R.L. BURNSIDE Died Sep. 1, 2005
Blues musician R.L. Burnside died at age 78. The journeyman musician gained international recognition in the Sundance Grand Jury Prize nominee documentary "Deep Blues." He recorded a series of influential Blues and Blues-Techno fusion albums in the 1990s. Mr. Burnside’s music has been heard on the soundtracks of such films and TV shows as "The Sopranos," "Big Bad Love" and "Party Animals." Mr. Burnside appeared as himself in several films.
BOB DENVER Sept. 2, 2005
Beloved actor Bob Denver died of cancer at age 70. Like millions of others, I grew up watching "Gilligan’s Island." Like "Star Trek," "Gilligan’s Island" only ran for three years. Also like "Star Trek," "Gilligan’s Island" has been showing somewhere in the world in reruns ever since. While critics lambasted the show as silly and unsophisticated, the viewing public took to the seven stranded castaways and made the show a runaway hit. Bob Denver’s Gilligan was a lovable doofus who screwed things up in just about every episode but then managed to save the day…short of getting the castaways rescued. Mr. Denver was already a TV star by the time "Gilligan’s Island" premiered in 1964. He went into "Gilligan’s Island" after a successful four-year run on "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Mr. Denver played Dobie’s beatnik friend Maynard G. Krebs. Where the comedic focus of "Gilligan’s Island" was on slapstick, "Dobie Gillis" was sophisticated. Bob Denver appeared in over 60 films, TV shows and documentaries. He did a nice take-off on his Maynard G. Krebbs character in the Jimmy Stewart/Sandra Dee comedy "Take Her, She’s Mine." Mr. Denver made a rare dramatic appearance in the Golden Globe nominated "The Sweet Ride" opposite Jacqueline Bisset and Tony Franciosa. Bob Denver starred in three more TV series during his career, none of which caught on with the public. They were "The Good Guys," "Far Out Space Nuts" and "Dusty’s Trail." Mr. Denver’s son is special effects whiz Patrick Denver. So long Little Buddy. Thanks for making our lives more cheerful.
T.J. MCFARLAND Died Sep. 2, 2005
Austin has lost its second music fixture in as many weeks. Like Allen Wayne Damron, who died in August, T.J. McFarland was a familiar face on the Austin music scene. The drummer died of complications from Hepatitis C. Mr. McFarland appeared in the films "The Life of David Gale," "Where the Heart Is" and "Blind Fury."
CHIEF JUSTICE WILLIAM H. REHNQUIST Died Sep. 3, 2005
William H. Rehnquist, the Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court died of thyroid cancer one month shy of his 81st birthday. Mr. Rehnquist was appointed to this nation’s highest court by former-president Richard Nixon in 1971. President Reagan elevated him to Chief Justice on the retirement of Warren Burger in 1986. He was the last remaining justice from the court that decided the controversial Roe v. Wade. Mr. Rehnquist also oversaw the impeachment of former-president Bill Clinton as well as the presidential election controversy of 2000. The Chief Justice appeared as himself in the documentary "Election 2000." He also appeared in the History Channel documentary "In Search of History: The Missing Princes." Thank you for your service to our nation.
EKKEHARD SCHALL Died Sep. 3, 2005
German actor Ekkehard Schall died at age 75. Mr. Schall was a noted stage actor who was a protégé of Bertolt Brecht. Mr. Schall was hired by the noted playwright during an audition in 1952. Mr. Schall became the writer’s son-in-law, and defender of all things Brechtian. Mr. Schall appeared in every major work written by Brecht and defined the way Brecht’s characters should be portrayed for several generations. Mr. Schall appeared in nearly 20 films and TV shows during his career. Seven of those works were screen or TV adaptations of the works of Bertolt Brecht.
TODD WILSON Died Sep. 4, 2005
Filmmaker Todd Wilson died of lung cancer at age 42. Mr. Wilson directed the 2002 film "Rice & Potatoes," which dealt with a Gay relationship between an Asian and a White guy. His last film "Under One Roof" was a comedy dealing with similar subjects as his first feature. "Under One Roof" won prices at film festivals in Span and Brazil. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.
Photographer Christy Balich worked with Mr. Wilson on his film "Under One Roof." The photograph at right is courtesy of her. Ms. Balich remembered working with Mr. Wilson like this: "Todd was a joy to work for--very professional and so very calm and kind. He really valued everyone's help and participation on set, which made for a great creative work environment. He really will be missed..."
