under the stage names Childish Gambino and mcDJ. He was born Donald McKinley Glover at Edwards Air Force Base, California, and was raised in Stone Mountain, Georgia. His mother, Beverly (Smith), ran a daycare center, and his father, Donald Glover, is a retired postal worker. He is not, despite rumors, related to actor Danny Glover. He has a younger brother, Stephen Glover, a screenwriter and producer. Donald graduated from New York University with a degree in Dramatic Writing in 2006.
In 2006, at age 23, while still living in the NYU dorms, Glover joined the writing staff of NBC comedy 30 Rock (2006), for which he received a Writers Guild of America Award nomination in 2009. Later credited as an executive story editor, he also had several cameos in front of the camera. In 2009, he left "30 Rock" for a role on the comedy series Community (2009), in which he played an athlete in a rather odd study group, opposite Chevy Chase and Joel McHale. The show ran for six seasons.
Glover is the creator, writer, producer, director and star of the series Atlanta (2016), which debuted on FX in 2016. The series was an immediate critical and commercial hit, winning the 2017 Golden Globe Award for Best Series and Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series (Musical or Comedy) for Glover. At the 2017 Primetime Emmy Awards, Glover won Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series and Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series, while the show also earned four other nominations: Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Casting for a Comedy Series, and Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series for Glover (for the episode B.A.N. (2016)) and his brother, Stephen (for the episode Streets on Lock (2016)).
His first stand-up special aired on Comedy Central in March 2010. As Childish Gambino, Glover has released the studio albums "Camp" (2011), "Because the Internet" (2013) and "Awaken, My Love!" (2016). In 2015, he was nominated for Grammy Awards in 2015 for Best Rap Album for "Because the Internet" and Best Rap Performance for his single "3005" In 2018, he was nominated for five Grammy Awards, including Album of the Year for "Awaken, My Love!" and Record of the Year for the hit "Redbone," winning the Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Performance.
On the big screen, Glover's credits include Magic Mike XXL (2015), Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017), and The Martian (2015). He will star as the young Lando Calrissian in the upcoming Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018) and will provide the voice of Simba in a remake of The Lion King (2019).
In April 2017, Glover was named among Time Magazine's "100 Most Influential People in the World."- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Drew Snyder was born on 25 September 1946 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Commando (1985), Firestarter (1984) and WarGames (1983).- Actor
- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Eddie (Edmund) Baroo was born on the 25th September 1968 in Geelong, Australia.
An accomplished singer and guitarist, he fronted the band Stodgewood.
He formed Buggertoe records, with CD releases receiving international and domestic critical acclaim.
In 1997, Eddie signed with Cherry Red label in the UK, releasing three CDs for Manchester United Football Club - The Greatest Soccer Album of All Time, Red Anthems and Football Crazy #3.
After a rewarding career in the music industry which garnered publishing deals, worldwide releases, television appearances and independent chart success, at the ripe old age of 30, Eddie made the transition into acting.
His first role came from ABC's Something in the Air and guest roles followed on popular Australian TV dramas including Blue Heelers, Stingers, Underbelly, Rush, Beaconsfield; and successful TV Series Fat Tony & Co. and Killing Time.
His first film break came when cast in Ghostrider (Nicholas Cage, Eva Mendes). He later landed the role of 'Bull' in Baz Luhrmann's epic Australia, alongside Hugh Jackman and Nicole Kidman.
Throughout his career he has always been a staunch advocate for first time director/low budget feature films. He appeared in Patrick Hughes' RED HILL, Kasimir Burgess' hauntingly beautiful Fell, Save Your Legs, My Year Without Sex, Summer Coda and Crawlspace, the Sci-Fi action thriller that he co-wrote with Justin Dix.
In 2015, Eddie can be seen in Julius Avery's debut feature Son of a Gun, alongside Ewan McGregor and his great mate Brenton Thwaites. Three other films also slated for release are Sucker, Now Add Honey and Downriver.
Eddie is currently writing the Sci-Fi action adventure SONS OF LIGHT screenplay.
Eddie has four children, Molly, Bailey, Harry and Teishe. Their early childhood pictures have been turned into distinctive tattoo work that adorns his arms and chest.
In 2014, after 21 years of Stodgewood retirement, they were coaxed to reform for The Mane Event, a fund-raiser concert to create awareness for Mental Health.- Eduardo Yáñez is one of Mexico's most celebrated leading men of stage and television. Born in Mexico City, this handsome and charming star is one of the most sought-after male actors in the Mexican television industry. He has appeared in several soap operas, such as Quiéreme siempre (1981), El amor nunca muere (1982), El maleficio (1983), Tú eres mi destino (1984), Senda de gloria (1987), Marielena (1992), Guadalupe (1993), En carne propia (1990), and Sweet Challenge (1988), to name a few. His Performance in Guadalupe (1993) earned him broad critical acclaim. His performance in Yo compro esa mujer (1990) brought him status as a leading man of unique style and ability and prompted TV and soap opera magazines to name him Best Actor of the Year. Yáñez' popularity also extends to the silver screen, where he has crossed-over successfully to the American market, co-starring in the movies The Punisher (2004), opposite John Travolta; Held Up (1999), with Jamie Foxx; and Striptease (1996) with Demi Moore and Ving Rhames. An Emmy Award-winning actor, Yáñez is also known for his television roles on CSI: Miami (2002) opposite David Caruso and recently, Sleeper Cell (2005). He was named in People Espa;ñol as one of the hottest 50 men in the world. His new Telenovella, La verdad oculta (2006), is ranked #1 in Mexico, and is rapidly rising in all Spanish language markets, worldwide, including Spain. Soon to be released in the United States, it is the most anticipated series in the history of Spanish television.
- Elena Lucena was born on 25 September 1914 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She was an actress, known for Brother and Sister (2010), Ven mi corazón te llama (1942) and Chimbela (1939). She was married to Julio Bianquet. She died on 7 October 2015 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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- Writer
- Producer
Elio Germano was born on 25 September 1980 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He is an actor and writer, known for Leopardi (2014), Nine (2009) and Mio fratello è figlio unico (2007).- Elliott Cho was born on 25 September 1994 in Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He is an actor, known for Kicking & Screaming (2005), Click (2006) and All About Steve (2009).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Elsa Aguirre was born on 25 September 1930 in Chihuahua, Mexico. She is an actress, known for Cantando nace el amor (1954), La mujer de dos caras (1957) and Cuatro noches contigo (1952).- Actress
- Soundtrack
Emmy Clarke was born on 25 September 1991 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA. She is an actress, known for My House in Umbria (2003), Monk (2002) and Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus (2006).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ernesto Alterio was born on 25 September 1970 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He is an actor, known for The Other Side of the Bed (2002), Clandestine Childhood (2011) and Los lobos de Washington (1999). He is married to Juana Acosta. They have one child.- Actress
- Soundtrack
British leading woman best known at one time for "cute" roles but a formidable actress in a wide variety of parts. Born in England, she was raised in India where her parents Geoffrey Kendal and Laura Liddell toured the nation for decades with a traveling classical theatre troupe called Shakespeareana. Young Felicity first appeared on stage as an infant and grew up doing backstage chores and filling in on stage as boys or various supernumeraries. She attended whatever convent school was immediately convenient and by her teen years was appearing in important Shakespearean roles. Family friends James Ivory and Ismail Merchant fashioned their fictional film Shakespeare-Wallah (1965) around the Kendal troupe and gave Felicity the leading role. She returned to England following the film and struggled for a number of years getting work. She appeared on television opposite John Gielgud and soon thereafter was given the role that made her famous, Barbara Good in the TV series The Good Life (1975), about a couple who decides to live off the land in their decidedly suburban home. She followed "The Good Life" with several other TV programs, but made her most important contributions on the stage. She created roles in a number of plays by Tom Stoppard (with whom she had a highly publicized affair), and continued unabated her lifelong work in Shakespeare, playing Desdemona to Paul Scofield's Othello and a memorable Viola in a BBC production of Twelfth Night (1980). She continues to perform with regularity in London's West End. She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1995. In 1999, she published her memoirs, "White Cargo."- Frank Howard was born on 25 September 1970 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He is an actor, known for Sixteen Candles (1984), Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993) and American Playhouse (1980).
