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A consummate character actor whose deep Southern drawl (courtesy of a Georgia birth and South Carolina upbringing) made him a highly sought-after personality. Howell began his career on Broadway in "Make A Million." Hollywood took note of his accent and tried to make the best use of it, from a minor role in Splendor in the Grass (1961) to the Preacher in Grand Theft Auto.

Equally at home on the small screen, Howell was a familiar face on television throughout the 1970's and 80's. A few of his guest spots included The Andy Griffith Show, Green Acres, Here Come the Brides, Columbo, JAG, The Fall Guy, Hunter, Webster, Happy Days and Scarecrow & Mrs. King.

His career followed in the vein of other famous character actors like John Carradine, Harry Dean Stanton, Pat Hingle and Woody Strode (his co-star in Kingdom of the Spiders). No matter the movie, Howell acted as if it was a plum role. From big-budget films like Far And Away and Geronimo: An American Legend to cult classics (Humanoids From the Deep, Kingdom of the Spiders) to low-budget flicks (Star Hunter, Alien Species), Howell made himself at home. Even the exploitation industry found its uses for Howell, giving some respectability to titles like Slaughter's Big Rip-Off, Bikini Drive-In, Vice Girls and Bikini Hoe-Down.

Though known mostly for his acting skills, Howell did try his hand at the other side of the camera. He wrote screenplays for Click: The Calendar Girl Killer, One Block Away and B.O.R.N. and also three episodes of "The Rookies." He was also an associate producer for B.O.R.N.

Marco Ferreri was born on 11 May 1928 in Milan, Lombardy, Italy. He was a writer and director, known for Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981), L'udienza (1972) and El cochecito (1960). He was married to Jacqueline Ferreri. He died on 9 May 1997 in Paris, France.

Kazumi Kawai was born on 9 July 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. She was an actress, known for Headphone Lullaby (1983), Lusty Discipline in Uniform (1982) and Sayonara konnichiwa (1990). She died on 9 May 1997 in Tokyo, Japan.

Paul Zastupnevich was born on 24 December 1921 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a costume designer and actor, known for The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Towering Inferno (1974) and When Time Ran Out... (1980). He died on 9 May 1997 in Rancho Mirage, California, USA.

Enrique López Eguiluz was born in 1930 in Madrid, Spain. He was a director and writer, known for Santo Faces Death (1969), La pandilla (1965) and Chantaje a un asesino (1966). He died on 9 May 1997 in Madrid, Spain.

Mária Takács was born on 25 November 1938 in Resita, Romania. She was an actress and writer, known for City of Fear (1965), Szerelem csütörtök (1959) and Miért rosszak a magyar filmek? (1964). She died on 9 May 1997 in Budapest, Hungary.

Carlos Carella was born on 28 May 1925 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor, known for The Sternness of Fate (1985), Juego diabólico (1988) and El acompañamiento (1991). He died on 9 May 1997 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Pepe Risi was born in 1955 in Córdoba, Andalucía, Spain. He was an actor, known for Cuéntame cómo pasó (2001), El embarcadero (2019) and Loquillo leyenda urbana (2008). He died on 9 May 1997 in Madrid, Comunidad de Madrid, Spain.

Imre Halmay was born on 15 March 1913 in Budapest, Hungary. He was an actor, known for Állami áruház (1953), Az élet hídja (1956) and Dollárpapa (1956). He died on 9 May 1997 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Tom Ponzi was born on 25 September 1921 in Pula, Istria, Croatia. He was an actor, known for I giovedì della signora Giulia (1970). He died on 9 May 1997 in Busto Arsizio, Lombardy, Italy.

Bob Devaney was born on 13 April 1915 in Saginaw, Michigan, USA. He died on 9 May 1997 in Lincoln, Nebraska, USA.

Francine Ames was born on 31 October 1921 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress. She died on 9 May 1997 in Sarasota, Florida, USA.