PATRICIA MCQUEENY Died Sep. 4, 2005
Agent Patricia McQueeny died at age 77 after a short illness. Ms. McQueeny was Harrison Ford’s agent for 35 years. At one point she represented most of Mr. Ford’s costars from George Lucas’s "American Graffiti," however in 1986 she dropped all of her other clients to just represent Mr. Ford. Ms. McQueeny received ‘special thanks’ credits in the documentary "Derailed: Anatomy of a Train Wreck" and "The Making of American Graffiti."
SY MARSH Died Sep. 5, 2005
Former agent and producer Sy Marsh died at age 86. Mr. Marsh worked with the William Morris Agency before starting his own business. He represented Elvis among others. Mr. Marsh and client Sammy Davis Jr. went into business together, producing several TV shows including Mr. Davis’s 1975 TV series "Sammy and Company."
TOMI BARRETT Died Sep. 8, 2005
Producer/actress/dancer/stunt woman Shirley Williford Kent (stage name Tomi Barrett) died at age 54. Ms. Barrett was the wife of writer/director/actor/stuntman Gary Kent. Ms. Barrett was a dancer hired as a choreographer on Brian DePalma’s "Phantom of the Paradise." Her future husband worked on the same film as a unit manager. Ms. Barrett acted in "The Pyramid" and "Rainy Day Friends," both directed by her husband. The couple acted together in the direct-to-video horror film "The Forest." Ms. Barrett produced and did stunts on her husband’s film "Rainy Day Friends." The movie won the Best Stunt in a Motion Picture award from the International Association of Stuntmen.
CHRISTOPHER PRINS Died Sep. 8, 2005
Costumer Christopher Prins died at age 56. Mr. Prins was one of the foremost costumers for Britain’s costume house CosProp. Mr. Prins was called on by such actors as Albert Finney and Johnny Depp to provide them with just the right look for their film. Mr. Prins worked on such films and TV shows as "Shadow of the Vampire," "The French Lieutenant's Woman," "A Room with a View," "Onegin" and "Mrs. Dalloway."
PERRY STEPHENS Died Sep. 8, 2005
Actor Perry Stephens died of liver disease at age 47. Mr. Stephens worked steady on stage and TV as well as the occasional film role. He was know to soap opera fans for his work in "Loving" and "The Bold and the Beautiful." Mr. Stephens played JFK in the unique HBO biopic "Norma Jean and Marilyn." The movie was different for the gimmick of having two actresses play the same character in the same film. Ashley Judd played the pre-fame Norma Jean Baker while Mira Sorvino played the pop-culture icon Marilyn Monroe. In 2001, Mr. Stephens appeared in the stage play "Judah Ben-Hur."
ANDRE POUSSE Died Sep. 9, 2005
Champion cyclist turned actor Andre Pousse was killed in a car crash at age 85. Mr. Pousse was a champion French bicycle racer during the 1930s and 40s. Mr. Pousse became a celebrity through his sport and in turn met a number of other celebrities. He became a promoter and radio producer. Mr. Pousse turned to acting in the 1960s and became a star of in the French police genre of the 1960s and 70s. He appeared in over 50 films and TV shows. Among Mr. Pousse’s many credits are "Catherine," "The Sicilian Clan," "L’ Insolent," Jacques Deray’s "Cop Story," "The Sewers of Paradise" and "Like a Fish Out of Water."
CLARENCE ‘GATEMOUTH’ BROWN Died Sep. 10, 2005
Grammy-winning guitarist and bluesman extrodinare Clarence ‘Gatemouth’ Brown died of cancer at age 81. Though he had been suffering from lung cancer for a year, his family members believe that his will to live was gone since the destruction of his home in Slidell, Louisiana by Hurricane Katrina. Mr. Brown’s career spanned 60 years. While Mr. Brown was known for his Blues work, he worked in a number of musical genres. Mr. Brown appeared as himself in the Tom Sizemore/Dennis Hopper action film "Ticker." He also appeared in Antoine Fuqua’s excellent concert documentary "Lightning in a Bottle."
ROGER PANCAKE Died Sep. 10, 2005
Actor, art director and property master Roger Pancake died of esophageal cancer at age 71. As an art director, Mr. Pancake worked on Max Baer Jr.’s cult redneck classic "Macon County Line." He also played a highway patrolman in that film. He did double duty as the art director and acting the part of the monster in "The Creature From Black Lake." Mr. Pancake was art director on several other films including "Mansion of the Doomed." His property master credits include the Coen Brother’s classic comedy "Raising Arizona," "Where the Red Fern Grows" and "Midnight Run" among others. Mr. Pancake was also active in front of the camera. His acting credits include "Field of Honor," "I Wanna Hold Your Hand," "The Cat From Outer Space," "Dracula’s Dog," "The Amazing Dobermans" and "The China Syndrome." Mr. Pancake was a long time member of I.A.T.S.E. Local #44 as well as SAG. He served his country in the US Navy during the Korean War.
