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1-50 of 306
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
David Hemmings, one of the great English cinema icons of the 1960s, was born in Guildford, Surrey, on November 18, 1941, to a cookie merchant and his wife. He was educated at Glyn College, Epsom, but while still a child, Hemmings made his first forays into the world of entertainment. An accomplished singer, he toured as a boy soprano with the English Opera Group, famed for his performances of the works of Benjamin Britten. Britten, who befriended the youngster, wrote some roles specifically for Hemmings, including that of "Miles" in "The Turn of the Screw". Hemmings subsequently took up painting after his career as a soprano was ended by his transit through puberty. He studied painting at the Epsom School of Art, where he staged the first exhibition of his work at the school when he was 15 years old.
Hemmings made his film debut in 1954, with The Rainbow Jacket (1954) for Ealing Studios. He also had bit part in Otto Preminger's 1957 version of Saint Joan (1957). In his 20s, he returned to singing, appearing at nightclubs before concentrating on the stage and the cinema. As the youth culture hit Britain in the late 50s (the Notting Hill race riots of August 1958 limned in Julien Temple's 1986 film Absolute Beginners (1986) being a kind of bookmark signaling its arrival), Hemmings was in the right place at the right time to capitalize on his skills and looks. Boyish-looking, with large, protuberant blue eyes covered with heavy lids, his face was at once startling and decadent while simultaneously conveying an air of fragility. He starred in pop music movies Sing and Swing (1963) and Be My Guest (1965), as well as co-starring in one of Michael Winner's first films, The Girl-Getters (1964), with Oliver Reed.
The 24-year-old Hemmings desperately wanted what would become his career-defining role, as the morally jaded fashion photographer Thomas in master-director Michelangelo Antonioni's Blow-Up (1966). He was up against the crème of British actors, including Terence Stamp, who already had an Oscar nomination under his belt and was conventionally handsome.
Hemmings thought he had blown his audition as Antonioni shook his head constantly throughout his audition. However, he later found out the great director had a mild form of Tourette's which caused him to move his head from side to side.
The role made him a star and, for a while, a darling of the pop culture filmmaking that was expected to revolutionize the English-speaking cinema in the 1960s, after the 1964 Best Picture Oscar-win of Tony Richardson's Tom Jones (1963). He was cast as Mordred in the big-screen adaptation of Lerner & Lowe's musical Camelot (1967) with Richard Harris and Hemmings Blow-Up (1966) co-star Vanessa Redgrave to critically panned results. The same year that "Camelot" was released (1967), he put out a pop single ("Back Street Mirror") and an album, "David Hemmings Happens", recorded in Los Angeles. His album was produced by Jim Dickinson, the early producer of The Byrds, and featured instrumental backing by several members of group. It was re-released on CD in 2005.
In 1968, he appeared as Dildano opposite Jane Fonda (in her incarnation as a sexpot) in Roger Vadim's kitsch classic Barbarella (1968).
However, to reduce stereotyping and his identification with pop culture filmmaking, he took on the role of the anti-hero Captain Nolan in Tony Richardson's masterful satire The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968) and later, the eponymous role in Alfred the Great (1969). While both films were imbued with the counter-cultural attitudes of their times, the roles themselves were rather straightforward. Hemmings had reached the summit of his career as an actor. These were the heights he never reached again.
As the quality of his roles declined, Hemmings turned more to directing. He had directed his first film in 1972, helming the thriller Running Scared (1972) which starred Gayle Hunnicutt, his wife from 1968 to 1974. Hemmings also co-wrote the script. In the 1970s, he had relocated to Malibu, California to live with Hunnicutt, and the fabled beach community which was his home for the next generation. In 1975, he starred as Bertie Wooster in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, "Jeeves", one of Lord Webber's few flops.
Hemmings formed the independent production company Hemdale Corp. with his business partner, John Daly, in the early 1970s as a tax shelter. He was able to use Hemdale and his role as a producer to vivify his directing career. In 1979, Hemmings the director first attracted major attention with Just a Gigolo (1978), but the film was a flop in spite of its interesting cast. After directing the 1981 adventure film Treasure of the Yankee Zephyr (1981) and an adaptation of James Herbert's novel "The Survivor", he focused on TV directing. He soon became one of the top directors of American action TV programs, including The A-Team (1983), Airwolf (1984), Magnum, P.I. (1980) and Quantum Leap (1989).