- Friso Prins van Oranje-Nassau was born on 25 September 1968 in Utrecht, Utrecht, Netherlands. He was married to Mabel van Oranje-Nassau. He died on 12 August 2013 in The Hague, Zuid-Holland, Netherlands.
- Additional Crew
- Actor
- Producer
Gary Garfinkel was born on 25 September 1962. He was an actor and producer, known for Next Stop for Charlie (2010), Bimbo Penitentiary (1992) and Patriot Act: A Jeffrey Ross Home Movie (2005). He died on 25 May 2018 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Gerardo Gallardo was born on 25 September 1967. He was an actor, known for Vecinos (2005), Espiritus (1995) and Baila conmigo (1992). He died on 25 July 2017 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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- Director
- Producer
Gordon Currie was born in Vancouver, Canada to American parents. One of his first or breakthrough roles was playing Officer Palone on 21 Jump Street (1987). In 1991, after a couple years working in locally shot TV and film in Vancouver, Gordon moved to Los Angeles to study acting more seriously. Gordon's first roommate was Brad Pitt. The two lived for over a year off Melrose Ave. near the Improv in a two bedroom flat. During this time, to make ends meet, he became one of L.A.'s Ronald McDonald clowns doing parades and magic shows. However, it wasn't too long before Gordon worked more on larger TV and film roles. He's lived and worked in both Los Angeles and New York for a number of years, working in Canada and the U.S.A..- Guillermo Barbieri (September 25, 1894 - June 24, 1935) was an Argentine composer, singer, and guitarist. He accompanied many famous artists of his time. In 1935, while on tour with Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera, and Ángel Domingo Riverol, he and his band-mates boarded a plane. Soon after takeoff, it collided with another plane and exploded. Riverol was the only survivor, but died two days later as a result of his injuries.
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Hal Sparks is an American actor and director from Cincinnati, Ohio who is known for playing Michael Novotny from Queer as Folk and the voice of Tak from the Tak and the Power of Juju animated series. He also played Zoltan from Dude, Where's My Car?, an elevator passenger from Spider-Man 2 and Donald Davenport from Lab Rats.- Actress
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- Director
- Producer
- Cinematographer
American director Harold Becker was born on September 25, 1928 in New York City, New York. He began his career as a still photographer and later on moved to direct TV commercials and short films. His directorial debut conducting a feature film was with the drama The Ragman's Daughter (1972). His second feature was the acclaimed The Onion Field (1979), a dark cop thriller starring John Savage and James Woods, on a remarkable role that brought him recognition from the public and several award nominations as Best Supporting Actor in the role of a dangerous and menacing cop killer.
The 1980's presents Becker has a solid director who can work many different genres: the comedy The Black Marble (1980); the military drama Taps (1981) where he directed youngsters Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn and Tom Cruise alongside veteran George C. Scott; the sports-themed film Vision Quest (1985); two musical videos for Madonna; the heavy drug drama The Boost (1988) again collaborating with Woods; and the neo-noir Sea of Love (1989) where he resurrected the career of Al Pacino.
The box-office suspense Malice (1993), the political thriller City Hall (1996) and the action Mercury Rising (1998) compose Becker's career in the 1990's directing big Hollywood stars and establishing him as one of the most versatile directors of the period.
After the thriller Domestic Disturbance (2001) Becker never returned to film directing, possibly retired after not having many invitations to directed another feature.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Heather Locklear was born on 25 September 1961 in Westwood, California, USA. She is an actress and producer, known for Melrose Place (1992), The Perfect Man (2005) and The Return of Swamp Thing (1989). She was previously married to Richie Sambora and Tommy Lee.- Hyun Bin, born in 1982, had a typical childhood as the youngest son of a family with loving parents and a strong older brother. In high school, he fell in love with the allure of acting in a theater club he joined on the advice of a senior, but he was opposed by his father, who wanted him to pursue a normal life. His father, unable to oppose his son's desire, set a condition that he would root for him if he was admitted by the Theater and Film Department of 'Chung-Ang University,' which was coveted by aspiring actors at the time. Hyun Bin was firmly accepted and demonstrated his enthusiasm.
After debuting in a minor role in the 2003 drama 'Bodyguard,' Hyun Bin began his acting career earnestly. The same year, he played an attractive college student in the sitcom 'Nonstop 4,' which dealt with campus life and began gaining popularity. He shot to fame in 2004 after delivering an outstanding performance in the drama 'Island.' His subtle emotional portrayal of the role was sufficient to announce the advent of a new star.
He reached the pinnacle of his career for the first time in 2005 with 'My Name is Kim Sam-soon,' a smash drama that achieved a record audience rating of 50%. He did not settle for being a romance star but continued experimenting with different genres and characters. He continued to feature in dramas such as 'The Snow Queen(2006)' 'Friends: Our Legend(2009),' and 'The World that They Live In(2008),' as well as films such as 'I Am Happy(2008),' 'Late Autumn(2010),' 'Come Rain, Come Shine(2011),' and so on, widening his acting range and cementing his place as a character actor.
Hyun Bin reached the peak of his career for the second time in 2011 when he won the grand prize at the renowned Baeksang Arts Awards for the hit drama 'Secret Garden,' which caused Asia to succumb to the 'Hyun Bin Syndrome.' However, when at the top, he volunteered to join the Marine Corps to complete his national military duty responsibilities. This enthralled the fans even more, as he resumed his life sublimely and silently rather than clinging to the 'climax' moment that had come to him.
After being discharged from the military, he pursued more public-friendly works and chose paths that other actors did not. From 'The Fatal Encounter(2014),' about the young days of King Jeongjo, who is regarded as the last sage in Joseon history, to the 'Confidential Assignment(2017)' series, about inter-Korean cooperation, and 'Rampant(2018),' about a zombie dystopia in the Joseon Dynasty, he captivated the audience with a variety of entertaining films. As a result, Hyun Bin cemented his reputation as an actor who values both popularity and excellence, not only in TV shows but also on the big screen.
He reclaimed the top spot in 2020. He had a worldwide smash hit with the drama 'Crash Landing on You,' which became a hot issue as he reunited with actress Son Ye-jin, with whom he previously collaborated on the film 'The Negotiation(2018).' Hyun Bin portrayed Ri Jeong-hyeok, a North Korean soldier who falls in love with a female protagonist who crash-lands in North Korea. The drama has been dubbed the 'Hyun Bin Genre,' since he demonstrated a diverse range of acting in romance, melodrama, and action, demonstrating his potential as a global star.
Following COVID-19, he demonstrated his unequaled influence by rejuvenating the moribund Korean film business by participating in a string of blockbusters, including 'Confidential Assignment 2: International' and 'The Point Men.' He recently announced plans to meet the public with the hit film 'Harbin,' based on the life of Korean independence activist Ahn Jung-geun. - Actor
- Producer
Ian Reddington was born on 25 September 1957 in Sheffield, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for Highlander (1986), Zoe and the Astronaut (2018) and The Sisters Brothers (2018). He has been married to Lynda Ford since 10 October 2009. They have three children.- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Jack Bender was born on 25 September 1949 in the USA. He is a producer and director, known for Lost (2004), From (2022) and Alias (2001). He is married to Laura Owens. They have two children.- Stunts
- Location Management
- Casting Department
Born Fincastle, Virginia, USA Birth Name Jack Norwood Young Gender Male Biography:
Jack N. Young was born September 25, 1926 in Fincastle, VA. He ran away from home when he was 14 and eventually ended up in the US Navy during WW11.
After the war he decided he wanted to work in movies so he moved to Los Angeles, CA. He became a stuntman and his career lasted 15 years. However, after bring hurt badly on THE ALAMO, he was searching for a way to get out of the stunt business.