JERRY STOVIN Died Sep. 10, 2005
Canadian actor Jerry Stovin died of cancer one month shy of his 83rd birthday. Mr. Stovin appeared in a number of films and TV shows during the 1950s, 60s and early 70s. Through his devotion of transcendental meditation, he became a friend of the Beatles. Mr. Stovin worked with Stanley Kubrick, acting in the 1962 film "Lolita." That same year, he appeared with Steve McQueen in "The War Lover." His final film role was in "The Pink Panther Strikes Again." Mr. Stovin appeared in such TV shows as "The Saint," "Dixon of Dock Green" and "Out of the Unknown."
CHRIS SCHENKEL Died Sep. 11, 2005
Veteran sportscaster Chris Schenkel died of emphysema at age 82. Chris Schenkel was one of the pioneers of radio and TV sports broadcasting. He received a Lifetime Achievement Emmy award in 1993. Mr. Schenkel was the voice of the New York Giants NFL team for 13 TV seasons. It was hard not to run across Chris Schenkel if you watched sports during the 1960s and 70s. He was one of the commentators for ABC’s "Wide World of Sports" and well as for "PGA Bowling." He appeared as himself in several films including "Kingpin," "Dreamer," "Greedy" and "Maurie." If you’ve ever seen "Goodbye, Columbus," there is no way you can forget the goofy guy who plays Ali McGraw’s brother. Throughout the movie he is playing the Columbus University record and tries to get Richard Benjamin’s character to listen to it with him. The voice on the record belonged to Chris Schenkel. Chris Schenkel served his country, seeing combat during both WWII and Korea.
OMAR TAL Died Sep. 11, 2005
Film editor and marketing director Omar Tal died of cancer at age 51. Mr. Tal was in charge of marketing and promotion for Bold Films. Mr. Tal had worked on "Slingshot" and the upcoming "Mini’s First Time" for Bold Films. As a film editor, Mr. Tal’s credits include "Moon in Scorpio," "Double Cross" and "Breaking the Silence."
HONEY HARLOW BRUCE Died Sep. 12, 2005
Honey Bruce, the widow of comedian Lenny Bruce died at age 78 after a lengthy illness. Ms. Bruce was working as a stripper using the stage name Honey Harlow when she met and web famed comedian Lenny Bruce. The couple was married for six tumultuous years. Her former husband died of a heroin overdose in 1966. Ms. Bruce won a pardon for her late husband nearly 40 years after his conviction on obscenity charges. Actress Valerie Perrine received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her portrayal of Ms. Bruce in Bob Fosse’s biopic "Lenny." Ms. Bruce appeared as Honey Harlow in the films "Dance Hall Racket" and "Princess of the Nile."
RONALD LEIGH-HUNT Died Sep. 12, 2005
British character actor Ronald Leigh-Hunt died at age 88. Mr. Leigh-Hunt had a lengthy career in film, TV and on stage. He was best known to British kids for his role in the TV series "The Freewheelers." Mr. Leigh-Hunt appeared in over 100 films and TV shows. Horror fans may recognize him from roles in "The Omen," the Patrick Bergin/Randy Quaid version of "Frankenstein" or the 1960 version of "The Hand." Mr. Leigh-Hunts other credits include "Mohammed, Messenger of God," "Who is Killing the Great Chefs of Europe?," "Ike," "Sink the Bismark!," "Le Mans," "Khartoum," "The Liquidator" and "Oscar Wilde."
RICHIE DUPONT Died Sep. 13, 2005
Actor Richie duPont was killed in a house fire at age 24. The young actor was at the beginning of his career. We will never know what his full potential might have been. Mr. duPont worked as a double on the films "Herbie Fully Loaded" and "National Lampoon’s Lost Reality II." He portrayed one of the horses in the well reviewed Berkshire Theater Festival production of "Equus" earlier this year. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.
SANTINO BARRICIELLO Died Sep. 13, 2005
Veteran property master and master craftsman Santino Barriciello died at age 75. He worked in the film and television industry for nearly four decades. Mr. Barriciello was a long time member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 44.
ROBERT WISE Died Sep. 14, 2005
Oscar-winning producer/director and Oscar nominated film editor Robert Wise died of heart failure four days after turning 91 years old. Mr. Wise was the last surviving crew member of Orson Welles’s classic film "Citizen Kane." Mr. Wise received his first Oscar nomination at age 27 for editing "Citizen Kane," the film that critics and film historians call the best movie ever made. Robert Wise was nominated for seven Oscars in various categories during his lengthy career. He also received the Academy’s Irving Thalberg Award in 1967. Robert Wise won four Oscars, a Best Picture and Best Director Oscar for both of the musicals "West Side Story" and "The Sound of Music." Mr. Wise’s other two Oscar nominations were for directing the true-life crime drama "I Want to Live!" and the epic Steve McQueen adventure/war film "The Sand Pebbles."