However, in the nineties, he abandoned directing, and returned to live in the UK. The role of "Cassius" in Gladiator (2000) heralded his full-time return to acting. He was also memorable in a small role in Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York (2002). But it was his last major role, in the cinema adaption of Graham Swift's Last Orders (2001), that showed Hemmings at the top of his talent. Unrecognizable from the boy-man of 1966-70, he was memorable as the ex-boxer who ruefully remembers the past with his remaining buddies as they travel to throw the ashes of a departed friend into the sea. That two of the other major roles were filled by Michael Caine and Tom Courtenay, two other British actors whose careers first flourished in the 1960s, added to the poignancy of this tale of men trying to recapture lost time. He also appeared, less memorably, in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen (2003) opposite the ultimate 60s male British cinema icon, Sean Connery.
David Hemmings died of a heart attack on December 3, 2003, in Bucharest, Romania, on the set of Blessed (2004), after playing his scenes for the day. He was 62 years old. His autobiography, "Blow Up... and Other Exaggerations" was published in 2004.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Anthony (Tony), started as a club promoter in London in the early eighties and financed his first short 'rock-a-bye baby' by holding an event at Le'quipe Anglaise, where all the door money went to finance the film. In fact, when it was finished it was the clubs owner Shariffi who showed it to producer Micheal White (Rocky horror show) who was so impressed, he gave Tony a one way ticket to L.A.saying don't come back until you have made it. Tony didn't return for eight years.
in L.A. Tony famously met the producer of 'Waxwork', Staffan Ahrenberg, when he crashed into the back of his car in the motel they were both staying at on Fairfax. Tony, broke at the time, talked Staffan into letting him pay for the damage by writing him a script for $3000 only. Staffan agreed, but wouldn't pay a penny until it was delivered. Tony wrote it in three days. Waxwork.
The script then did the rounds getting turned down by every studio, until an independent, Vestron was the only one left. They turned it down two days before Christmas. it was over the vacation that their friend, producer Mark Burg (Saw), said he couldn't believe that Dan Ireland (the head of the studio) wouldn't have loved it. It turns out he hadn't read it, it never made it past the readers.
The first day after the vacation, Mark sent 'Waxwork' to Dan himself, the rest, as they say, is horror movie history.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Sergiu Nicolaescu was born on the 13th of April 1930, in Târgu Jiu, Gorj County, Romania. Nicolaescu, aka 'Steven Spielberg of the Romanian cinema', was a brilliant, self-taught technician and a master of popular entertainment who approached during his long career various genres with great success. In his childhood, he spent a lot of time and money at the cinema. He was inspired by the films and played "war" or "mystery" games with 30 fellow kids in the suburbs of his native town. His father was an engineer, who worked for former king Michael. Therefore, after the King's abdication in 1947, his father was arrested. After finishing high school, Nicolaescu was accepted by three colleges. He finally attended the Romanian Marine Corps. Nicolaescu entered the realm of cinema by chance. A friend offered him a job in the Bucharest Studios of that time. He didn't expect a career in directing, but his poetic short film The Memory of the Rose (1964) got a lot of attention at the 1962 Cannes International Film Festival. In 1967, his massive domestic success The Dacians (1966) became the first Romanian hit film in Western Europe. Subsequently, Nicolaescu was internationally appreciated as a film director of large scale period films. He had the privilege to work in France, Germany and other countries on several projects in the 1970s and 1980s. He directed Michael the Brave (1971) and Then I Sentenced Them All to Death (1972), two of the most successful and best Romanian epics. He also was responsible for such indigenous blockbusters as The Immortals (1974),Cu mâinile curate (1972),Noi, cei din linia întâi (1985) and Proud Heritage (1989). His only, but very popular, comedy Uncle Marin: The Billionaire (1979) sold a record 14.6 mill. tickets in Romania, more than any other film in communist Romania. After the Romanian Revolution in December 1989, Nicolaescu became a political figure, but continued to direct movies. Without the free assistance of the Romanian military, he couldn't produce epics as he did back in the Communist era. Oglinda (1994) and The Death Triangle (1999) were smaller in scale, but well-received at the box-office. While most of his epic films were only possible within the nationalist context of Communist Romania, they are still appreciated today by audiences as timeless, spectacular entertainments on a massive scale. One of his fans included director Steven Spielberg himself, who even included clips from a battle scene in "Mihai Viteazul" into E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982).- Actor
