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- Music Artist
- Actor
- Writer
Born in Houston, Texas on August 21, 1938, Grammy-winning singer, songwriter, actor, record producer and entrepreneur Kenneth Ray Rogers was the fourth of eight children born to a carpenter father who worked in a shipyard and a mother who was a hospital nurse's assistant. Of humble Irish and Native American heritage, the boy grew up in the poorer section of Houston, but would become the first member of his family to graduate from high school.
Kenny took an early interest in singing and, as a teenager, joined a doo-wop recording group called "The Scholars". The group recorded the song "Poor Little Doggie," and Kenny, age 19, recorded his first solo song, "That Crazy Feeling," for a small Houston label, Carlton Records, and his career was off and running. He subsequently joined the "New Christy Minstrels" 1966 as a singer and double bass/bass guitar player, then splintered off with others from the popular folk music group a year later to form the rock group "The First Edition," an eclectic-styled rock band whose repertoire included rock and roll, R&B, folk and country.
The First Edition's first Billboard hit, "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" (1968) was a psychedelic rock song which peaked at #5, and was followed by the more popular soft-rock hit "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" (1969) which hit #6 on the US charts and made them a star attraction. Other successes would include "Reuben James" (1969, #26), "Something's Burning" (1970, #11) and "Tell It All Brother" (1970, #17). By this time, the dark-haired, husky-framed, ear-pierced singer's ingratiating personality and sensual gravel tones, affectionately dubbed "Hippie Kenny," had taken center stage and the group changed their name to "Kenny Rogers and the First Edition" in 1969. The First Edition enjoyed worldwide success, appeared on such popular shows as "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour," had featured roles in the TV movie The Dream Makers (1975) and went on to host the syndicated TV variety series Rollin' on the River (1971).
Sadly, the pressures of taping a weekly show caused extreme friction within the group and eventually took its toll. After a couple more years of producing songs that couldn't reach the "Top 20," the group decided to disband in 1976 and, inevitable as it was, Kenny went solo. It didn't take long before he started chalking up a string of country-tinged 'Top 20' pop hits with "Lucille" (#5), "Don't Fall in Love With a Dreamer" (#4, with Kim Carnes), "Through the Years" (#13), "We've Got Tonight" (#6, with Sheena Easton) and his two #1 hit sellers "Islands in the Stream" (with Dolly Parton) and "Lady." By the late 1970s, the (now) silver fox had sold over $100 million worth of records. He also made popular hit duets with both country female stars (Parton and Dottie West) as well as the distaff pop elite (Kim Carnes and Sheena Easton).
Into the 1980's Kenny began to feel a downswing in his singing career. After charting lower and lower, he wisely branched off into other successful areas. In 1980, he touched off a modest, lightweight, but highly appealing acting career starting with the Southern-styled TV-movie The Gambler (1980), based on his #1 1979 Grammy-winning song hit. The feature had Kenny starring as poker-playing card shark Brady Hawkes, who attempts to unite with a son he never knew. This led to four equally popular sequels -- Kenny Rogers as The Gambler: The Adventure Continues (1983), Kenny Rogers as The Gambler, Part III: The Legend Continues (1987), The Gambler Returns: The Luck of the Draw (1991) and Gambler V: Playing for Keeps (1994). Two other old-fashioned western TV movies followed. The first was also based on a hit Kenny Rogers song, Coward of the County (1981), (Country, #3) in which he played a town preacher who tries to mentor his young "cowardly" nephew. The second, Wild Horses (1985), had him starring as a has-been rodeo champion looking for personal fulfillment herding wild mustangs.
Kenny also tried to parlay his popularity as a major country singer into a conservative film career. There would only be one starring role. In Six Pack (1982), Kenny stars as a race car driver who tangles with six roughhouse orphans. Instead, he was back to TV-movies where he went on to appear as himself in two TV country-flavored biopics -- Big Dreams & Broken Hearts: The Dottie West Story (1995) and Get to the Heart: The Barbara Mandrell Story (1997). He also put out the folksy yuletide offering Christmas in America (1990) which had his real-life son Kenneth Rogers co-starring in a father-son strained relationship; and the western Rio Diablo (1993) in which he he essays the role of a nice-guy bounty hunter assisting a revengeful groom country singer Travis Tritt in a search for of kidnapped bride. Another then-reigning country star, Naomi Judd, was featured as a colorful madam.