Robert Wise began work as a sound editor and moved up to film editing. His combined editor credits include "Of Human Bondage," "The Informer," "The Devil and Daniel Webster," "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Bombardier."
Though Robert Wise received many accolades for his epics and musicals, he held an important place in the world of sci-fi and horror filmmaking. Robert Wise edited William Dieterle’s 1939 version of "The Hunchback of Notre Dame." Producer Val Lewton gave Mr. Wise his first job as a director. Mr. Wise worked on three films with Val Lewton. Two of them were the genre films "The Curse of the Cat People" and "The Body Snatcher" with Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi. In 1951, Robert Wise made his contribution to the emerging sci-fi genre. "The Day the Earth Stood Still" was and remains a classic of its form. Michael Rennie and Patricia Neal starred along with a 7-foot robot named Gort who responded to the famous command "Klaatu barada nikto!" In 1963 Robert Wise made the atmospheric "The Haunting." For my money, the best haunted house movie of all time. In 1971 Mr. Wise returned to the sci-fi genre directing the taut and intelligent adaptation of Michael Crichton’s "The Andromeda Strain." He returned to the horror genre in 1977 with the reincarnation thriller "Audrey Rose." Mr. Wise’s last major film was the long-awaited "Star Trek: The Motion Picture."
There were no types of film that Robert Wise was not adept at making. One of my personal favorites is his late entry in the Film Noir genre: "Odds Against Tomorrow." The film tackled the question of racism within the confines of a heist caper. Robert Ryan and Harry Belafonte play thieves thrown together for a payroll heist. Their mutual hatred of each other causes thing to go very badly. His 1948 Western "Blood on the Moon" foreshadowed the more adult oriented Westerns to emerge in the 1950s. Both "The Desert Rats" and "Run Silent, Run Deep" proved that Robert Wise could handle both the action and psychological depth needed to life a war film above the competition.
Robert Wise was known as an actor’s director. His 1958 film "I Want to Live!" told the story of executed murderess Barbara Graham. Susan Hayward won a well-deserved Best Actress Oscar for her performance. Nine actors and actress received Oscar nominations for their work in the films of Robert Wise. Steve McQueen received his lone Best Actor Oscar nomination as the lone wolf navy engineer Jake Holman in the epic "The Sand Pebbles." Japanese actor Mako received a Best Supporting Actor nomination in the same film for playing Po-han, Steve McQueen’s protégé.
There is little doubt that Robert Wise will be best remembered for directing two classic musicals. "West Side Story" was nominated for ten Oscars and won nine. "The Sound of Music" also received ten Oscar nods, winning five. The films speak for themselves.
HENRY KAPLAN Died Sep. 14, 2005
TV director Henry Kaplan died at age 79. Horror fans remember his work as one of the regular directors of Dan Curtis’s hit series "Dark Shadows." The picture at right is of Mr. Kaplan in rehearsals with the cast of the gothic horror soap opera. In 1959, Mr. Kaplan directed a version of Arthur Miller’s "The Crucible" starring Sean Connery for British TV. Other TV credits include the soap operas "Ryan’s Hope," "The Doctors" and "All My Children." In addition to his small screen work, Mr. Kaplan enjoyed success as a stage director on Broadway and in England.