- Writer
Mircea Diaconu is a famous Romanian film and theater actor, writer and politician. He was born on December 24, 1949 in Vladesti, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1971. In 1972, he plays first role in the movie Adio, draga Nela. Other notable roles in Profetul, aurul si ardelenii (1978), Buletin de Bucuresti (1983), Asfalt Tango (1993). He plays on the stage of the theater ''Nottara'' in Bucharest. National Order "For Merit" in the rank of Officer. 1977 the prize for the debut of the Writers' Union. He is married with actress Diana Lupescu. They have 2 children, Ana and Victor.- Gheorghe Dinica is one of the greatest Romanian actors of all time. As a child he was passionate to go to movie theaters where he saw famous movie legends as Stan & Bran, Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Bette Davis, Bill Crosby and Chaplin. From the age of 17 until 23 he was a part of different amateur theater troupes and in 1957, at the age of 23, he entered at The National Institute of Art Theatre and Cinematography. He captured public attention in 1961, in his last play for the exam where he played Inspector Gool from the play with the same name. His most well-known movies are Mastodontul (1975), Through the Ashes of the Empire (1976), Revenge (1978), Why Are the Bells Ringing, Mitica? (1981), The Contest (1982), The Stone Cross (1993), The Earth's Most Beloved Son (1993), Philanthropy (2002), Taxi or Limousine (2003), Sweet swan of death (2003) and in 2004 there are few movie in production or ready to be released, such as Orient Express and Magnatul. The rich filmography together with a full and successful experience in theatre makes him a respectable actor with a lot of fans even amongst the young generation and serve as an example for actors of his generation but also for the young ones.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Lucian Pintilie was born on 9 November 1933 in Tarutino, Bessarabia, Romania [now Tarutyne, Odessa Oblast, Ukraine]. He was a director and writer, known for Next Stop Paradise (1998), Sunday at Six (1966) and The Oak (1992). He was married to Clody Bertola. He died on 16 May 2018 in Bucharest, Romania.- Dem Radulescu was a famous Romanian film and theater actor.He was born on September 21, 1931 in Ramnicu Valcea, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1954.In 1959, he plays first role in the movie Telegrame . Other notable roles in Brigada Diverse în alerta! (1971), Asta seara dansam în familie (1972), Grabeste-te încet (1981). Play on the stage of the theaters ''National I.L. Caragiale'' , ''Teatrul de Comedie '' and ''Bulandra'' in Bucharest.University professor at the National University of Theater and Cinematographic Art "I.L.Caragiale" in Bucharest.He was married with actress Paula Radulescu.and with the actress Adriana Schiopu, , with whom he has a daughter,actress Irina Radulescu.He died on September 17, 2000 in Telega, Romania.
- Toma Caragiu was one of the best Romanian actors, playing either comedy or drama, but having a special attraction to the comic movies. He tragically died during the earthquake in Bucharest in 1977, being trapped under the remains of the block of flats he lived in, which collapsed. His body was found days later. An unexpected death for the man who always succeeded to make the oppressed Romanians in Ceausescu's communist era laugh.
- Luminita Gheorghiu studied Ion Cojar's acting method under Ion Cojar himself at what is now called the National University of Theatre and Film from Bucharest. She had played in tens of movies and theatre shows since her graduation in 1972, but her real international breakthrough came with a role in the critically acclaimed The Death of Mr. Lazarescu (2005), for which she won the Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actress. For her performance in Child's Pose (2013), Luminita was nominated for Best Actress at the European Film Awards.
- Ion Caramitru was a famous Romanian film and theater actor and director. He was born on March 9th, 1942 in Bucharest, Romania. He graduated from 'Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography' in 1964.In 1964, he plays first role in the movie 'Comoara din Vadul Vechi'. Other notable roles in the films 'Stejar - extrema urgenta' (1974), 'Stefan Luchian' (1981) , 'Liceenii' (1986) . Played on the stage of the ''National Theater I.L. Caragiale'' in Bucharest. He has been president of UNITER since 1990 and since 2005 he has been the director of the National Theater in Bucharest. In 2007 he received National Order "Star of Romania" in the rank of Knight.He is married with actress Micaela Caracas. They had three children, Stefan, Andrei and Matei .
