Advanced search

Henry Gibson was born on 21 September 1935 in Germantown, Pennsylvania. Before appearing in films and television series, he was a child star on the stage during the 1940s and during the late 1950s he was an intelligence officer in the U.S. Air Force. His screen debut came in 1963 when he was cast in the Jerry Lewis film The Nutty Professor (1963). He made two other small film appearances in the early 1960s in Kiss Me, Stupid (1964) and The Outlaws Is Coming (1964), in which he played a rather hip Indian named Charlie Horse. He made two memorable appearances on F-Troop as US Cavalry Private Leonard W Starr aka Wrongo Starr. His breakthrough came in 1968 when he was cast as a member of the regular cast of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967). He stayed with the show until 1971, when he left and continued his career as a character actor. His best known film role was probably his performance in Nashville (1975). He played Haven Hamilton, a smarmy Country and Western singer. For this role he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and was awarded the National Film Critics Award for best supporting actor. Gibson's career carried on through the 1980s and 1990s when he appeared in many films, such as The Incredible Shrinking Woman (1981) and The 'Burbs (1989). He also provided voice-overs for many children's animated series like The Smurfs (1981), The Wuzzles (1985) and Galaxy High School (1986). His most recent appearance have been in the Paul Thomas Anderson drama Magnolia (1999) and the independent film The Year That Trembled (2002).

Richard Hillman was born on 13 December 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Bring It On (2000), Detroit Rock City (1999) and Boys and Girls (2000). He died on 27 June 2009 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Linda Manz was born on 20 August 1961 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Days of Heaven (1978), The Wanderers (1979) and Out of the Blue (1980). She was married to Robert L. Guthrie. She died on 14 August 2020 in Palmdale, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Charlotte Greenwood was born Frances Charlotte Greenwood on June 25, 1890, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a sickly child and her father left the family when she was very young. Charlotte grew into a healthy, six foot tall woman. She started her career dancing in vaudeville where she became known for her long legs. Her signature dance move was doing a high kick. She was nicknamed "Lady Longlegs". In 1915 Charlotte married actor Cyril Ring. She was deeply in love with him but he left her for another woman. Charlotte married songwriter Martin Broones in 1924. Although she dreamed of becoming a dramatic actress she had greater success in comedy. She starred in a series of stage shows playing a man crazy character named "Letty". The character became so popular that Charlotte starred in the movie version So Long Letty in 1929. She appeared in dozens of films including Down Argentine Way, Star Dust, and The Gang's All Here. Charlotte was usually cast as the comedic sidekick and became one the most recognizable character actresses. During World War 2 she joined the Hollywood Victory Caravan and traveled across the country with other film stars raising money. Charlotte returned to the stage in 1950 starring in Cole Porter's Out of This World. She was a devout Christian scientist and her faith made her turn down roles she felt were too risqué. In 1955 she played Aunt Eller in the hit musical Oklahoma. Charlotte made a few more films before retiring. She and Martin enjoyed a very happy marriage until his death in 1971. Charlotte died on December 28, 1977 from natural causes. She was cremated and her ashes were scattered at sea. Since she had no children she left her personal papers to playwright William Luce.

Bridgette Andersen was born on July 11, 1975 to Teresa Andersen and Frank Glass in Inglewood, California and grew up in Malibu. She always considered it good luck to have her birthday read as 7-11 rather than as July 11th. She would always kiss the first two fingers on her right hand, then touch any digital clock that read 7:11. As a child star, she played in many films, most notably Savannah Smiles (1982). She became involved with drugs as a teenager; tragically, she died at 21 in May 1991 after overdosing on alcohol and heroin.

Lynn Loring made an unlikely, but impressive, transition from child actress to actress to president of a major TV studio. At age 6, she appeared in CBS's anthology series Studio One (1948); at 7, she began doing TV commercials (and was dubbed "The Junior Set's Betty Furness"); and from 6 to 16, she played Patty on Search for Tomorrow (1951). As a young adult, she made guest appearances on Playhouse 90 (1956), Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951), The Defenders (1961), and The Big Valley (1965), among other shows.

