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- A native Californian of Swedish descent, Sigrid Valdis (the professional stage name of Patricia Annette Olson) was raised in the Westwood and Brentwood neighborhoods of Los Angeles, and attended exclusive private schools, including Marymount High School. Upon graduation, she moved to Europe, then to New York City to continue the modeling career she had begun as a teenager. While working as a designer's showroom and runway model, she met and married a businessman in the fashion industry.
After the birth of her first child, Melissa, she began studying at Stella Adler's Theatre School while working on her first feature film. Her natural talent and on-screen demeanor were impressive, and she found herself back in California in 1964 in pursuit of a promising acting career. Over the next 18 months, she would accumulate an impressive list of credits and on-camera time: Her first film, Two Tickets to Paris (1962) starring Joey Dee of "Peppermint Twist" fame, was followed by big screen roles in Marriage on the Rocks (1965) (alongside Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin), Our Man Flint (1966) (starring James Coburn and Lee J. Cobb), and The Venetian Affair (1966) (with Robert Vaughn).
The exposure of appearing in films brought her a plethora of work in television and opportunities to work with TV legends such as Phil Silvers, Steve Allen, Red Skelton and Sid Caesar. She shared the small screen with the likes of Allan Sherman, Dennis Hopper, Henry Silva, Robert Conrad and Ross Martin. Her numerous credits include Kraft Mystery Theater (1961), Arrest and Trial (1963), and The Wild Wild West (1965).
She also performed on stage, most notably during the summer of 1968 when, with Bob Crane and Edward H. Feldman, she starred in a touring production of the comedy "Cactus Flower". In addition to the exposure and the opportunity to work with Hollywood's biggest names, she was becoming recognized for her ability to perform effectively in various types of roles in multiple genres and settings. She succeeded in movies and television, comedy and drama, commercials, sitcoms and skits, and was equally successful in lead and supporting roles. She was widowed in 1967, just a short time after she had begun to gain exposure on a weekly network television show.
Valdis caught the eye of Hogan's Heroes (1965) producer Edward H. Feldman in 1965, leading to her guest appearance as Gretchen in Episode 10. When the second season began, Feldman brought her under contract as a regular cast member, playing the role of Hilda, Col. Klink's secretary. On October 16, 1970, Sigrid and Crane were married on the set of the show. At that time, theirs was the first reported "actual" marriage to be performed on a sound stage. A year later they had a son, Robert Scott Crane. Sigrid retired from acting following Scott's birth so that she could devote herself to her husband and family.
Although the Cranes were separated during part of 1977, they reconciled in 1978. However, Sigrid met with tragedy again a few months later when Crane was murdered. Amid this turmoil and fear, she moved from the Los Angeles area to protect her family from the constant media scrutiny invited by the case. - Lorrie Richards was born on 23 October 1939 in Seattle, Washington, USA. She was an actress, known for Thriller (1960), Sea Hunt (1958) and Trauma (1962). She was married to Richard Anthony Tropea and Phillip Erwin Niemeyer. She died on 15 September 2001 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Danny Lockin was born in Hawaii in 1943, and was raised in Omaha, Nebraska. He was an exceptional dancer who started dancing professionally at age eight. He appeared in the film Gypsy (1962) as Gerry. He appeared on Broadway in the 1964 revival of "West Side Story", and in other shows such as "The Sound of Music", "The Music Man" and "Take Me Along". He played the prominent supporting role of Barnaby in a touring stage production of producer David Merrick's Broadway smash "Hello, Dolly!" and soon caught the eye of Gene Kelly, who cast him in the film version in December 1967. After completion of filming on Hello, Dolly! (1969), Danny played the role of Barnaby on the Broadway stage with Ethel Merman starring in the lead. He recorded a record album, and for several years in the 1970s, taught dance at his mother's studio in Orange County, California. The life of this wonderful and multi-talented man was tragically cut short when he was brutally murdered in 1977.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
He was born Lancelot Victor Edward Pinard, to well-to-do Anglophile parents in Trinidad. Oddly though, it wasn't until schooling took him to New York City in 1940 that he discovered a love of calypso music. In a profession where successful artists commonly took names like King Radio or Lord Invader, it was natural for someone named Lancelot to choose the stage name Sir Lancelot, and with that name he wrote and performed calypso (with some acting on the side) for movies, live theater, and radio beginning in the 1940's.- Armand Jones was born on 20 August 1987 in Carson, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Freedom Writers (2007). He died on 17 March 2006 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Defensive left end for the L.A. Rams. Member of the "Fearsome Foursome" [Jones, Lamar Lundy, Merlin Olsen and Roosevelt Grier]. Specialized in 'sacking' the quarterback. Has been given credit for originating that term. Inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame. Has guest-starred on several TV series during the 1970s.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jan Duggan was born on 6 November 1881 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She was an actress, known for The Old Fashioned Way (1934), Wagon Wheels (1934) and Midnight Intruder (1938). She died on 10 March 1977 in Anaheim, California, USA.- Animation Department
- Art Department
Ken Southworth was born on 22 September 1918 in Farnworth, Lancashire, England, UK. He is known for The Cat Returns (2002), Jonny Quest (1964) and The Atom Ant Show (1965). He died on 6 December 2007 in Anaheim, California, USA.- Arnold Herzstein was born on 30 November 1906 in New York, USA. He was an actor, known for California Split (1974) and Americana (1981). He was married to Melrose Moore. He died on 10 June 1981 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Actor
Owen Song was born on 19 October 1907 in Hawaii, USA. He was an actor. He died on 10 January 1999 in Anaheim, California, USA.- Jack Lindquist was born on 15 March 1927 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Career (1939), Every Sunday (1936) and Glove Taps (1937). He was married to Isabelle. He died on 28 February 2016 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Sheila Brown was born on 29 June 1929 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Three Men in a Tub (1938) and Melodies Old and New (1942). She was married to George Robert Woolsey. She died on 3 November 2017 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Ferdinand Waldo Demara, more popularly known as Fred W. Demara was a colorful and very intelligent person who assumed the identities of others in order to shortcut through life and place himself in various positions or careers. Amongst others, over time, he was a Canadian Navy Surgeon, civil engineer designing a bridge, a sheriff's deputy, an assistant prison warden, a doctor of applied psychology, a hospital orderly, a lawyer, a child-care expert, a Benedictine monk, a Trappist monk, an editor, a cancer researcher, and a teacher - and at the end of his life a hospital chaplain in his own name.