- Alexandru Puiu Calinescu was a Romanian film and theater comedy actor.He was born on June 21, 1920 in Bucharest, Romania. In 1955, he plays first role in the movie Directorul nostru. Other notable roles in De-as fi... Harap Alb (1965), Brigada Diverse intra în actiune (1970), Nea Marin Miliardar(1979). Play on the stage of the theater "Constantin Tanase", in Bucharest.He has two daughters Carmen and Silvia Calinescu He died on May 16, 1997 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Iurie Darie (real name Darie Maximciuc) was a famous Romanian film and theater actor.He was born on March 14, 1929 in Vadul Rascov, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1952.In 1953, he plays first role in the movie Nepotii gornistului. Other notable roles in Brigada Diverse în alerta! (1971), Dimitrie Cantemir (1973), Fratii Jderi (1974). Play on the stage of the theater ''Teatrul de Comedie '' in Bucharest.He was married with Consuela Rosu and with Anca Pandrea .He had a son ,director Ducu Darie.He was decorated on May 30, 2002 with the National Order of the Faithful Service in the rank of Knight.He died on November 9, 2012 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Eusebiu Stefanescu was born on 2 May 1944 in Ploiesti, Prahova County, Romania. He was an actor, known for Colierul de turcoaze (1986), 15 (2005) and Dragostea mea calatoare (1981). He was married to Vali Stefanescu, Liliana Plesa and Emilia Popescu. He died on 15 March 2015 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Actor
- Producer
Doru Ana is a Romanian film and theater actor .He was born on February 28, 1954 in Bucharest, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1980.In 1977, he plays first role in the movie Egmont. Other notable roles in Terminus paradis (1998),Marfa si banii (2001) ,Umbre (2019) . Play on the stage of the theater ''Bulandra'' in Bucharest. Professor univ.dr. at the Actor's Art department of the Theater Faculty of UNATC.- Sebastian Papaiani was a famous Romanian film and theater actor.He was born on August 25, 1936 in Pitesti, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1960.In 1963, he plays first role in the movie Un suras in plina vara . Other notable roles in Brigada Diverse în alerta! (1971), Pacala (1974), Fratii Jderi (1974),Toate pînzele sus(1977). Play on the stage of the theaters ''Teatrul de Comedie '' and ''Odeon'' in Bucharest.He was married with Eugenia Giurgiu Papaiani and with Marcela Papaiani .He has two children Alkys Papaiani and Sebastian Papaiani.He was decorated on December 13, 2002 with the National Order of the Faithful Service in the rank of Knight.He died on September 27, 2016 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Actor
- Writer
He was born in Bailesti, Oltenia, and attended the Carol I High School. He later played at the Craiova Theatre, then at the Small Theatre, Nottara Theatre, Comedy Theatre and the National Theatre Bucharest, being also a professor at the Academy of Theatre and Film in Bucharest.
Pellea played numerous comic and serious roles. In the cinema was most noted for his roles as historical leaders. His earliest leading roles were as Romanian national heroes, beginning with Decebalus in Dacii (1967) and Columna (1968). He also portrayed Michael the Brave in Mihai Viteazul (1971).
His most famous comic role was as "Nea Marin" (Uncle Marin), a character representing the archetypal Oltenian peasant. Marin first appeared in TV comedy sketches. The character graduated to the cinema in Nea Marin miliardar (Uncle Marin, the Billionaire), in which Pellea played the dual role of the naive Marin and the American billionaire he is mistaken for. Nea Marin miliardar is ranked 1 in the top most viewed Romanian films of all time.
He played other historical figures such as Vladica Hariton in Tudor din Vladimiri and Voivode Basarab in Croitorii cei mari din Valahia. He also appeared in Rascoala and Haiducii. In 1977 he won the award for Best Actor at the 10th Moscow International Film Festival for his role in The Doom.
He is buried at Bellu Cemetery.