In 1962-3 he landed at Old Tucson Studio's in Tucson, AZ. After a 3 year stint on the street running the street shows he started up the ladder performing Public Relations, Marketing, etc. After 12 years he decided to venture out on his own and this time work behind the camera in many capacities such as, Extra Handling, Location Management, Production Management, Assistant Director, etc.
At the age of 79, prostate cancer retired him and he presently still lives in Tucson.- Producer
- Special Effects
- Actor
Jamie Hyneman is a jack of all trades. Graduate in Russian language and literature from Indiana University, Animal Wrangler, Robot Builder, Toy Prototyper and holder of patent no. 6,458,008 for a remote control/stabilization device, Jamie is a truly well-rounded individual.
Besides his time on Mythbusters, Jamie builds items for commercials including the 7-UP can-chucking machine and the Nike Roller-shoe. He also is the CEO of M5 Industries, his own personal shop that he bought when Colossal Industries went under. His shop does a lot of work in movies, television and commercials, as well as toy prototyping. M5 Industries is also where Mythbusters is filmed.
Prior to getting into the special effects industry, he ran a dive/charter business for several years in the Caribbean, and is a certified dive master. He is an animal-wrangler, and has experience with all sorts of critters. He was once a concrete inspector for a few months, and ran a pet store.
On the Comedy Central show BattleBots, Jamie and M5 built and ran the wildly successful and dangerous robot Blendo, and he also worked on DeadBolt. Other participants in the show at the same time as Jamie were Adam Savage and Grant Imahara!
Jamie is happily married, and has said that he is very proud of his wife!- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Jansen Panettiere was born on 25 September 1994 in Palisades, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Robots (2005), The Fog (2005) and The Eye (2008). He died on 19 February 2023 in New York City, New York, USA.- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Jason Flemyng was born on 25 September 1966 in Putney, London, England, UK. He is an actor and producer, known for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998) and Deep Rising (1998). He has been married to Elly Fairman since 6 June 2008.- Jean Sorel was born on 25 September 1934 in Marseille, Bouches-du-Rhône, France. He is an actor, known for The Day of the Jackal (1973), Belle de Jour (1967) and Sandra (1965). He has been married to Patricia Balme since 2018. He was previously married to Anna Maria Ferrero.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jessie grew up in Enfield, in north London, and -- after her parents divorced when she was three -- she and her older sister, Joanne, were brought up by their father, James, who now runs a pub in Essex. Just as Kat's grandmother, Mo, presides over the Slater family in EastEnders (1985), Jessie's late grandmother -- also called Jessie -- was a huge influence on her life and a maternal figure as she was growing up. Jessie lost her nan seven years ago, and both parents have now remarried. Her mother, Annette, has a third daughter, Danielle. Jessie left school when she was 15 and flitted from one job to another before moving to Portugal for seven months when she was 21 to work in a string of bars. On her return she decided to train as a professional make-up artist. She complete a two-year course at the College of East London and got a job with the Royal Shakespeare Company. But on her first day in the job she realised she'd much rather be on the stage than behind the scenes. After that day Jessie started secretly auditioning for acting courses. She got a recall from RADA, but didn't get in. She was accepted at the Poor School on the two-year course. It was during the evening so people could work during the day but as her job was evening work she had to quit. To get some money during the day she starting doing wig making. Soon after completing her course at the Poor School, Jessie got an audition for a small part in EastEnders (1985). Although she didn't get it, producers instantly thought of her for the new Slater family and gave her the part of Kat. She now lives in Epping in a flat (spookily it's Number 23 -- the same number as Kat's house in Albert Square). For now the only male in her life is her shih-tzu, Bailey, with whom she shares her new flat.- João Carlos Marinho was born on 25 September 1935 in Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He was an actor and writer, known for O Detetive Bolacha Contra o Gênio do Crime (1973) and Era uma vez nos tempos da Ditadura (2015). He died on 17 March 2019 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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- Producer
- Director
Joel David Moore was born on 25 September 1977 in Portland, Oregon, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Avatar (2009), Avatar: The Way of Water (2022) and Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004).- Actress
- Additional Crew
Johanna Goldsmith was born on 25 September 1979 in Austin, Texas, USA. She is an actress, known for Serial Rabbit 7: Critical Rabbit Theory (2023), Knight Watchmen (2022) and The Chair (2020).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Spending his youth in Skåne, due to his mother's engagement at the Malmö City Theater, wasn't easy for somebody with a Stockholm accent, but Johannes avoided being bullied by cracking jokes and doing pranks. At 18 he applied to acting school but was rejected. He applied successfully later and has since worked in both Malmö and Stockholm. In 1991 he started with stand-up-comedy. During the 1990s he starred in several comedy plays in theaters in Stockholm. He biggest claim to fame though is the role as 'Joker' in the long running TV show "Rederiet".- Ericson was born in Düsseldorf, the son of a German chemist and a Swedish actress and opera singer. Escaping from the Nazi regime, his family emigrated to the U.S. when he was three. At first living in Detroit, they eventually settled in New York where his dad (according to a 1955 newspaper article) found lucrative employment as president of a food extract company. After graduating from Newton High School, John enrolled at the Academy of Dramatic Arts, financially supporting his studies working at a Walgreen drug store.
Most sources incorrectly cite his acting debut as being Stalag 17 on Broadway, but Ericson himself stated (in a 1989 interview with Skip E. Lowe) that his career kick-started with the romantic wartime drama Teresa (1951), filmed in Italy by Metro Goldwyn Mayer. Afterwards, he made the decision not to sign a studio contract for fear of being typecast as 'boy-next-door' types. On the strength of his performance in Teresa, producer/director José Ferrer offered Ericson not only what amounted to being the nominal lead in Stalag 17, but the opportunity to play an initially unsympathetic part as the slick, cynical gambler J. J. Sefton (the coveted motion picture role was eventually assigned to William Holden and won the star an Academy Award).
Between 1954 and 1955, Ericson was under contract at MGM and made for four films for the studio: Rhapsody (1954) (opposite Elizabeth Taylor), Green Fire (1954) (co-starring Grace Kelly who had been in his class at the Academy) and the seminal Spencer Tracy western Bad Day at Black Rock (1955) (as a nervy hotel clerk). During the next three decades, he worked as a free-lance actor, his wavy-haired good looks and athletic build not lost on the industry. He co-starred with Anne Francis in Honey West (1965), a short-lived series -- apparently modelled on The Avengers (1961) -- which featured a crime-solving, judo savvy lady detective (even wearing Diana Rigg-style jumpsuits) and her right hand man. The show only lasted for 30 episodes but has since gained a minor cult following.
Ericson's frequent TV guest appearances included Rawhide (1959), Burke's Law (1963), Bonanza (1959), The Invaders (1967) and The F.B.I. (1965). For the big screen, he starred in several James Bond pastiches and spaghetti westerns, produced in Italy and Spain. In the U.S., he had leads in thrillers (The Money Jungle (1967) ), westerns (notably, The Return of Jack Slade (1955) and the High Noon (1952)-lookalike Day of the Bad Man (1958) ) and science fiction B-graders (The Destructors (1968) and Dan Duryea's last film, The Bamboo Saucer (1968)). He also starred as the titular 1930s depression-era gangster in Pretty Boy Floyd (1960). On the stage, he played King Arthur to Kathryn Grayson's Guinevere in a 1967 production of the musical Camelot. A reviewer commented that what Ericson lacked in the vocal department he more than made up for by a 'masterful performance'. His dramatic theatrical credits included Richard III, Mr. Roberts and A Streetcar Named Desire.
In his spare time, John Ericson sidelined as a painter of landscapes and still life, a sculptor and a keen amateur photographer. Until his death on May 3 2020, he resided in New Mexico with his second wife Karen Huston whom he married in 1974. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. - Jorge Martínez de Hoyos was born on 25 September 1920 in Mexico City, Mexico. He was an actor and writer, known for The Magnificent Seven (1960), Lonesome Dove (1989) and Cronos (1992). He was married to Alicia Caro. He died on 6 May 1997 in Mexico City, Mexico.