Articles appeared about him in Time Magazine and Life magazine and other newspapers and publications. Robert Crichton wrote two books about him, one of which "The Great Imposter" 1959 was developed into a movie with Demara played by Tony Curtis - although the story became fictionally embellished around Curtis. This notoriety got Demara one acting role in the movie "The Hypnotic Eye". While he was a convincing actor in real life he did poorly on film.
In one of his "careers" he actually made news as a successful navy surgeon saving 13 soldiers, the publicity of which became his undoing by exposing his impersonation. In another career in 1951 he founded LaMennais College in Alfred Maine which continued to exist 8 years past his departure until 1959 when it became the current Walsh University in Canton Ohio.
[Editing Note: Demara did NOT write a book entitled "The Great Pretender" but rather the 1970's TV Series was inspired by Demara's impostor life. - Betty Roadman was born on 5 December 1889 in Fulton, Missouri, USA. She was an actress, known for The Man Who Came to Dinner (1941), It's All in Your Mind (1938) and The Headleys at Home (1938). She died on 24 March 1975 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- James Alan Neal died on 22 July 2020 in Anaheim Global Medical Center, Anaheim, California, USA.
- Walter Adrian was born on 2 September 1941. He was an actor, known for Thirteen Days (2000), Starship Troopers (1997) and Soviet Strike (1996). He died on 18 February 2004 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Tom Morgan was born on 20 May 1930 in El Monte, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Born Yesterday (1956), 1956 World Series (1956) and Martin Kane (1949). He died on 13 January 1987 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Dodo Newton was born on 26 July 1908 in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. She was an actress, known for Soul Mates (1916), A Dream or Two Ago (1916) and Three Wise Crooks (1925). She died on 9 January 1974 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
Rodger Ward was a two-time Indianapolis 500 champion. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living winner of the Indy 500, having won in 1959 and 1962. Ward moved with his family to Los Angeles as a child. When he was 14, he built a Ford hot rod with parts from his father's junkyard business and began drag racing. A fighter and bomber pilot in World War II, Ward returned to Southern California after the war and began racing midgets. He passed his rookie test at Indianapolis in 1951. He considered quitting racing four years later, however, when his front axle snapped, triggering a crash that killed his close friend and two-time Indy 500 champion Bill Vukovich. But Vukovich's family convinced Ward to continue racing. During his career, Ward won 26 champ-car races and two U.S. Auto Club titles. His final victory was April 24, 1966, in Trenton, New Jersey.- Actor
- Stunts
Bill Chaney was born on 22 July 1921 in North Hollywood, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Badman's Gold (1951), The Lawless Rider (1954) and Block Busters (1944). He was married to Grace I. Pickerel. He died on 16 August 1975 in Anaheim, California, USA.- Dick Brandon was born on 30 March 1919 in Toledo, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Price She Paid (1924), Life's Greatest Game (1924) and The Fire Patrol (1924). He died on 13 November 2010 in Anaheim, California, USA.
- Mark Denis was born on 8 February 1941 in Glendale, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Highway to Heaven (1984), Hudson Street (1995) and Elvis (1979). He was married to Nancy Savant Melbourne. He died on 29 April 2000 in Anaheim Hills, California, USA.
- Writer
- Producer
- Production Manager
Samuel Freedman was born on 8 October 1906 in Peabody, Massachusetts, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for The Last Moment (1928), Sealed Lips (1931) and Stowaway (1932). He was married to Laura K. Johnson. He died on 14 June 1980 in Anaheim, California, USA.- Additional Crew
Lois Carl, a studio schoolteacher who tutored on Steven Spielberg sets and worked with kid actors such as Haley Joel Osment, Josh Hutcherson and David Arquette, tutored on the Francis Ford Coppola The Outsiders and on the Linda Bloodworth-Thomason sitcom Evening Shade. She taught on Robert Zemeckis' The Polar Express and on the features Pay It Forward (2000), Edges of the Lord (2001) and A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001) as well as on the TV series Walker: Texas Ranger, The Jeff Foxworthy Show and Murphy Brown. Spielberg films that included Minority Report (2002), Catch Me If You Can (2002) and The Terminal (2004).- John Reynolds Gardiner was born on 6 December 1944 in Los Angeles, California, USA. John Reynolds was a writer, known for Stone Fox (1987). John Reynolds was married to Gloria Gardiner. John Reynolds died on 4 March 2006 in Anaheim, California, USA.