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Mela White was born on 28 March 1931 in Woodford, Essex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Bergerac (1981), Fog for a Killer (1962) and Blind Man's Bluff (1977). She was married to Ronald Lacey and Roger Brompton. She died on 24 December 2017 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom.

In a career than spanned eight decades, Thora Hird was widely-regarded as one of Britain's finest character actresses. She made over 100 films as well as starring in a host of TV comedies and, as a straight actress, excelled in the works of playwright Alan Bennett. Even in her 90s, she was working almost daily.

Born in Morecambe, Lancashire, the daughter of the manager of the local Royalty Theatre, she was carried on to the stage in a melodrama at the age of eight weeks. When old enough, she joined the Royalty's theatre company, although she kept a day job as a cashier in a grocery store. "I spent 10 years working in that grocery store", she recalled, "and I've played nearly all the customers I used to serve - maids, landladies, cleaners, forthright parents. When I'm acting, I'll do some little thing I've remembered, so simple". At the theatre, she appeared in over 500 plays and, in 1941, the comedian George Formby, on a visit to the theatre, recommended her to Michael Balcon at Ealing Film Studios. Put under contract, she first appeared in Black Sheep of Whitehall (1942) with Will Hay and a string of comedy films and dramas followed. In the same vein as the saucy seaside postcards of her Morecambe birth, Hird was usually cast as the all-seeing boarding house landlady, a gossiping neighbour or a sharp tongued mother-in-law.

In the 1950s, Hird was under contract to the Rank Organisation and was established as a major character actress. She worked with some of Britain's finest directors, including Herbert Wilcox, Lewis Gilbert and John Schlesinger but, by her own account, was not easily awed. "I've appeared in hundreds of films and television things and, in some cases, I literally mean 'appeared' around the door, that was all. Like anybody earning a living, I took most of the work that came along". She gave outstanding performances in Simon and Laura (1955) and The Entertainer (1960), opposite Laurence Olivier, but one of her best- remembered roles was that of the monstrous TV-addicted mother in A Kind of Loving (1962).

As her career progressed, she frequently returned to the stage, often in comedies, with comedians such as Arthur Askey and Harry Secombe, and, in 1964, she was memorably team with the comedian Freddie Frinton in the TV series, Meet the Wife (1963). She starred in a succession of hit TV comedies throughout the 70s and 80s but proof of her talent as a straight actress came in 1987, when she starred in Alan Bennett's Talking Heads monologue, A Creamcracker under the Settee for which she won a BAFTA award. She wrote several volumes of autobiography, including "Scene and Hird" and "Not in the Diary" and, in 1995, was the subject of a South Bank Show (ITV) monograph. One of the show's contributors, the actor Alan Bates, said of her, "Thora always had a grasp of her character immediately. She didn't have to work herself into a state to get it right. She is a naturally funny woman whose comedy is on the edge of tragedy. It's instinctive and very understanding of life itself".

Terence Fisher was born in Maida Vale, England, in 1904. Raised by his grandmother in a strict Christian Scientist environment, Fisher left school while still in his teens to join the Merchant Marine. By his own account he soon discovered that a life at sea was not for him, so he left the service and tried his hand at a succession of jobs ashore. It was during this time that he discovered the cinema, entering the film industry as "the oldest clapper boy in the business." One day, almost as a lark, he applied to J. Arthur Rank Studios to become a film editor. To his astonishment, he was accepted. In 1947, at the age of 43, he made his directorial debut with a supernatural comedy called Colonel Bogey (1948)--a foreshadowing of things to come.

For the next few years he switched between "A"-film assignments (Noël Coward's _The Astonished Heart (1948)_, So Long at the Fair (1950) with Jean Simmons and Dirk Bogarde and Lost Daughter (1949) with Herbert Lom) and a succession of "B" films, which enabled him to support his wife and daughter. Typical of these programmers are Three Stops to Murder (1953) and Spaceways (1953), efficient but uninspired films that show little in the way of personality.