- Actor
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- Soundtrack
Armed with a Burt Reynolds-like laid-back grin, virility and swagger, handsome soap actor Josh Taylor was first noticed tending bar near the popular Burbank Studios, where Days of Our Lives (1965) was being cast. He won the role of working-class "Chris Kositchek" (a bartender, natch) and, for four seasons, won the hearts of many a lady fan, from 1977-1981, returning to the role again in 1982 for another five years.
Born Tommy Tim Taylor in Princeton, Illinois. When he was two-years-old, his family moved to nearby Chillicothe, Illinois. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth University. Despite his good-ol'-boy reputation, he managed to buckle down and holds a Juris Doctorate in Law. Following his daytime fame in the mid-80s, Josh was successful in crossing over to prime-time TV with the sitcom, Valerie (1986), as series star Valerie Harper's husband, "Michael Hogan". In 1988, squabbles between the title star and the network led to Harper's abrupt dismissal. Instead of the expected cancellation, a surprise change showed up in the form of Sandy Duncan, who came to the rescue as Valerie's sister and household help, changing the name of the show to "The Hogan Family" (1988). The program went on for another three seasons.
Brief forays into mini-movies and episodics (Murder, She Wrote (1984) and Matlock (1986)) and a recurring role as Luke Perry's ne'er-do-well father on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) failed to keep up a steady pace, so Josh returned to the daytime fold in the mid-1990s with brief stints on The Young and the Restless (1973) and Guiding Light (1952). In 1997, he came home to NBC and "Days..." as "Roman Brady" this time, and stayed with the show until 2004 when his character (and many others in a studio cost-cutting measure) fell victim to a serial killer. Later, it was discovered his character managed to survive after all. Josh continues to live a "nine lives" cat-like existence on the show while playing out an attention-getting love triangle with stars Deidre Hall and Drake Hogestyn. Divorced from film action bombshell Sandahl Bergman of Red Sonja (1985) fame, Josh remarried and lives with wife, Lisa, in Burbank. He has a daughter, Tristen, from his first marriage.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Born in India to South African parents, Juliet studied to be a dancer from the age of 4. Attending the Royal Academy of Dance, by the time Juliet was 14, she was deemed too tall to enter the world of ballet. She signed as a chorus dancer with the London Palladium and then pursued a career as a dancer in European nightclubs. While dancing in Paris, she was spotted by Hollywood choreographer Hermes Pan and signed to a role in the movie Can-Can (1960). While rehearsing for the movie, Soviet Premier Khrushchev was invited to watch the then-unknown Prowse and others rehearsing their steps. The next day, he denounced the dance as immoral and it was Prowse's photo that accompanied the news across newspapers worldwide. An instant celebrity, Juliet shot to stardom with her acting and dancing and the tabloids filled with her romance with star Frank Sinatra. That same year, she also appeared with Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues (1960) and again the tabloids followed her.
She appeared in more films the next year but, as her celebrity status waned, so did her movie career. Her engagement to Sinatra in 1962 fueled her nightclub act, but did nothing for her movie career. In 1965, she moved to television with the series Mona McCluskey (1965), playing a nutty Hollywood starlet, but the show soon ended. Her big-screen career ended with Run for Your Wife (1965) and she, thereafter, appeared on the stage and on the nightclub circuit. Some of her stage shows included "Sweet Charity", "Kismet", "Irma La Douce", "Mame" and "The Pajama Game". She also appeared as a guest on Television but, most of the time, she worked in her nightclub act. In 1994, she was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.- Justo Oscar Laguna was born on 25 September 1929 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He died on 3 November 2011 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Music Artist
- Actress
- Composer
- Actress
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Keely Shaye Brosnan is an award-winning broadcast journalist turned award-winning documentary filmmaker. She has nurtured a diverse career covering a wide range of topics, from environmental journalism and animal advocacy to celebrity journalism and apprehending fugitives.
In 2016, Keely made her directorial debut with Poisoning Paradise, which opened at the Hawaii International Film Festival in Honolulu. To date, Poisoning Paradise has screened at 20 prestigious film festivals and won 11 awards (many for Best Documentary). In spring of 2018, Poisoning Paradise will screen in Geneva at the International Film Festival and Forum on Human Rights, the Irvine International Film Festival, the London International Filmmaker Festival, and the Manchester Film Festival, American Documentary Film Festival & Film Fund, Sonoma International Film Festival, among others. In January 2018 Poisoning Paradise screened at the Malibu International Film Festival and won both the Grand Prize and the Audience Choice Award.
Formerly an entertainment correspondent for NBC's weekend edition of the "Today Show," and CBS's "Entertainment Tonight," Keely has interviewed a myriad of A-list celebrities. Previously, Keely was a correspondent on NBC's "Unsolved Mysteries" and served as a correspondent for ABC's "Good Morning America" and ABC's "Home Show" which earned her two Genesis Awards, a Special Achievement Award at the Environmental Film Festival, and a nomination from the Environmental Media Association.
Keely hosted "Great Bears," a series for the Outdoor Life Network as well as E!'s "Coming Attractions" and HBO's "World Entertainment Report." As a producer, she created and hosted "Home Green Home" for PBS, an eco-friendly home and garden "how-to" series. Keely was a contributor to Los Angeles Confidential Magazine and is currently completing her first book, Gourmet Gardener.
A world traveler, Keely's interests have led her to report on everything from toxic waste and biodiversity to children's issues and organic gardening. She regularly volunteers her time and talent to numerous environmental causes such as marine mammal and wetland protection, anti-nuclear, clean air and clean water campaigns, endangered species and environmental educational in the classroom for grades K-12.
The Jane Goodall Institute, Environmental Hall of Fame, Natural Resources Defense Council, Oceana, Environmental Media Association, Earth Communications Office, Heal the Bay, Women in Film, In Defense of Animals, Senator Barbara Boxer, Peace Over Violence, Organic Style Magazine and The Malibu Times have all honored Keely for her ongoing commitment to the environment.
Native to California, Keely resides in Malibu and Hawaii with her husband, Pierce Brosnan, their 21 year-old son Dylan, and 17 year-old son Paris.- Actor
- Soundtrack
As Rusty, the boy whose parents were killed by Native Americans, and who was subsequently adopted by a cavalry unit at Fort Apache on the popular adventure The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954), tyke actor Lee Aaker left a lasting mark in the early days of television, but he had in fact appeared in several major films prior to this series.
He was born on September 25, 1943, in Los Angeles, where his mother owned a dance studio. On TV almost from infancy, he started appearing in unbilled film bits at the age of eight in such classics as The Greatest Show on Earth (1952) and High Noon (1952). He quickly moved to featured status before year's end. He showed promise as the kidnapped Indian "Red Chief" in a segment of the film O. Henry's Full House (1952) and another kidnap victim as the son of scientist Gene Barry in _Atomic City (1952)_. From there he co-starred in the John Wayne western classic Hondo (1953) as the inquisitive blond son of homesteader Geraldine Page, and appeared to good advantage in other movies such as the film noir thriller Jeopardy (1953) with Barbara Stanwyck, the opera drama Arena (1953) with Gig Young and the comedies Mister Scoutmaster (1953) with Clifton Webb and Ricochet Romance (1954) with Marjorie Main.
Stardom, however, was assured after nabbing the role of the famous dog's young master on the "Rin Tin Tin" series. After the show's demise, however, Aaker did not make the transition into adult roles. He instead moved into the production end of the business, serving as an assistant to producer Herbert B. Leonard on the Route 66 (1960) series, then later dropped out altogether to become a carpenter. He still attended nostalgia conventions and was a "Kids of the West" honoree at the 2005 Golden Boot Awards.- Lee Norris was born on 25 September 1981 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. He is an actor, known for Zodiac (2007), Gone Girl (2014) and One Tree Hill (2003). He has been married to Andrea Norris since 10 September 2011.
