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The cinema took a while to discover him. Born in England, the son of an insurance agent, RADA-trained Donald Moffat first appeared on the Shakespearean stage with the Old Vic. In 1954, he stage managed the popular revue "Salad Days". Then, 'discontentment' (which, he later explained, had much to do with the class system in Britain) prompted a permanent relocation to the United States. Accompanying his American actress wife to her home state in Oregon, Moffat initially tried his hand at bartending and as a lumberjack. After six months, he concluded that he was not cut out for outdoorsy pursuits and decided to return to his original muse. A "motivating stimulus", as he would later explain, was that "America seemed much more theatrically vibrant than things were at home".

Modest beginnings with an amateur theatre group in Princeton provided a meagre income of $25 a week which necessitated temporarily making ends meet as a carpenter. That situation improved in the wake of Moffat's 1957 debut on Broadway in "Under Milkwood". From then on, he managed to keep himself exceedingly busy for some three decades -- both on and off-Broadway -- in roles ranging from O'Neill and Chekhov to Ibsen and Miller. Stops along the way included the Ohio Shakespeare Festival in Akron, as well as theatres in New York (where he made a memorable Falstaff in 1987), Cincinnati, Chicago and Los Angeles. In the early 60s, Moffat enjoyed a lengthy tenure as a member of the ensemble of the Association of Producing Artists (APA) Phoenix Repertory Company.

Having lost his British accent early on, Moffat excelled at slotting into diverse roles as totally believable Americans, be they dignified, self-effacing, doleful, tough or acerbic. This was very much in keeping with his working credo: "respect the text - you fit the part, not the other way around". Instantly recognisable in appearance -- lean, long-faced and bushy-browed -- he was a subtle actor who made good use of a mellow but resonant voice which combined with a strong stage presence. On the screen, Moffat began as a TV supporting player with numerous guest roles in hit shows, including Hawaii Five-O (1968), Bonanza (1959), Mission: Impossible (1966), Mannix (1967) and The West Wing (1999), playing an assortment of judges, doctors, reverends, politicians and army officers, even a quirky android named Rem in the short-lived CBS series Logan's Run (1977). His cinematic debut did not eventuate until 1968 as the (deceased) father of Joanne Woodward's titular protagonist in Rachel, Rachel (1968). Other memorable roles include the shady president in Tom Clancy's Clear and Present Danger (1994), the ill-fated station commander Garry in John Carpenter's The Thing (1982) and Lyndon B. Johnson in The Right Stuff (1983).

Described as a consummate professional, Obie award-winning actor Donald Moffat retired in 2005 and passed away on 20 December 2018 at the age of 87.

Joan Lorring was born Madeline Ellis on April 17, 1926, in Hong Kong. She and her mother, Ania Fred, a Russian Jewish immigrant, left Hong Kong after the outbreak of WWII to pursue an acting career, settling in California in the late 1930s. After finding radio work in Los Angeles, Lorring worked her way into films making a minor debut at age 18 in the romantic war drama Song of Russia (1944) and subsequently played the small part of Pepita in the ensemble suspense The Bridge of San Luis Rey (1944).

The following year Joan won the coveted role of the scheming, trampy Bessie opposite Bette Davis in The Corn Is Green (1945), earning a Academy Award nomination for "best supporting actress" in the process. She may have lost the Oscar trophy that year to Anne Revere for National Velvet (1944) but Warner Brothers Studio was more than impressed with the up-and-comer and eagerly signed her up. Joan proved quite able in a number of juicy film noir parts, including Three Strangers (1946) and The Verdict (1946), both opposite the malevolent pairing of Sydney Greenstreet and Peter Lorre.

Inexplicably her film career went into a rapid decline by the end of the decade. As a result she sought work elsewhere and maintained with stage, radio and small screen endeavors into the next decade. On Broadway she made her debut in the prime role of budding college student Marie who sets off the explosive dramatic action in "Come Back, Little Sheba" (1950) starring Shirley Booth and Sidney Blackmer. She continued with strong roles in "The Autumn Garden" (1951), "Dead Pigeon" (1953) and "A Clearing in the Woods" (1957).

Among Joan's many 1950s dramatic showcases on TV was her portrayal of suspected ax-murderess Lizzie Borden's sister Emma on an Alfred Hitchcock episode. In the 1970s, Joan made a mini comeback in the Burt Lancaster movie The Midnight Man (1974) as Cameron Mitchell's wife. She also performed on radio soap operas and appeared for a season on the TV soap Ryan's Hope (1975) before phasing out her career once again.

Long married to New York endocrinologist Dr. Martin Sonenberg, who died in 2011, Joan passed away on May 30, 2014, in Sleepy Hollow, New York, survived by two daughters.

Fay Baker was born on 31 January 1917 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Notorious (1946), The House on Telegraph Hill (1951) and Deadline - U.S.A. (1952). She was married to Arthur Weiss. She died on 8 December 1987 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Richard M. Cohen was born on 14 February 1948 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Meredith Vieira. He died on 24 December 2024 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Suzette Winter was born on 19 January 1931 in London, England, UK. She was a writer and producer, known for Audrey Hepburn Remembered (1993), Ingrid (1984) and Danny (1979). She was married to Gene Feldman and Leo Grimpel. She died on 1 December 2021 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Israel Hicks was born on 23 August 1943 in Orangeburg, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Striker (1976), On Being Black (1968) and Christ Is Risen (1976). He was married to Catherine and Renée Harriston. He died on 3 July 2010 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Jack Aranson was born on 29 December 1924 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Moby Dick (1978), Night Gallery (1969) and Murder in Eden (1961). He was married to Mary Rose McMaster. He died on 3 January 2008 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Jean Fritz was born on 16 November 1915 in Hankow, China. She was an actress, known for Star Wars: Rey's Origin Story a Fan Film (2017). She was married to Michael Fritz. She died on 14 May 2017 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Ralph Martin was born on 4 March 1920 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was a writer, known for Winston Churchill: The Valiant Years (1960), Churchill (1992) and The Churchills (1996). He was married to Marjorie Pastel Martin and Marjorie Pastel. He died on 16 January 2013 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

William S. McFeely was born on 25 September 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. He is known for American Experience (1988), The Civil War (1990) and Biography (1987). He was married to Mary Drake McFeely. He died on 11 December 2019 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Mrs. Albert D. Lasker was born on 30 November 1900 in Watertown, Wisconsin. She was married to Albert Davis Lasker. She died on 21 February 1994 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

Jerry Pinkney was born on 22 December 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Jerry is known for Bamboozled (2000). Jerry was married to Gloria Jean . Jerry died on 20 October 2021 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.

John Stanley was born on 22 March 1914 in Harlem, New York, USA. John was a writer. John died on 11 November 1993 in Sleepy Hollow, New York, USA.