In addition to a few acting appearances on TV with "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Touched by an Angel" and "How I Met Your Mother," Kenny also became a perennial star or guest of TV specials and seasonal events over the years, including Kenny Rogers and the First Edition: Rollin' on the River (1971), A Christmas Special... With Love, Mac Davis (1979), Kenny Rogers Live in Concert (1983), Kenny & Dolly: A Christmas to Remember (1984), Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Together (1985), Kenny, Dolly and Willie: Something Inside So Strong (1989), Kenny Rogers Going Home (1995), Live by Request: Kenny Rogers (1999) and Consequence (2007). He also hosted two TV documentary series: The Real West (1992) and High Point Casinos of the World (2003).
In addition, Kenny published several books on photography and opened a rotisserie-chicken fast-food franchise (Kenny Rogers Roasters). Less and less visible in the ensuing years, Kenny produced the 1999 album "She Rides Wild Horses", which peaked at #6 on the country charts, his highest in 15 years, and included the #1 single "Buy Me a Rose."
Spending much of his free time over the years breeding Arabian horses and cattle on a 1,200-acre Georgia farm, Kenny's seemed to settle with his fifth wife Wanda Miller, whom he married in 1997. He had five children altogether and his namesake, son, Kenneth Rogers, left acting and briefly launched his own singing career in 1989 with "Take Another Step Closer". He now is on the business end of entertainment providing music for TV and movies.
Kenny made one last concert tour, "The Gambler's Last Deal," in 2015 and it was running worldwide, with visits including Australia, Scotland, Ireland, England, The Netherlands and Switzerland, as well as the U.S., until his health, plagued by bouts of bladder cancer and hepatitis C, failed him and he was forced to retire in 2018. The 81-year-old legend died on March 20, 2020, under hospice care at his home in Sandy Springs, Georgia.- She stopped doing film roles in 1981. After her film career, she changed her name to Cecilia Inger Margareth Sund Ångmark, and called herself Cecilia, not Inger. She lived many years with Göran Ångmark. They married in 2016. He died in 2017. She lived in a small village in Jämtland, Sweden for many years, working with geriatric care.
- Actress
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Muhterem Nur was born on 31 December 1932 in Bitolj, Yugoslavia. She was an actress, known for Kara Gün (1971), Askin acilari (1959) and Son sarki (1954). She was married to Müslüm Gürses, Müslim Gürses and Isin Kaan. She died on 20 March 2020 in Istanbul, Turkey.- Actor
- Art Department
- Location Management
Chalo González was born on 9 January 1925 in Fresno, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Getaway (1972), Quinceañera (2006) and The Wild Bunch (1969). He was married to Martha Calderon Gonzalez. He died on 20 March 2020 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Stefan Sileanu was a Romanian film and theater actor and painter .He was born on November 15, 1939 in Cislau, Romania. He graduated from Institute of Theatrical Arts and Cinematography in 1965.In 1971, he plays first role in the movie Cîntecele marii. Other notable roles in Buzduganul cu trei peceti (1977), Vlad Tepes (1979), Somnul insulei (1994). Play on the stage of the theater ''Nottara '' in Bucharest.Member of the Union of Plastic Artists from Romania since 1994.In 1979,award for interpretation of the Romanian Filmmakers Association (ACIN).He has a daughter Ana Maria Sileanu .He died on March 20 2020 in Bucharest, Romania.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Jerry Slick was born on 8 August 1939 in Berkeley, California, USA. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Steel Arena (1973), Congo the Movie: Descent Into Zinj (1995) and Great Performances (1971). He was married to Grace Slick. He died on 20 March 2020 in the USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Additional Crew
Johnny Harris was born in Edinburgh, Scotland 1932 (of Welsh parentage) and is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London. He originally played trumpet with English big bands in the 50's and started freelance writing and arranging in the early 60's before he was hired by Tony Hatch for Pye Records in 1965. He became well known for his wild style of conducting which was inspired by touring with Tom Jones and he went on to win Eurovision 1969 with Lulu and 'Boom Bang-a-Bang'. Director Richard C. Sarafian had heard his 1969 space-age easy listening hit single 'Footprints On The Moon' and offered him his first British film score for the psycho-thriller 'Fragment Of Fear' because he liked 'the spiky sounds' that Johnny created on the 45. Johnny would score a number of cult British films with mates like Sarafian and Richard Harris before he left for the US in 1972 to work with Paul Anka. He continued his film/tv work in America on such legendary shows like Wonder Woman, Buck Rogers In The 25th Century and award winning specials with Lynda Carter who remained his greatest supporter in the US. Johnny died on March 20th, 2020 peacefully in his sleep.- Carlos Falcó was born on 3 February 1937 in Seville, Seville, Andalucía, Spain. He was married to Isabel Preysler. He died on 20 March 2020 in Madrid, Spain.