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Although Lily Mariye is a DGA Award nominee for "Just Add Magic," she may be best known for her role as Nurse Lily Jarvik on ER (1994) for its entire 15 season run. An award-winning actress/dancer/singer, she was discovered by agent Joan Scott in the LA stage production of Elizabeth Swados musical, Runaways. Now a successful TV and film director, she directed "The Walking Dead," "The Good Fight," "The Terror: Infamy," "Prodigal Son," "Council Of Dads," "Stumptown," "NCIS: Los Angeles," "Chicago PD," "Criminal Minds," "Nashville," and "Partner Track" after her feature film debut, "Model Minority." She is active at the DGA, appointed by President Tommy Schlamme to the DGA PAC Leadership Council and the Special Projects Committee, as well as being elected twice as Co-chair of the DGA Asian American Committee. Born in Las Vegas, Nevada, she has a BA in Theatre from UCLA. She is married to Grammy-nominated Concord Recording artist, Boney James.- Lovely, buxom, and vivacious blonde bombshell Louisa Moritz was born as Luisa Cira Castro Netto on September 25, 1936 in Havana, Cuba. Many members of Louisa's family which include her father Luis, sister Aurora, and her older brother Rafael all worked in the law profession. Moritz left Cuba and moved to New York City during the upheaval of the 1950s. Louisa was inspired to change her last name from Castro to Moritz after seeing the St. Moritz Hotel in New York City. She arrived in NYC in July 1960, aged 23.
She began her acting career in TV commercials in the late 1960s. She made her debut in a TV commercial for Ultra-Ban spray deodorant and won both a Clio Award and an Andy Award for her work as a student driver in a TV commercial for American Motors. Louisa made her film debut in the lead role of young prostitute Carmela in The Man from O.R.G.Y. (1970). Perhaps best known to general audiences as the hooker Rose in the Oscar-winning classic One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), her most memorable roles included Sylvester Stallone's airhead navigator Myra in the cult science fiction black comedy Death Race 2000 (1975), cheery prostitute Flora in the delightful Sixpack Annie (1975), Officer Gloria Whitey in Up in Smoke (1978), hilarious as the aggressively lascivious Carmela in the uproariously raunchy teen comedy hoot The Last American Virgin (1982), and ditsy kleptomaniac Bubbles in the terrifically trashy babes-behind-bars treat Chained Heat (1983). Among the television programs Moritz appeared on are The Leslie Uggams Show (1969), The Joe Namath Show (1969), Love, American Style (1969), Ironside (1967), Happy Days (1974), M*A*S*H (1972), Chico and the Man (1974), The Rockford Files (1974), The Incredible Hulk (1978) and The Associates (1979).
Outside of acting, Moritz sold real estate, sung a song she specifically wrote about host Jay Leno on "The Tonight Show," and bought a hotel in Beverly Hills which she renamed the Beverly Hills St. Moritz. Although often cast as the generic dumb blonde in many films and TV shows (a part which she always played with great spirit and infectiously sweet good humor), Moritz in real life was the total radical opposite of this particular persona: She not only made the Deans List while studying for her law degree at the University of West Los Angeles, but won the American Jurisprudence Bancroft Whitney Prize for Contracts as well. She went on to become a lawyer in southern California, but was eventually disbarred for failing to provide certain quarterly reports. Louisa Moritz died at age 82 from cardiovascular disease on January 4, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. - Actress
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Maria Doyle Kennedy was born on 25 September 1964 in Clontarf, Dublin, Ireland. She is an actress and director, known for The Tudors (2007), The Commitments (1991) and Orphan Black (2013). She has been married to Kieran Kennedy since 11 June 1988. They have four children.- Actor
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Mark You-Ting Chao was born on 25 September 1984 in Taipei, Taiwan. He is an actor, known for Monga (2010), The Yin-Yang Master: Dream of Eternity (2020) and Chronicles of the Ghostly Tribe (2015). He has been married to Yuanyuan Gao since 5 June 2014. They have one child.- Actor
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Mark Hamill is best known for his portrayal of Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy - Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983) - a role he reprised in Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015), Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) and Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker (2019). He also starred and co-starred in the films Corvette Summer (1978), The Big Red One (1980), and Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014). Hamill's extensive voice acting work includes a long-standing role as the Joker, commencing with Batman: The Animated Series (1992).
Hamill was born in Oakland, California, to Virginia Suzanne (Johnson) and William Thomas Hamill, a captain in the United States Navy. He majored in drama at Los Angeles City College and made his acting debut on The Bill Cosby Show (1969). He then played a recurring role (Kent Murray) on the soap opera General Hospital (1963) and co-starred on the comedy series The Texas Wheelers (1974).
Released on May 25, 1977, Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) was an enormous unexpected success and made a huge impact on the film industry. Hamill also appeared in The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) and later starred in the successful sequels Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). For both of the sequels, Hamill was honored with the Saturn Award for Best Actor given by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films. He reprised the role of Luke Skywalker for the radio dramatizations of both "Star Wars" (1981) and "The Empire Strikes Back" (1983), and then in a starring role in Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017). For the radio dramatization of "Return of the Jedi" (1996), the role was played by a different actor.
He voiced the new Chucky in Child's Play (2019), taking over from Brad Dourif.- Producer
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Emmy winning actor-producer Matt Battaglia was born in Tallahassee, Florida, the youngest of four children. He spent much of his life growing up in the suburbs of Atlanta, Georgia. He attended the University of Louisville, where he was an All-American middle linebacker who led the nation in tackles his junior & senior years, totaling 153 & 166 tackles, averaging a collegiate high of 15 tackles per game, 2 years back to back. He played in the NFL with the Philadelphia Eagles.
As an actor, Battaglia has been credited in over 100 films and television programs. He won two Emmy Awards in 2011 for producing Last Shot with Judge Gunn (2011) and co-producing the Golden Globe-nominated film Brothers (2009). He founded The Mint Jubilee, a charity event at the Kentucky Derby which has raised millions of dollars for cancer patients. He created this event in memory of his mother who died of cancer.- Actress
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Born in Rome in 1975, Maya Sansa is of Italian and Iranian descent. According to her interview (Io Donna magazine), Maya met her father for the first time when she was 15; until then, she had been living in Rome with her mother. As a teenager she moved to London, where she lived for many years until graduating from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London in 1999. She made her film debut that same year in The Nanny (1999), a role that won her an Italian Golden Globe award (Globo d'oro) for Best Breakthrough Actress and a Golden Ciak award (Ciak d'oro) for Best Supporting Actress.- Born and raised in New York City by Panamanian parents, Melissa De Sousa attended the renowned High School of Performing Arts as a ballet major, and began her career as a principle dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Company before transitioning into acting.
Melissa is best known for her performance as the infamous "Shelby" in the Universal Studio franchise The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday starring opposite Terrence Howard, for which she earned an NAACP Image Award nomination. Currently recurring as "Alex Rivera" in Our Kind Of People on FOX , and recently as "Chief Ana Lopez" on the CW's Black Lightning. Melissa also had a standout role as the pill popping journalist "Mirta Herrera" on Showtime's On Becoming A God In Central Florida opposite Kirsten Dunst. She led the cult hit series Single Ladies for BET Networks where she played Austin Aguilera, described as the Latin Kim Kardashian. A sexy, single socialite turned club owner, who liked to party.
De Sousa also starred opposite Matthew Perry in the TNT original presentation of The Ron Clark Story, which garnered an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Made For Television Movie. Other film work includes Lisa Cholodenko's Laurel Canyon with Frances McDormand, Donald Petrie's Miss Congeniality opposite Sandra Bullock, and the indie hit Constellation alongside Zoe Saldana. Her television credits include series regular roles on Reed Between The Lines, Second Time Around, One on One, Darren Star's drama The $treet for FOX, Valley Of The Dolls, and Damon, with Damon Wayans produced by Carsey- Werner, also for FOX. Guest Star credits include Criminal Minds, Elementary, Shameless, and countless others. De Sousa currently resides in New York. - Mercedes Pascual was born on 25 September 1930 in Madrid, Spain. She was an actress, known for Muchachitas (1991), Novia que te vea (1994) and Tamara and the Ladybug (2016). She was married to Víctor Flores Olea and Claudio Brook. She died on 9 June 2019 in Mexico City, Mexico.