In a 2006 poll conducted by Romanian Television to identify the "greatest Romanians of all time", Pellea came in 58th.- Adrian Pintea was a famous Romanian film and theater actor and director .He was born on October 9, 1930 in Beius Romania. He graduate the Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1979.In 1977, he plays first role in the movie Pentru patrie. Other notable roles in Iancu Jianu, zapciul (1980) ,Padureanca (1987),Cei care platesc cu viata (1989). Play on the stage of the theater ''National I.L. Caragiale'' in Bucharest.University professor doctor at the "Ion Luca Caragiale" University of Theater and Film . He was awarded with the title '' Meritul cultural in grad de Comandor '' of Romania.He was married with Lavinia Pintea. He died on June 8 2007 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Serban Ionescu was a famous Romanian film and theatre actor and director .He was born on September 23, 1950 in Corabia, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1978.In 1977, he plays first role in the movie Cuibul salamandrelor. Other notable roles in Maria (2003), Too Late (1996) and The Forest Woman (1987). Play on the stage of the theater ''Odeon'' in Bucharest. He is married with actress Magda Catone.They have a son Carol.He died on November 21, 2012 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Mircea Albulescu was born on 4 October 1934 in Bucharest, Romania. He was an actor, known for Puterea si adevarul (1972), Youth Without Youth (2007) and Columna (1968). He was married to Maria. He died on 8 April 2016 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Geo Saizescu was a famous Romanian film director,screenwriter and actor.He was born on November 14, 1932 in Prisaceaua, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1957.In 1958, he directed first movie Doi vecini.Other wellknown directed films :Un surîs în plina vara (1963),Pacala (1974),Secretul lui Bachus (1984).He was married with Avi Saizescu .His son, Catalin, is an actor, director and producer.He founded the Faculty of Arts at Hyperion University.He was decorated, in 2002, with the National Order "Faithful Service" in the rank of Knight.He died on September 23, 2013 in Bucharest, Romania.- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Manole Marcus was born on 8 January 1928 in Bucharest, Romania. He was a director and actor, known for Puterea si adevarul (1972), Omul care ne trebuie (1979) and Actorul si salbaticii (1975). He died in October 1994 in Bucharest, Romania.- Grigore Vasiliu (nickname Birlic ) was a famous Romanian film and theater comedy actor .He was born on January 24, 1905 in Falticeni Romania. He graduate of the Conservatory of Dramatic Art in Bucharest and the Faculty of Law in Cernauti.In 1934, he plays first role in the movie Bing-Bang. Other notable roles in Doua lozuri (1957) ,Telegrame (1959), Titanic vals (1964). Play on the stage of the theater ''National I.L. Caragiale'' in Bucharest. He was awarded the title of Artist of the People.He was married twice, first to Angela Mateescu, then to Valeria Nanci.He died on February 14 1970 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Gina Patrichi was a Romanian film and theater actress .She was born on born on March 8, 1936 in Bucharest, Romania.She graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1956.In 1964, she plays first role in the movie Cartierul veseliei.Other notable roles in films : Trecatoarele iubiri (1974), Nemuritorii (1974) and The forest of the hanged (1965). Play on the stage of the theater ''Bulandra '' in Bucuresti.Married to lawyer Victor Anagnoste (1959-1994), with whom she has a daughter, Oana. She died on March 18, 1994 in Bucharest.
- Ilarion Ciobanu was a famous Romanian film actor and director.He was born on October 28, 1931 in Ciucur, Tighina, Romania.He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography .In 1960, he plays first role in the movie Setea. Other notable roles in Rascoala (1965), Columna (1968) , Ultimul cartus (1973),Toate pînzele sus(1977). He had three wives :the first wife, a French teacher, the second wife, Tamara Barna, and the third, Marion Ciobanu. From the last marriage he has a son, Ioachim.He was decorated on February 7, 2004 Order of Cultural Merit in the rank of Commander.At the First edition of the Bucharest International Film Festival, BiFEST, in 2004, the actor received the Excellence Award for his contribution in the art of cinema.He died on September 7, 2008 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Valentin Uritescu was born on 4 June 1941 in Vinerea, Romania. He was an actor, known for Zloty pociag (1986), Ochi de urs (1983) and The Oak (1992). He died on 17 June 2022 in Bucharest, Romania.