His break came in 1956 when, at the age of 52, he was asked to helm Hammer Studios' remake of Frankenstein (1931). The result, The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), broke box-office records and enraged critics worldwide who were unaccustomed to its plethora of hearty bloodletting. The Eastmancolor shocker set a new standard for horror films and helped to make Fisher, Hammer and stars Peter Cushing and Christopher Lee into bankable commodities. With its emphasis on realistic character interplay over melodramatic conventions, the film established Fisher's personal approach to horror, which stood in direct defiance to the old Universal films--in fact, Fisher flatly refused to watch James Whale's 1931 version for fear that it might influence his vision.

More remakes followed. Fisher actively sought to remake Dracula (1931), and the results proved to be both aesthetically and commercially superior to "Curse of Frankenstein". Horror of Dracula (1958) proved to be universally popular and is commonly held as Fisher's--and Hammer's--finest work. It may or may not be, but it does remain the freshest and most vibrant big-screen reworking of the story; even Francis Ford Coppola in his remake failed to recapture its vigor and sense of urgency.

Fisher's subsequent films tended to place less emphasis on shock effects and more on complex emotional interplay. For example, the titular characters of The Curse of the Werewolf (1961) and The Phantom of the Opera (1962) are more sympathetic than the so-called "normal" characters, while Fisher's fascinating Freudian take on the Dr. Jekyll story--The Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll (1960)--offers a homely old Dr. Jekyll who transforms into a virile man about town named Edward Hyde. Similarly, The Gorgon (1964) disappointed schlock fans by offering a haunting story of doomed love in place of the conventional Hammer-style shocker. Following the commercial failure of "Phantom"--Hammer's most expensive film to that point--Fisher was booted out for a brief period. During this time lesser talents like Freddie Francis were entrusted with the franchises that Fisher had helped to establish. Invariably the results were inferior. Despite his hatred for sci-fi, which stood in contrast to his confessed love for horror, Fisher made good work of The Devil Rides Out (1968) precursor The Earth Dies Screaming (1964) (with Dennis Price), while Night of the Big Heat (1967) (again with Lee and Cushing) benefited from his ability to suggest pent-up passion and paranoia.

Back at Hammer after this brief hiatus, Fisher resurrected Christopher Lee's count in the under-rated, poetic Dracula: Prince of Darkness (1966) before detailing the further adventures of Baron Frankenstein in Frankenstein Created Woman (1967), Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (1969) and his last film, Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974). All three films offer subtle variations on the character of the Baron, played by the impeccable Cushing, thus emphasizing Fisher's unique ability to lend complex, credible characterization to seemingly formula-bound material. "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed", an unusually bitter film which mirrors the nihilism of the late 1960s, remains Fisher's finest, most multi-layered work, despite its lack of popularity. At the center of Fisher's work is a fascinating moral dilemma: the seductive appeal of evil vs. the overzealous, frequently close-minded representatives of good. The consistency of theme in Fisher's work, coupled with a distinctive style achieved through precise framing and a dynamic editing style, refutes the idea that he was merely a hack for hire, while lending his films a recognizable signature.

Best films: "So Long at the Fair", Lost Daughter (1949), "Dracula", The Revenge of Frankenstein (1958), The Mummy (1959), The Stranglers of Bombay (1959), "Two Faces of Dr. Jekyll", The Brides of Dracula (1960), "Curse of the Werewolf", The Phantom of the Opera (1962), "The Gorgon", "The Earth Dies Screaming", "Dracula--Prince of Darkness" and "Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed".

Terence Fisher died in 1980 at the age of 76.

Sheila Dunn was born on 11 April 1940 in Wandsworth, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Doctor Who (1963), A Ghost Story for Christmas (1971) and R3 (1964). She was married to Douglas Camfield. She died on 3 March 2004 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Charlie Drake was born on 19 June 1925 in Elephant and Castle, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Cracksman (1963), Sinderella Live (1995) and Masterpiece Theatre: Bleak House (1985). He was married to Elaine Bird and Heather Barnes. He died on 23 December 2006 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Henry McGee specialized in comedy and was best known for his 20 year-long association with Benny Hill, on whose show he appeared as announcer and straight man. The son of a Rolls-Royce engineer, McGee was educated at Stonyhurst. After National Service in the Royal Navy, he joined the Italia Conti Stage Academy for two years, then acted with repertory companies in England and Australia.