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A legendary actor with 50 celebrated years of film, television and producing experience, Michael Douglas is known for his era-defining roles and enduring cultural impact.
In addition to his career accomplishments, Douglas has remained a steadfast public servant, activist and philanthropist dedicated to peace and human welfare, democracy, gun control advocacy, support of the arts and support of nuclear disarmament. In 1998, former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appointed Douglas as a Messenger of Peace for his commitment on disarmament issues, including nuclear non-proliferation and halting the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons.
Since his earliest acting work on Hail, Hero! (1969) and The Streets of San Francisco (1972) Douglas has played some of the most memorable and enigmatic American anti-heroes of the last half century. He is most known for his iconic screen roles, like his Academy Award-winning turn as Gordon Gekko Wall Street (1987) as well as the critically and commercially acclaimed films Fatal Attraction (1987), The American President (1995), Basic Instinct (1992), Traffic (2000) and Romancing the Stone (1984). He is also a prolific producer with credits on politically relevant and socially influential motion pictures like One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), The China Syndrome (1979), Traffic (2000) the television series: The Kominsky Method (2018) and an upcoming limited series where Douglas portrays Benjamin Franklin (2024) during his nine years in France lobbying for French aid for the American Revolution.
With a passion for complex protagonists and darkly humorous undercurrents, Douglas has received numerous accolades for his work, including two Academy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, AFI Life Achievement Award, two French César Awards for Career Achievement and, most recently, the Palme d'or d'honneur for lifetime achievement at the 76th Annual Festival de Cannes as well as the Satyajit Ray Lifetime Achievement Award for Excellence in Cinema at the Goa Film Festival in India.
Michael Douglas was born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, to actors Diana Douglas (Diana Love Dill) and Kirk Douglas (born Issur Danielovitch). His paternal grandparents were Belarusian Jewish immigrants, while his mother was born in Bermuda, the daughter of a local Attorney General, Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Melville Dill; Diana's family had long been established in both Bermuda and the United States. Douglas's parents divorced when he was six, and he went to live with his mother and her new husband. Only seeing Kirk on holidays, Michael attended Eaglebrook School in Deerfield, Massachusetts, where he was about a year younger than all of his classmates.
Douglas attended the elite preparatory Choate School and spent his summers with his father on movie sets. Although accepted at Yale, Douglas attended the University of California, Santa Barbara. Deciding he wanted to be an actor in his teenage years, Michael often asked his father about getting a "foot in the door" Kirk was strongly opposed to Michael pursuing an acting career, saying that it was an industry with many downs and few ups, and that he wanted all four of his sons to stay out of it. Michael, however, was persistent, and made his film debut in his father's film Cast a Giant Shadow (1966).
After receiving his B.A. degree in 1968, Douglas moved to New York City to continue his dramatic training, studying at the American Place Theatre with Wynn Handman, and at the Neighborhood Playhouse, where he appeared in workshop productions of Pirandello's Six Characters in Search of an Author (1976) and Thornton Wilder's Happy Journey (1963). A few months after he arrived in New York, Douglas got his first big break, when he was cast in the pivotal role of the free-spirited scientist who compromises his liberal views to accept a lucrative job with a high-tech chemical corporation in the CBS Playhouse production of Ellen M. Violett's drama, The Experiment, which was televised nationwide on February 25, 1969.
Douglas' convincing portrayal won him the leading role in the adaptation of John Weston's controversial novel, Hail, Hero! (1969), which was the initial project of CBS's newly organized theatrical film production company, Cinema Center Films. Douglas starred as a well-meaning, almost saintly young pacifist determined not only to justify his beliefs to his conservative parents but also to test them under fire in the jungles of Indochina. His second feature, Adam at Six A.M. (1970) concerned a young man's search for his roots. Douglas next appeared in the film version of Ron Cowen's play Summertree (1971), produced by 'Kirk Douglas'' Bryna Company, and then Napoleon and Samantha (1972), a sentimental children's melodrama from the Walt Disney studio.
In between film assignments, he worked in summer stock and off-Broadway productions, among them "City Scenes," Frank Gagliano's surrealistic vignettes of contemporary life in New York, John Patrick Shanley's short-lived romance "Love is a Time of Day" and George Tabori's "Pinkville," in which he played a young innocent brutalized by his military training. He also appeared in the made-for-television thriller, "When Michael Calls," broadcast by ABC-TV on February 5, 1972 and in episodes of the popular series "Medical Center" and "The F.B.I."
Impressed by Douglas' performance in a segment of The F.B.I. (1965), producer 'Quinn Martin' signed the actor for the part of Karl Malden's sidekick in the police series "The Streets of San Francisco", which premiered in September 1972 and became one of ABC's highest-rated prime-time programs in the mid-1970s. Douglas earned three successive Emmy Award nominations for his performance and he directed two episodes of the series.
During the annual breaks in the shooting schedule for The Streets of San Francisco (1972), Douglas devoted most of his time to his film production company, Big Stick Productions, Ltd., which produced several short subjects in the early 1970s. Long interested in producing a film version of Ken Kesey's grimly humorous novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975), Douglas purchased the movie rights from his father and began looking for financial backing. After a number of major motion picture studios turned him down, Douglas formed a partnership with Saul Zaentz, a record industry executive, and the two set about recruiting the cast and crew. Douglas still had a year to go on his contract for "The Streets of San Francisco," but the producers agreed to write his character out of the story so that he could concentrate on filming "Cuckoo's Nest."
A critical and commercial success, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975) won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor and Best Actress, and went on to gross more than $180 million at the box office. Douglas suddenly found himself in demand as an independent producer. One of the many scripts submitted to him for consideration was Mike Gray's chilling account of the attempted cover-up of an accident at a nuclear power plant. Attracted by the combination of social relevance and suspense, Douglas immediately bought the property. Deemed not commercial by most investors, Douglas teamed up with Jane Fonda and her own motion picture production company, IPC Films.
A Michael Douglas-IPC Films co-production, The China Syndrome (1979) starred Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and Michael Douglas and received Academy Award nominations for Lemmon and Fonda, as well as for Best Screenplay. The National Board of Review named the film one of the best films of the year.
Despite his success as a producer, Douglas resumed his acting career in the late 1970s, starring in Michael Crichton's medical thriller Coma (1978) with Genevieve Bujold, Claudia Weill's feminist comedy It's My Turn (1980) starring Jill Clayburgh, and Peter Hyams' gripping tale of modern-day vigilante justice, "The Star Chamber" (1983). Douglas also starred in Running (1979), as a compulsive quitter who sacrifices everything to take one last shot at the Olympics, and as Zach the dictatorial director/choreographer in Richard Attenborough's screen version of the Broadway's longest running musical A Chorus Line (1985).
Douglas' career as an actor/producer came together again in 1984 with the release of the tongue-in-cheek romantic fantasy "Romancing the Stone." Douglas had begun developing the project several years earlier, and with Kathleen Turner as Joan Wilder, the dowdy writer of gothic romances, Danny DeVito as the feisty comic foil Ralphie and Douglas as Jack Colton, the reluctant soldier of fortune. "Romancing the Stone" was a resounding hit and grossed more than $100 million at the box office. Douglas was named Producer of the Year in 1984 by the National Association of Theater Owners. Douglas, Turner and DeVito teamed up in 1985 for the successful sequel The Jewel of the Nile (1985).
It took Douglas nearly two years to convince Columbia Pictures executives to approve the production of Starman (1984), an unlikely tale of romance between an extraterrestrial, played by Jeff Bridges, and a young widow, played by Karen Allen. Starman (1984) was the sleeper hit of the 1984 Christmas season and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Actor for Jeff Bridges. In 1986 Douglas created a television series based on the film for ABC which starred Robert Hays.