MALCOLM XERXES Died Sep. 14, 2005
Actor/stuntman Malcolm Xerxes committed suicide at age 40. The Toronto police were looking for Mr. Xerxes as a suspect in the shooting of his girlfriend. The police later received a call to a park where Mr. Xerxes had shot himself. He died later of the wound. His girlfriend is still alive in a Toronto hospital. This turn of events is very shocking to his many friends and fans. Malcolm Xerxes was very accessible to fans. Why? Because he was a fan of sci-fi and horror like millions of ordinary people. Mr. Xerxes took an active part in a number of message boards as well as his own website. He was also a frequent guest at a number of fan conventions and did not put up the barrier between himself and the public as do many other celebrities. Though he may not have been as well known as other stars who frequent fan conventions, he was beloved more than most because he did make the effort to connect with his public. He did it in a sincere manner. If you go to the Malcolm Xerxes website, you may get another impression. Of course, the website is designed to promote him as an actor. There is a certain amount of what we in the legal profession call puffing. That didn’t matter to fans. Please don’t get the impression that I am trying to condone the last two days of Malcolm Xerxes’s life. A few days ago, I received an e-mail from a reader who didn’t really care for some of my obits that contained "cautionary tales." I was very happy to get the e-mail, and to open a dialogue with this reader. I hope it continues. I defended my position and gave the reader reasons. I mention this because I am about to launch on another cautionary tale. I’ve been a criminal defense attorney exclusively for the last six years (now 12 and 1/2 years). I’ve handled many murder and domestic violence assault cases. There is a pattern of disrespect for the humanity of the victims in these cases. Many times, there has been a pattern of disrespect for the perpetrator by the victim prior to the act of violence. No one is immune from the temptation to take matters into their own hands. If what the Toronto police suspect took place did actually happen, then Mr. Xerxes is not unlike many clients I have handled. He gave into the momentary temptation to "make things right" and then the stark realization of what he did crashed in on him. It is in this moment of epiphany that one realizes there were so many other options available to them. If you have an anger problem, or are involved with someone who has an anger problem, get help. Maybe ask the other person to pray with you. Doesn’t matter what your creed, pray to whatever higher power you believe in. If you don’t believe in a higher power, then pray to your relationship. Whatever causes you to disrespect the opposite sex (or same sex it that is your bent), then find out why. If you act on it in rage, then you are left with the option of either killing yourself or incarceration. Life is too short to keep killing and harming each other. It doesn’t matter if you are an indigent, or a successful screen star. Unless you get in touch with your humanity, and the humanity of those you claim to love, then you may doom yourself. I was raised by a man who himself was violent. I was fortunate to see my own father turn his life around and make amends to those he hurt. My father was a local politician with a fine public reputation. He was also a person who suffered from manic depression. He had this illness in an age when "getting help" was a sign of weakness. Fortunately he eventually got help and made amends to the many people he had hurt. I was lucky enough to enjoy the last ten years of his life in peace and harmony. He taught me a lot about acceptance of responsibility and the also about forgiveness. I think I learned more about God’s love from my father, an atheist, than from many of the spiritual people I’ve met since becoming a Christian. There is nothing quite as refreshing as coming clean and working toward a better future. Please get help if you need it. It is the STRONG thing to do. For a list of Mr. Xerxes’s credits go to his page at IMDB. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends. Prayers of healing for his girlfriend. Thank you for indulging another rant and "cautionary tale."
GUY GREEN Died Sep. 15, 2005
Oscar winning cinematographer and noted writer/director Guy Green died at age 91. Mr. Green was the cinematographer on four early films by director David Lean. He also worked with Lean as a camera operator on two others. Guy Green won an Oscar for Best Cinematography for Lean’s 1947 film "Great Expectations." Mr. Green also shot David Lean’s films "Oliver Twist," "Madeleine" and "The Passionate Friends." Mr. Green’s work is discussed by famed cinematographer Ernest Diskerson in the opening of the excellent documentary "Visions of Light." The co-founder of the British Society of Cinematographers was the first British Director of Photography to win the Oscar. Mr. Green received the President’s Award for his body of work by the American Society of Cinematographers. Guy Green shot over 20 films during the 1940s and 50s. His cinematographer credits include "Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N.," "Decameron Nights" and the first version of Christopher Isherwood’s "I Am a Camera."
Mr. Green switched gears in the early 1950s and began his career as a director. Mr. Green directed 25 films and TV shows during his career. His 1961 film "The Mark" broke ground for its taboo subject matter. Stuart Whitman received a Best Actor Oscar nomination for his performance in "The Mark" as a potential child molester seeking psychiatric help before he offends. "The Mark" was also nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes. Four years later, Mr. Green wrote, produced and directed "A Patch of Blue." The film received five Oscar nominations and actress Shelly Winters won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar. Mr. Green’s screenplay was honored by a nomination from his peers in the Writer’s Guild. Mr. Green directed one of the better entries in The American Film Theater series of the early 1970s. Stacy Keach starred in the title role of Mr. Green’s "Luther," which dealt with Martin Luther and the Protestant Reformation. Mr. Green’s directorial credits include "Diamondhead," "The Magus," "Jacqueline Susann’s Once is Not Enough," "Walk in the Spring Rain" and "House of Secrets." In 1963, Mr. Green was called on to help finish directing "55 Days at Peking" when Nicholas Ray walked off the film.