- Enrique del Portal was born on 3 July 1932 in Madrid, Spain. He was an actor, known for La revoltosa (1969) and Teatro lírico español (1970). He was married to Nieves Fernandez de Sevilla and Natividad Ruiz Cambronero. He died on 20 March 2020 in Madrid, Spain.
- Mark Andrews was born on 25 November 1959 in RAF base, Germany. He was married to Shelagh Scarth. He died on 20 March 2020 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
- Make-Up Department
- Actress
- Script and Continuity Department
Dodie Warren was born on 16 July 1926 in Hastings, Nebraska, USA. She was an actress, known for The Money Jungle (1967), Panic in the City (1968) and The Destructors (1968). She was married to Benjamin Oldener. She died on 20 March 2020 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar was born on 28 March 1948. She was an actress, known for Karla (1965), Wege übers Land (1968) and Just Don't Think I'll Cry (1990). She was married to Gunther Emmerlich. She died on 20 March 2020 in Dresden, Saxony, Germany.
- Actor
- Writer
- Music Department
Panos Hatzikoutselis was born on 5 December 1945. He was an actor and writer, known for O hiros, i hira kai ta heirotera (1993), Babas kai filarakos (1991) and Patris, listeia, oikogeneia (1987). He died on 20 March 2020 in Athens, Greece.- Harry van den Bergh was born on 1 April 1942 in Amsterdam, Noord-Holland, Netherlands. He died on 20 March 2020.
- Giovanni Romanini was born on 27 December 1945 in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy. He was an actor, known for Ho conosciuto Magnus (2016). He died on 20 March 2020 in Bologna, Emilia-Romagna, Italy.
- Aibarchin Bakirova was born on 26 June 1950 in Andijan, Uzbek SSR. She was an actress, known for Ukhodya, ostayutsya (1986), Drama lyubvi (1972) and Voskhod nad Gangom (1975). She died on 20 March 2020 in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.
- Buddy was born in 2001 in the USA. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of the Hamm Bros. (2018). He died on 20 March 2020 in Muncie, Indiana, USA.
- Sascha Oskar Weis was an actor, known for Jedermann (2010) and Der eingebildete Kranke (2005). He died on 20 March 2020 in Austria.
- Amadeo Carrizo was born on 12 June 1926 in Rufino, Santa Fe, Argentina. He was an actor, known for Cinco grandes y una chica (1950), Esos colores que llevás (2013) and River, El Más Grande Siempre (2019). He died on 20 March 2020 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
- Willigis Jäger was born on 7 March 1925 in Hösbach, Bavaria, Germany. He died on 20 March 2020 in Holzkirchen, Lower Franconia, Bavaria, Germany.
- Aleftyna Goscimska was born on 29 September 1934 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She was an actress, known for My Father's Bike (2012), Na sygnale (2014) and 39 i pól (2008). She died on 20 March 2020.
- Airickca Gordon Taylor was born on 2 October 1969 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. Airickca Gordon died on 20 March 2020 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
- Borislav Stankovic was born on 9 July 1925 in Bihac, Bosnia-Herzegovina. He died on 20 March 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Producer
Gill McDowell began his freelance career as a Gaffer/Lighting Director in 1969 1969. He worked primarily on documentaries and industrials. He is presently a member of IATSE Local 52. He retired in 2003.
In l984 he was one of the two founding partners of The Softube Company. The company was formed to develop and manufacture, the Softube, dimmable high output fluorescent fixtures for the film and video industry for which they hold the patent.
He is currently President and one of the founding partners of Liberty Lighting Limited, founded in 1984, which owns and operates grip and lighting trucks in New York City.
1995 - 1998 he wrote a monthly column on Lighting for TV Technology.