He returned to England in the 1960's and enjoyed a prolific career on television, especially in comedies. His appearance as an upmarket conman who takes in Leonard Rossiter's Rigsby in The Perfect Gentleman (1975) was considered one of the highlights of the popular ITV sitcom, so much so that the storyline was recycled for the film version, Rising Damp (1980), when McGee's role was taken by Denholm Elliott.

McGee was also recognized for being in the 'Sugar Puffs' breakfast cereal commercials on television alongside The Honey Monster. His hobbies were gliding and collecting old engravings. He left a million pounds in his will.

Robert Banks Stewart had an incredible career in British television drama, becoming one of its greatest ever writers, story editors and producers. He started writing in primary school, winning a Burns essay prize and contributing stories to local newspapers. At age 15, he left school to become an office boy at the Edinburgh Evening Dispatch. He did his National Service with Field Marshal Montgomery's peacetime staff. He then worked as a newspaper editor. By this time he had written several plays and done a stint as a radio commentator. He eventually left Scotland for a post as foreign corespondent for Illustrated magazine. When that publication folded, he joined the Rank Organisation, providing rewrites and producing movie and TV scripts.

Graydon Gould was born on 3 April 1937 in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, Canada. He was an actor, known for Mission: Impossible (1996), Executive Action (1973) and Wicked City (1987). He was married to Carol Hoehler and Judy Poppy . He died on 25 February 2020 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Douglas Camfield was born on 8 May 1931 in England, UK. He was a director and writer, known for Danger UXB (1979), Paul Temple (1969) and Blake's 7 (1978). He was married to Sheila Dunn. He died on 28 January 1984 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Terence Conoley was born on 15 July 1919 in Colchester, Essex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Fierce Creatures (1997), Crossbow (1987) and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin (1976). He was married to Roberta Kanal. He died on 7 April 2016 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Nicholas Laughland was born on 25 May 1951 in Newport, Monmouthshire, Wales, UK. He was a director and production manager, known for Wild at Heart (2006), Wire in the Blood (2002) and Playing the Field (1998). He died on 1 June 2020 in Twickenham, London, England, UK.

Born in France to British parents, William Kennedy-Laurie Dickson stayed in that country until age 19, when he, his mother and sisters (their father had died sometime before) returned to Great Britain. Once there, Dickson--in an early indication of his lifelong fascination with science and mechanics--began a correspondence with Thomas A. Edison in the US, asking for employment, but was turned down. Eventually Dickson's family moved to the US, and several years afterward Dickson actually did land a job with Edison, and soon proved to be a trusted and valuable associate. He worked closely with Edison on the development of both the phonograph and, closer to Dickson's heart, the motion picture (it was Dickson who eventually decided that motion picture film should be 35mm wide; he also developed the emulsion process used in the film).

In 1889, while Edison was on a trip to Europe, Dickson set up a building in which to conduct his "photographic experiments", the forerunner of the first motion picture studio. In 1890 he and his chief mechanical assistant, Eugène Lauste, showed the results of their experiments, produced on a cylindrical system called the Kinetoscope: a short film called Monkeyshines, No. 1 (1890), featuring one of his assistants. Improvements on this system continued, and in 1891 patents were filed on an improved camera called the Kinetograph. Edison's plans to exhibit the new system at the Chicago World Exposition necessitated not only the production of many new machines but also films that could be shown on them, and the result was the building of a film studio at Edison's laboratory in West Orange, NJ, which was nicknamed "The Black Maria" because it was constructed of wood covered with tar-paper, resembling the police wagons of that era which were known by that nickname.