SID LUFT Died Sep. 15, 2005
Producer Sid Luft died of a heart attack at age 89. Sid Luft was the third of Judy Garland’s five husbands and father of Lorna and Joey Luft. Mr. Luft produced the 1954 version of "A Star is Born." The film could have been called A Star is Reborn as the George Cukor directed film earned Judy Garland a Best Actress Oscar nomination and brought the troubled actress a much needed success. Sid Luft and Ms Garland were married for 13 years. His other credits include "Kilroy was Here" and "French Leave" as well as several TV specials involving his wife. Mr. Luft was the last surviving husband of Judy Garland. Ms. Garland died of a drug overdose at age 47.
JOSEPH DARUTY Died Sep. 15, 2005
Former Universal exec Joseph Daruty died of cancer at age 68. Mr. Daruty was employed by Universal for nearly 50 years. He worked in various capacities including as Senior VP of Post Production.
EVELYN BROOKS Died Sep. 16, 2005
Actress Evelyn Brooks died at a Florida hospice. Her age was not given. Ms. Brooks worked on the stage Off-Broadway. She relocated to Florida in the 1980s and expanded her career to the screen. He film credits include Burt Reynolds’s "Crew," "All About the Benjamins," "Out of Time" with Denzel Washington, "Folks!" and the upcoming "The Boynton Beach Bereavement Club."
HARRY FREEDMAN Died Sep. 16, 2005
Canadian composer Harry Freedman died of cancer at age 83. Mr. Freedman composed a number of ballets and three symphonies as well as scoring many Canadian films. As a horror fan, one often sits through many turkeys to find a gem. One such gem is the highly disturbing portrait of a woman overcome by religious mania. "Act of the Heart" starred Genevieve Bujold as the woman who spins out of control. Once seen, the film’s ending is hard to forget. Mr. Freedman scored that film as well as many others. His credits include the spooky occult film "The Pyx," "Lies My Father Told Me," "Isabel" and a number of short films.
CONSTANCE MOORE Died Sep. 16, 2005
Actress and singer Constance Moore died of heart failure at age 84. Ms. Moore had a successful singing career before turning to the movies. She appeared in nearly 50 films and TV shows during her career. Ms. Moore was Buster Crabbe’s love interest in the Universal Studio’s serial "Buck Rogers." She played W.C. Field’s long-lost daughter in the comedy classic "You Can’t Cheat an Honest Man." Edgar Bergen and his dummy Charlie McCarthy also co-starred. Ms. Moore appeared with Bergen and McCarthy in a total of three films. Ms. Moore appeared in a number of Western films and several musicals which featured her fine voice. Ms. Moore entertained the troops in Korea with Bob Hope and the USO.
WALTER MARSH Died Sep. 17, 2005
Canadian actor Walter Marsh died at age 83 after a lengthy illness. Mr. Marsh worked steadily on stage, in film and on TV. He appeared in over 70 films and TV shows during his long career. Mr. Marsh also used his talent to help the disabled. He recorded books on tape for the disabled over many years at the University of British Columbia. Mr. Marsh played the barber in Clint Eastwood’s Oscar winning Western "Unforgiven." He was the judge in "The Amy Fischer Story." Other credits include "Knight Moves," "Shoot to Kill," "The X-Files," "Wiseguy" and "MacGyver."
JOHN BROMFIELD Died Sep. 18, 2005
Actor John Bromfield died of kidney failure at age 83. Mr. Bromfield was one of the stars of 1950s TV. He starred in two Western TV series (playing the same character!), which pulled in 40 million viewers a week: "The Sheriff Cochise" and "U.S. Marshall." Monster movie fans remember Mr. Bromfield best as the second male lead opposite John Agar and Lori Nelson in "Revenge of the Creature." He also starred in the forgettable "Curucu, Beast of the Amazon." Other credits include the Film Noir classic "Sorry, Wrong Number." Mr. Bromfield appeared in over 20 films and TV shows during his short career. Following the end of the run of his TV series "U.S. Marshall," Mr. Bromfield retired from acting to fish for a living. Mr. Bromfield was married to and divorced from actress Corinne Calvet and dancer/actress Larri Thomas. He was married to his last wife, Mary for 43 years!
JOEL HIRSCHHORN Died Sep. 18, 2005
Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated composer Joel Hirschhorn died of a heart attack at age 67. Mr. Hirschhorn and his musical collaborator Al Kasha were nominated for four Oscars: three Best Songs and one Best Score. The pair won twice for the Best Song for the compositions "The Morning After" and "We May Never Love Like This Again." Both songs were written for producer Irwin Allen’s blockbuster disaster films "The Poseidon Adventure" and "The Towering Inferno." Mr. Hirschhorn and Mr. Kasha’s other two Oscar nominations were both for the Disney film "Pete’s Dragon." Mr. Hirschhorn also enjoyed success on Broadway, receiving Tony nominations for their work on the plays "David Copperfield" (with Al Kasha) and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers" (with Johnny Mercer and Gene de Paul). Mr. Hirschhorn was also a successful author and journalist. The movie "Pete’s Dragon" was a favorite of my oldest daughter when she was a little girl. The song "Candle on the Water" was very special to me as I was raising my daughter by myself. "Candle on the Water" captured the essence of a parent protecting a child. To me, the song was far superior to the two for which Mr. Hirschhorn won the Oscars, but I’m just feeling sentimental I guess. Joel Hirschhorn scored over 20 films and TV shows including the original version of "Freaky Friday," "The Cheyenne Social Club," "Hot Lead and Cold Feet" and "The North Avenue Irregulars."