Loring focused on domestic life until 1979, when she worked as the casting director for a TV movie, The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang (1979) ("Raid on Coffeyville"). She shifted into producing and, for several years, had an initially fruitful partnership with Aaron Spelling. In the late 1980s, she assumed the presidency of MGM/UA Television Productions. Loring, then only in her 40s, was one of the first women to hold such a high-ranking role in Hollywood.

Buck was the name of the original family dog in the hit sitcom "Married... with Children" (1987-1997). It was played by the dog actor Michael, trained by Steven Ritt. Several episodes included voice-overs which revealed Buck's thoughts. The dog was a Briard, a French breed of large shepherd dogs. The breed was first introduced in dog shows during 1863, and is thought to originate from the historic region of Brie.

Michael remained in the series from 1987 to 1995, but developed age-related health problems by the show's final years. In 1995, it was decided that Michael should retire and that the character Buck should die. The character died in the 10th season episode "Requiem for a Dead Briard" (broadcast on October 1, 1995). The show then introduced the new family dog Lucky, as Buck's reincarnation.

Michael lived in retirement until his death in May 1996. He was 13-years-old at the time of his death, while the average life span for a Briard is about 10 years. "Married... with Children" has retained a cult following since its production ended, and Buck has remained a fan-favorite character. Ensuring enduring fame for Michael.

William Bramley was born on 18 April 1928 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for West Side Story (1961), Star Trek (1966) and The Outer Limits (1963). He was married to Annie C Hanks. He died on 27 October 1985 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Bill Baldwin was born on 26 November 1913 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. He was an actor, known for Rocky II (1979), Rocky (1976) and Rocky III (1982). He died on 17 November 1982 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

A former Philadelphian, Herbert Rudley left Temple University at the end of his second year, journeyed to New York and won a scholarship with Eva Le Gallienne's Civic Repertory Theatre. He made his first stage appearance in 1928 and went on to appear in many more plays, including the Judith Anderson-Maurice Evans "Macbeth" (with Rudley as Macduff). He repeated his stage role in "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" in the 1940 Hollywood version, appeared in twenty-one theatrical films and some made-for-TV ones, and also appeared on many TV programs beginning in 1950, including a two-year stint as husband to Eve Arden on NBC's "The Mothers-in-Law").

Born Margaret Morlan, for three decades she was featured in films and television under the name Margaret Field and was the mother of two-time Oscar winner actress Sally Field. During World War II, she moved to Pasadena, California, was discovered by a talent scout, took a screen test and was signed to a contract by Paramount Pictures. She soon started appearing in such films as The Big Clock (1948), Samson and Delilah (1949), the cult classic The Man from Planet X (1951), So This Is Love (1953), Inside Detroit (1956) and many others. For television, she racked up more than 70 credits, appearing in shows including The Lone Ranger (1949), Perry Mason (1957), The Twilight Zone (1959), Wagon Train (1957) and The Virginian (1962), before retiring from acting to focus on her family. She died of cancer at age 89, on her daughter Sally's 65th birthday.

Harlan Warde was born on 6 November 1917 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for The Monster That Challenged the World (1957), Money Madness (1948) and State Department: File 649 (1949). He was married to Barbara Grace Whittaker and Caroline Frances Sherwood. He died on 13 March 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Maureen Murphy was born on 20 January 1940 in London, England, UK. She was an actress and writer, known for Roxanne (1987), Tall Dark & Handsome (1987) and The Dom DeLuise Show (1987). She died on 13 December 2018 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