However, even with Dickson's perfecting of a new version of the Kinetograph camera, not enough films were completed to be shown at Edison's planned exhibition. Dickson, however, did manage to persuade many stage and vaudeville stars to appear in films shot at the West Orange studio, and in the following years the studio was a beehive of activity, with some of the biggest names of the era making short films there. However, friction between Dickson and an executive appointed to oversee Edison's businesses soon broke into open conflict, resulting in Dickson's angrily leaving Edison's employ in 1895. He then joined forces with two businessmen in the development of a way to exhibit films differently than Edison's peepshow-style Kinetoscope. The system eventually developed into what was called the Mutoscope, and the camera that was developed to take pictures for the Mutoscope was called the Biograph. This in turn developed into a filming and projection system that retained the Biograph name.

In 1896 Dickson and three partners began the American Mutoscope and Biograph Co. (often referred to as just "Biograph", and generally considered to be the first major American motion picture studio) to produce and distribute films. Dickson produced and directed many of Biograph's early films, but by the turn of the century he had taken over management of the company's European branch, headquartered in England. He died there in 1935.

Anthony Dutton was born on 4 June 1934 in Clitheroe, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Avengers (1961), Department S (1969) and EastEnders (1985). He died on 30 November 2013 in Brinsworth House, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Avice Landone was born on 1 September 1908 in Madras, India. She was an actress, known for The Franchise Affair (1951), An Alligator Named Daisy (1955) and Pride and Prejudice (1952). She was married to Bruno Barnabe. She died on 12 June 1976 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Maggie Rennie was born on 11 February 1919 in London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Intent to Kill (1958), Fox Mystery Theater (1984) and Seance on a Wet Afternoon (1964). She was married to Michael Rennie. She died on 5 August 2017 in Brinsworth House, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Bill Reimbold was born on 12 March 1926 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), The Fifth Element (1997) and Superman III (1983). He died on 8 August 2014 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Adele Strong was born on 11 June 1901 in Islington, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Smashing Time (1967), Britannia Hospital (1982) and Voyage of the Damned (1976). She died on 24 March 1987 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Norman Garwood was born on 8 January 1946 in Birmingham, West Midlands, England, UK. He was a production designer and art director, known for Brazil (1985), Hook (1991) and Glory (1989). He was married to Leonie Jane Garwood. He died on 13 April 2019 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Alan Freeman was born on 6 July 1927 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was an actor and producer, known for Absolute Beginners (1986), The Young Ones (1982) and Sebastian (1968). He died on 27 November 2006 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Bunny Reed was an actor, known for Theater of Blood (1973), Beau Geste (1982) and The BBC Television Shakespeare (1978). He died on 15 April 2020 in Brinsworth House, Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Emily Perry was born on 28 June 1907 in Torquay, Devon, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Dame Edna's Neighbourhood Watch (1992), Dame Edna's Hollywood (1991) and A Night on Mount Edna (1990). She died on 20 February 2008 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

Veronica Brady was born on 30 November 1882 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. She was an actress, known for Hay Fever (1938), Birds of a Feather (1935) and Love, Life & Laughter (1934). She was married to Hugh Nolan. She died on 19 January 1964 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

His first impression was of Billy Bunter when he was about 6 to amuse his school pals but his mother tried to stop him as she thought it was rude. He left school. having failed his 11+,with ambitions to be a footballer or journalist but after dead end jobs as a despatch clerk and dress salesman he took his talent for mimicry to the Ponderosa Club in Manchester and earned £30 in his first week as a pro. He's always been one for a quiet life and doesn't like parties or walking into a crowded room

Jay Neill was born on 21 May 1932 in Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Onedin Line (1971), Doomwatch (1970) and Softly Softly (1966). He died on 14 June 2006 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK.

John Hewer was born on 13 January 1922 in Leyton, Essex, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Assassin for Hire (1951), Nicholas Nickleby (1977) and Fredric March Presents Tales from Dickens (1959). He died on 16 March 2008 in Twickenham, London, England, UK.