RICHARD E. CUHNA Died Sep. 18, 2005
B-movie director Richard E. Cunha died at 83. He recently underwent heart bypass surgery. Mr. Cunha directed several all-time B-movie horror classics. Fans of really bad movies remember his wonderful schlock exploitation films "She Deamons," "Frankenstein’s Daughter," "Missile to the Moon" and "Giant From the Unknown." "She Demons" starred the lovely Irish McCalla ship-wrecked on an island being used to perform terrible Nazi experiments. These are the movies that were so bad they hold a warm place in the hearts of those who grew up watching them. Rest well Mr. Cunha.
SCOTT STEPHENS Died Sep. 19, 2005
Prop Master Scott Stephens died of a heart attack at age 48. Mr. Stephens was responsible for adding realistic props for the actors in such films as "Dances With Wolves," "The Bedroom Window," "Andersonville," "The Clearing," "Freejack" and "Road Trip."
LAWRENCE MILTON Died Sep. 19, 2005
Key grip and camera operator Lawrence Milton died of heart disease at age 94. Mr. Milton was a key grip on several hit TV shows including "Happy Days" and "The Brady Bunch." A Key Grip is an assistant to the cinematographer and gaffer. His responsibility is to create shadow effects and operate the camera crane. Mr. Milton filmed the aftermath of the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor for the US Navy. He was the brother of multi-Oscar winning Sound Editor Franklin Milton and the uncle of cinematographer Gary Milton.
WILLIE HUTCH Died Sep. 19, 2005
Composer Willie Hutch died at age 60. Mr. Hutch wrote or co-wrote a number of songs for several Motown artists. He co-wrote the Jackson 5 hits "I’ll Be There" and "Never Can Say Goodbye." Mr. Hutch scored the films "Foxy Brown," "The Mack" and "Perfume." His songs were used on such films as the Memphis filmed hit "Hustle & Flow," "The Last Dragon" and "Now and Then." Mr. Hutch appeared as himself in the documentary short "Mackin Ain’t Easy." Mr. Hutch was nominated twice for Grammy Awards.
EVA LUX Died Sep. 20, 2005
Adult film actress, fetish model and noted blogger Eva Lux died at age 32. It was reported that Ms. Lux, real name Leticia Lynn Blake died of a heroin overdose. Alsana Sin, a fellow actress, model and blogger stated on her blog site that her friend Eva Lux died just hours after they had filmed a scene together. One of the people who posted a response on Ms. Sin’s website summed up my feelings exactly: "I’m tired of beautiful girls (or anybody) dying of drugs." I was fascinated by reading Ms. Lux’s own blog. It stopped four days before her death. She didn’t talk much about the world of porn, instead, she talked about the world, the daily grind, friends, religion and philosophy. Stay away from drugs folks. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.
SIMON WIESENTHAL Died Sep. 20, 2005
Holocaust survivor and famed Nazi hunter Simon Wiesenthal died in his sleep at age 96. Simon Wiesenthal was a tireless crusader against prejudice. He fought not only anti-Semitism, but prejudice in general. Mr. Wiesenthal survived the Nazi death camps. Nearly 100 of his personal relatives did not. Following the liberation of the Nazi’s Mauthausen death camp by US troops in WWII, Mr. Wiesenthal began a lifelong quest for justice. Through his work and organizational skills, nearly 1,100 Nazi war criminals to justice. Mr. Wiesenthal was a technical advisor on Ronald Neame’s thriller "The Odessa File." His book "The Sunflower" was turned into the film "The Nazi." Mr. Wiesenthal’s book "Max and Helen" became the great Made for TV film. Actor Martin Landau received a CableACE nomination for his portrayal of Mr. Wisenthal in "Max and Helen.". Ben Kingsley was nominated for an Emmy and a Golden Globe for his outstanding performance as Mr. Wiesenthal in Abby Mann’s excellent "Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story." Laurence Olivier’s character in Ira Levin’s "The Boys From Brazil" was inspired in large part by Simon Wiesenthal. Mr. Wiesenthal’s life and work was the subject of several documentaries as well. They include "The Art of Remembrance-Simon Wiesenthal," "Simon Wiesenthal: Freedom is Not a Gift From Heaven" and the Danish TV documentary "Mordere Iblant os." Mr. Wiesenthal founded The Simon Wiesenthal Center. That organization performed a variety of functions. The Wiesenthal Center educated and informed was through its film production company. They produced a number of feature and documentary films including the 1997 Best Documentary Feature Oscar winner "The Long Way Home."