After a lengthy break from acting, Douglas returned to the screen in 1987 appearing in two of the year's biggest hits. He starred opposite Glenn Close in the phenomenally successful psychological thriller, "Fatal Attraction," which was followed by his performance as ruthless corporate raider Gordon Gekko in Oliver Stone's Wall Street (1987), earning him the Academy Award for Best Actor.
Douglas next starred in Ridley Scott's thriller Black Rain (1989) and then teamed up again with Kathleen Turner and Danny DeVito in the black comedy The War of the Roses (1989).
In 1988, Douglas formed Stonebridge Entertainment, Inc., which produced Flatliners (1990), directed by Joel Schumacher and starred Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon and William Baldwin and Radio Flyer (1992) starring Lorraine Bracco and directed by Richard Donner. Douglas followed with David Seltzer's adaptation of Susan Isaacs' best-selling novel, "Shining Through," opposite Melanie Griffith. In 1992 he starred with Sharon Stone in the erotic thriller from Paul Verhoeven Basic Instinct (1992), one of the year's top grossing films.
Douglas gave one of his most powerful performances opposite Robert Duvall in Joel Schumacher's controversial drama Falling Down (1993). That year he also produced the hit comedy "Made in America" starring Whoopi Goldberg, Ted Danson and Will Smith. In 1994-95 he starred with Demi Moore in Barry Levinson's "Disclosure," based on the best seller by Michael Crichton. In 1995, Douglas portrayed the title role in Rob Reiner's romantic comedy The American President (1995) opposite Annette Bening, and in 1997, starred in The Game (1997) directed by David Fincher and co-starring Sean Penn.
Douglas formed Douglas/Reuther Productions with partner Steven Reuther in May 1994. The company, under the banner of Constellation Films, produced The Ghost and the Darkness (1996), starring Douglas and Val Kilmer, and John Grisham's The Rainmaker (1997), based on John Grisham's best selling novel, directed by Francis Ford Coppola and starring Matt Damon,Claire Danes, Danny DeVito, Jon Voight, Mickey Rourke, Mary Kay Place, Virginia Madsen, Andrew Shue, Teresa Wright, Johnny Whitworth and Randy Travis.
Michael Douglas and Steve Reuther also produced John Woo's action thriller Face/Off (1997) starring John Travolta and Nicolas Cage, which proved to be one of '97's major hits.
In 1998, Michael Douglas starred with Gwyneth Paltrow and Viggo Mortensen in the mystery thriller A Perfect Murder (1998), and formed a new production company, Furthur Films. 2000 was a milestone year for Douglas. "Wonder Boys" opened in February 2000 to much critical acclaim. Directed by Curtis Hanson and co-starring Tobey Maguire, Frances McDormand, Robert Downey Jr. and Katie Holmes, Douglas starred in the film as troubled college professor Grady Tripp. Michael was nominated for a Golden Globe and a BAFTA Film Award for his performance.
"Traffic" was released by USA Films on December 22, 2000 in New York and Los Angeles and went nationwide in January 2001. Douglas played the role of Robert Wakefield, a newly appointed drug czar confronted by the drug war both at home and abroad. Directed by Steven Soderbergh and co-starring Don Cheadle, Benicio del Toro, Amy Irving, Dennis Quaid and Catherine Zeta-Jones, "Traffic" was named Best Picture by New York Film Critics, won Best Ensemble Cast at the SAG Awards, won four Academy Awards (Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actor for Benicio del Toro) and has been recognized on more than 175 top ten lists.
In 2001, Douglas produced and played a small role in USA Films' outrageous comedy "One Night at McCool's" starring Liv Tyler, Matt Dillon, John Goodman and Paul Reiser and directed by Harald Zwart. "McCool's" was the first film by Douglas' company Furthur Films. Also in 2001, Douglas starred in "Don't Say A Word" for 20th Century Fox. The psychological thriller, directed by Gary Fleder, also starred Sean Bean, Famke Janseen and Brittany Murphy.
In 2002, Douglas appeared in a guest role on the hit NBC comedy "Will & Grace," and received an Emmy Nomination for his performance.
Douglas starred in two films in 2003. MGM/BVI released the family drama "It Runs in the Family," which Douglas produced and starred with his father Kirk Douglas, his mother Diana Douglas his son Cameron Douglas, Rory Culkin and Bernadette Peters. He also starred in the Warner Bros. comedy "The-In Laws," with Albert Brooks, Candice Bergen and Ryan Reynolds.
In 2004, Douglas, along with his father Kirk, filmed the intimate HBO documentary "A Father, A Son... Once Upon a Time in Hollywood". Directed by award-winning filmmaker Lee Grant, the documentary examines the professional and personal lives of both men, and the impacts they each made on the motion picture industry.
In 2005, Douglas produced and starred in "The Sentinel", which was released by 20th Century Fox in April 2006. Based on the Gerald Petievich novel and directed by Clark Johnson, "The Sentinel" is a political thriller set in the intriguing world of the Secret Service. Douglas stars with Keifer Sutherland, Eva Longoria and Kim Bassinger. Douglas then filmed "You, Me & Dupree," starring with Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson and Matt Dillon. The comedy, directed by Anthony and Joe Russo, was released by Universal Pictures during the summer of 2006. In 2007 Douglas made "King of California," co-starring Evan Rachel Wood and is written and directed by Michael Cahill, and produced by Alexander Payne and Michael London.
Michael had two films released in early 2009, "Beyond A Reasonable Doubt" directed by Peter Hyams and "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" starring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner and directed by Mark Waters. He followed with the drama "Solitary Man" directed by Brian Koppelman and David Levien, co-starring Susan Sarandon, Danny DeVito, Mary Louise-Parker, and Jenna Fischer, produced by Paul Schiff and Steven Soderbergh. In 2010, Douglas reprised his Oscar-winning role as Gordon Gekko in "Wall Street 2: Money Never Sleeps," earning a Golden Globe for his performance. Again directed by Oliver Stone, he co-starred with Shia Labeouf, Cary Mulligan, Josh Brolin, Frank Langella and Susan Sarandon.
In 2011, Douglas had a cameo role in Steven Soderbergh's action thriller "Haywire."
"Behind the Candelabra," based on the life of '70's/80's musical icon Liberace and his partner Scott Thorson, directed by Steven Soderbergh and costarring Matt Damon, premiered on HBO in May 2013. Douglas won an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Actor in a television movie or mini series for his performance as the famed entertainer. He followed with the buddy comedy "Last Vegas," directed by John Turtletaub co-starring Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Kline and the romantic comedy "And So It Goes," co-starring Diane Keaton directed by Rob Reiner.
Douglas recently starred in and produced the thriller "Beyond The Reach," directed by Jean-Baptiste Leonetti and costarring Jeremy Irvine. He and portrayed Dr. Hank Pym in Marvel's Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018) and Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) opposite Paul Rudd. The franchise was his first venture into the realm of comic book action adventure.
In 2017, he starred in the spy thriller "Unlocked" starring with Noomi Rapace, Orlando Bloom, John Malkovich and directed by Michael Apted.
In 1998 Douglas was made a United Nations Messenger of Peace by Kofi Annan. His main concentrations are nuclear non-proliferation and the control of small arms. He is on the Board of Ploughshares Foundation and The Nuclear Threat Initiative.
Michael Douglas was recipient of the 2009 AFI Lifetime Achievement as well as the Producers Guild Award that year. In Spring '10 he received the New York Film Society's Charlie Chaplin Award.
Douglas has hosted 11 years of "Michael Douglas and Friends" Celebrity Golf Event which has raised over $6 million for the Motion Picture and Television Fund. Douglas is very passionate about the organization, and each year he asks his fellow actors and to come out and show that "we are an industry that takes care of own".