John Bleifer was born on 26 July 1901 in Zawiercie, Poland, Russian Empire [now Zawiercie, Slaskie, Poland]. He was an actor, known for Les Misérables (1935), Red Snow (1952) and Pacific Liner (1939). He was married to Grace Klestick. He died on 24 January 1992 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Paul Wendkos was born on 20 September 1925 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a director and producer, known for The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970), Battle of the Coral Sea (1959) and The Invaders (1967). He was married to Ruth Burnat and Lin Bolen. He died on 12 November 2009 in Malibu, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Bob Jellison was born on 21 August 1908 in Des Moines, Iowa, USA. He was an actor, known for I Love Lucy (1951), Petticoat Junction (1963) and Shirley Temple's Storybook (1958). He was married to Lacey. He died on 21 April 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Diminutive beauty Christine Larsen (also credited as 'Larson' in some of her early films) had a minor Hollywood career, spanning a mere seven years, from 1948 to 1955. On the rare occasions she was not cast as the perfunctory love interest in B-westerns, opposite the likes of Johnny Mack Brown, she co-starred in long-forgotten potboilers (Last Train from Bombay (1952)) and 'Jungle Jim' adventures (Valley of Head Hunters (1953)). The multi-talented redhead (whose real name was Marjorie Goss) studied acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and gained her entry to Hollywood in the mid 1940's via a spell with the Western Costume Company, as a designer of men's garments for 20th Century Fox musicals and period dramas. She also dabbled in theatrical set design and was a champion equestrian and rodeo queen, whose greatest ambition in life was to own a Lipizzaner stallion.

Ironically, it was to be Christine's private life which made the headlines, rather than her all-too-brief tenure as a second feature lead in Hollywood. A 1992 unauthorized biography of Nancy Reagan by sensationalist author Kitty Kelley alleged an affair between her and future president Ronald Reagan -- though she had spurned his proposal of marriage in 1951 -- which endured at least a year into his marriage to Nancy. In 1952, Christine hit the news again, when she made a claim to police, accusing her 57-year old neighbor of spying on her by means of a spotlight and a periscope after she had refused his advances. The authorities, apparently, did not seriously pursue the matter, insisting that periscopes were not covered by city ordinances.

There were a few more TV appearances before Christine's career had run its course and it became quiet about her for the remaining years of her life. She died on February 13, 1973 at the premature age of 47 due to complications from cancer in Los Angeles. A memorial service was held four days later at Westwood Memorial Park Chapel.

Indus Arthur was born on 28 April 1941 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for M*A*S*H (1970), The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) and Ben Casey (1961). She died on 29 December 1984 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

George Cisar was born on 28 July 1912 in Cicero, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Attack of the Giant Leeches (1959), The Ford Television Theatre (1952) and Jungle Jim (1955). He died on 13 June 1979 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Milton Parsons was born on 19 May 1904 in Gloucester, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for The Hidden Hand (1942), The Twilight Zone (1959) and The Senator Was Indiscreet (1947). He was married to Colette Rossell Humphrey. He died on 15 May 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Gavin Gordon was born on 7 April 1901 in Chicora, Mississippi [now Buckatunna, Wayne County, Mississippi], USA. He was an actor, known for Bride of Frankenstein (1935), Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) and The Scarlet Empress (1934). He died on 7 April 1983 in Canoga Park, Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Roger Torrey was born on 9 May 1938 in Pocatello, Idaho, USA. He was an actor, known for The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Mannix (1967) and Everglades! (1961). He was married to Jean Sanders. He died on 17 December 1985 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Russ Grieve was born on 5 November 1923 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for The Hills Have Eyes (1977), Foxy Brown (1974) and Fuzz (1972). He died on 22 October 1980 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Harry Caesar was born on 18 February 1928 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for A Few Good Men (1992), The Longest Yard (1974) and Bird on a Wire (1990). He was married to Marion Kane Bernot. He died on 12 June 1994 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.

Natalie Masters was born on 23 November 1915 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Incredible Hulk (1977), The Night Runner (1957) and Hart to Hart (1979). She was married to Monte Masters. She died on 9 February 1986 in Los Angeles County, California, USA.