Douglas is married to Catherine Zeta-Jones. The couple has one son, Dylan, and one daughter, Carys. Douglas also has one son, Cameron, from a previous marriage.- Actor
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Michael Madsen is an enigmatic force in the entertainment industry, widely regarded as one of the most intense and compelling actors of our time. With an electrifying presence both on and off the screen, Madsen has captivated audiences worldwide with his mesmerizing performances, making an indelible mark on the realm of cinema. Known for his rugged charm and brooding charisma, Madsen has perfected the art of bringing complex characters to life, seamlessly transitioning between nuanced vulnerability and unbridled intensity. Michael Madsen continues to command attention and leave an indelible impact on the industry.
Born with an innate talent for acting, Madsen's journey in the entertainment industry has been nothing short of extraordinary. His powerful performances have earned him critical acclaim and a dedicated fan base, cementing his status as a true Hollywood icon. Madsen's distinctive ability to effortlessly portray characters with a captivating blend of sensitivity and grit has led to collaborations with renowned directors and fellow actors, garnering him numerous accolades and nominations. His unparalleled versatility has allowed him to effortlessly navigate between genres, delivering unforgettable performances in films such as "Kill Bill: Vol. 1," "Thelma & Louise," and "Donnie Brasco," among others.
Beyond his remarkable acting career, Michael Madsen's multifaceted talents extend to other creative endeavors. An accomplished poet, he has published several volumes of poetry, revealing a profound depth and introspection that mirrors the complexity of his on-screen persona. With an unparalleled body of work and an undying passion for his craft, Michael Madsen remains an indomitable force, continuously pushing the boundaries of cinematic storytelling and leaving an indelible mark on the entertainment landscape.- Midori Kiuchi was born on 25 September 1950 in Nagoya, Japan. She was an actress, known for Shiosai (1971), Boku no mahô tsukai (2003) and Crying Out Love in the Center of the World (2004). She was married to Seiichi Mizuno. She died on 18 November 2019 in Japan.
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Mikael was born in Jakobsberg, Stockholm, Sweden on September 25th 1963. His interest in acting started at an early age when working as an extra in Ingmar Bergman's staging of William Shakespeare's "King Lear."
In the 1990s, Mikael starred in the immensely popular Swedish TV series, "Rederiet" ("The Shipping Company.") which led to other roles in various TV productions. But it wasn't until 1997 when Persbrandt starred as the tough detective, Gunvald Larsson, he got his major break-through. "Beck" was not only a major hit in Sweden but in Germany as well - and (as of 2022) consists of 46 theatrical and television movies based on the characters created by authors Maj Sjöwall and Per Wahlöo.
In 2005, Mikael received the highly coveted Ingmar Bergman award from the Guldbagge Awards and in 2006 he earned nominations for Best Actor from both the Bodil (Denmark) and Guldbagge Awards for his performance in Simon Staho's "Bang Bang Orangutang." He also starred in Staho's "Day and Night," which won the Chicago International Film Festival's Silver Hugo Award for Best Ensemble Acting. Further he starred in IFC Films' "Everlasting Moments," for which he earned the 2009 Guldbagge Award for Best Actor. Mikael's other work includes leading roles in the Swedish films "The Hypnotist", "Hamilton - In the Interest of the Nation" , "Någon annanstans i Sverige" (for which he received a 2011 Guldbagge nomination), "Stockholm East," and "Day and Night. He earned another Guldbagge Award in 2014 for Best Actor in Kjell-Åke Andersson's "Nobody Owns Me".
Mikael Persbrandt became internationally known for his leading role in the Academy Award winning foreign feature, "In A Better World," directed by Susanne Bier. His performance earned him a 2011 European Film Award nomination for Best Actor. Some of his other international work includes the final installment of Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: The Battle of Five Armies, the drama "Someone You Love," which took home the Audience Award for Best International Film at the Los Angeles Film Festival and the critically acclaimed feature "The Salvation," Some of his more recent roles involves the Netflix success "Sex Education" and "The Kingdom Exodus" directed by Lars von Trier, for which he has received the 2023 Robert Award nomination for Best leading male actor in a TV series.
Mikael also has an extended theatre background with Swedish productions such as "Three Sisters" and "Death of a Salesman" at the Plaza Theatre, "Mr. Puntila and His Man Matti," "The Good Person of Szechwan" and "Long Day's Journey Into Night" at the Royal Dramatic Theatre. Among his other appearances at the Royal Dramatic Theatre mention can be made of "Maria Stuart" (directed by Ingmar Bergman,) "Don Juan," "The Wild Duck," "Miss Julie" and recently "The Sea Gull." In 2012 Mikael became the owner of the private theatre Maximteatern in Stockholm where he also has participated in several successful plays such as August Strindberg's "The Dance of Death", Shakespeare's "MacBeth" and the latest critically acclaimed play "Så enkel är kärleken" by Lars Norén in 2022.- Actress
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Best known to television viewers as a series regular on two Chuck Lorre hit comedies: "Dharma & Greg" (5 seasons) and "Mom" (8 seasons). She garnered a Critics Choice Award nomination for Best Guest Performer in a Comedy Series for her portrayal of Marjorie in Season 1 of "Mom" before becoming a series regular in Season 2.
Born in Rochester, N.Y., Kennedy ignited her acting career on stage opposite TV legend Sid Caesar in Neil Simon's "Last Of The Red Hot Lovers," along with Doris Roberts, who became a friend and mentor. As one of the principal stars of "3 Girls 3," a musical-variety mini-series co-starring Debbie Allen and Ellen Foley, she played opposite Bob Hope, Carl Reiner, Tony Curtis, Flip Wilson, and Steve Martin (in his prime-time TV debut). Regular TV series roles followed including, as Stockard Channing's sister In "Just Friends" and co-starring with Peter Cook in "The Two of Us." As Queen-B Ruth Sloan on "Homefront," Kennedy netted another American Television Critics nomination, this time as Best Supporting Actress in a Drama. She recurred as CIA Director and House Minority Leader in HBO's "The Brink" and "Veep," respectively.
Her most notable films include "In the Loop," "Midnight in Paris," "Pump Up the Volume," "Erin Brockovich," "Man in the Chair," and "The Five-Year Engagement." 2021 releases include the Tony Hale comedy "Eat Wheaties!" and the feel-good film "Saving Paradise."
Her memoir "Taken To The Stage" was praised for addressing the moral and psychological challenges of an acting career. She is updating it for paperback and Audible release.- Mitzi Hoag was born on 25 September 1932 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for My Three Sons (1960), Devil's Angels (1967) and The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981). She was married to John David Beggs and Stephen Abel Wolfson. She died on 26 February 2019 in Sherman Oaks, California, USA.
- Nicole Fugere was born on 25 September 1986 in Milwaukie, Oregon, USA. She is an actress, known for The New Addams Family (1998), Things I Never Told You (1996) and Addams Family Reunion (1998).
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Oscar Blotta is known for Úpa en apuros (1942).- Writer
- Director
- Producer
The most internationally acclaimed Spanish filmmaker since Luis Buñuel was born in a small town (Calzada de Calatrava) in the impoverished Spanish region of La Mancha. He arrived in Madrid in 1968, and survived by selling used items in the flea-market called El Rastro. Almodóvar couldn't study filmmaking because he didn't have the money to afford it. Besides, the filmmaking schools were closed in early 70s by Franco's government. Instead, he found a job in the Spanish phone company and saved his salary to buy a Super 8 camera. From 1972 to 1978, he devoted himself to make short films with the help of of his friends. The "premieres" of those early films were famous in the rapidly growing world of the Spanish counter-culture. In few years, Almodóvar became a star of "La Movida", the pop cultural movement of late 70s Madrid. His first feature film, Pepi, Luci, Bom and Other Girls Like Mom (1980), was made in 16 mm and blown-up to 35 mm for public release. In 1987, he and his brother Agustín Almodóvar established their own production company: El Deseo, S. A. The "Almodóvar phenomenon" has reached all over the world, making his films very popular in many countries.- Actor
- Writer
Pepe Soriano was born on 25 September 1929 in Buenos Aires, Federal District, Argentina. He was an actor and writer, known for Espérame en el cielo (1988), Nocturna: Side A - The Great Old Man's Night (2021) and El último tren (2002). He died on 13 September 2023.