I know this is wrong...to judge others, but I'd like imagine that Mr. Wiesenthal is now resting comfortably in the Bosom of Abraham, looking across the fathomless divide to the tormented in hell, to see the endless pain of Hitler and his minions in total and utter defeat. Thank you for your service to God and humanity Mr. Wiesenthal.
TOBIAS SCHNEEBAUM Died Sep. 20, 2005
Artist, anthropologist and gay activist Tobias Schneebaum died of Parkinson’s Disease at age 84. In the 1950s, Mr. Schneebaum turned a Fulbright Scholarship to study art in Peru into an unforgettable and life changing experience. Through a chain of events, Mr. Schneebaum discovered a tribe of cannibals in the Amazon River basin and was adopted into their culture, even to the point of eating human flesh. Mr. Schneebaum continued his explorations to other primitive cultures after returning from life among cannibals. He wrote about this unusual journey in the 1969 book "Keep the River to Your Right." In 2000, brother and sister filmmakers David and Laurie Shapiro released the documentary "Keep the River to Your Right: A Modern Cannibal Tale." Mr. Schneebaum, at age 78 revisited the tribe who took him in nearly 50 years earlier. The movie won numerous awards including one at the Independent Spirit Awards. Mr. Schneebaum served his country in the US Army during WWII.
GORDON CARROLL Died Sep. 20, 2005
Producer Gordon Carroll died of pneumonia at age 77. I never met a film produced by Gordon Carroll that I didn’t like. Well, almost! Gordon Carroll produced the classic antihero film "Cool Hand Luke." That film credit alone is enough to hold Mr. Carroll in high esteem. Add to that the "Alien" series of films. Considering how great "Alien" and "Aliens" are, one can forgive the rest of the series. Mr. Carroll also produced, and fought for Sam Peckinpah’s nearly lost masterpiece "Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid." Gordon Carroll negotiated and lost with the heads of MGM to release the director’s cut of the James Coburn/Kris Kristofferson film. Mr. Carroll lost and the MGM execs took Peckinpah’s film, butchered it and then released a version that the director disavowed. Fortunately for Peckinpah fans, Ted Turner restored Peckinpah’s version for home video. Fans were finally able to see the movie that critic Pauline Kael raved about before lessor minds ruined it. Mr. Carroll also produced the Jack Lemmon comedy "How to Murder Your Wife," "Blue Thunder" and "The Best of Times." Mr. Carroll served his country as an officer in the US Army during the Korean War.
GENE FORRELL Died Sep. 21, 2005
Composer Gene Forrell died at age 90. Mr. Forrell conducted symphonies all over the world. He composed the score for Francis Thompson’s short film "To Be Alive!" "To Be Alive!" was produced for the 1964 New York World’s Fair. The short film won the Oscar for Best Documentary, Short Subject in 1966. Mr. Forrell had earlier composed the score for director Thompson’s short film "N.Y., N.Y." That film won in its category at Cannes. He also composed the score for the 1964 animated version of "Return to Oz."
PREBEN PHILIPSEN Died Sep. 21, 2005
Danish producer, film distributor and theater chain-founder Preben Philipsen died at age 95. Mr. Philipsen founded the film distribution company Rialto in 1933. In the 1970s he gave that same name to Denmark’s first movie theater chain. Mr. Philipsen produced a number of Danish films during his career.
BILL PARKS Died Sep. 21, 2005
Construction coordinator Bill Parks died of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease at age 90. Mr. Parks worked on over 200 films in a career that stretched back to the early days of WWII. Mr. Parks helped build the sets for such films as "Miracle on 34th Street," "The Ten Commandments," "Roman Holiday," "White Christmas," "Psycho," "Stalag 17," "Paint Your Wagon," "Catch 22," "Marathon Man," "Chinatown," "The Drowning Pool," "The Day of the Dolphin," "Shampoo" and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind." Mr. Parks was the father of Oscar-nominated special effects whiz Stan Parks (Hollow Man). Mr. Parks served his country in the Seabees during WWII. He was a long-time member of I.A.T.S.E. Local #44.
URSULA CAVALCANTI Died Sep. 22, 2005
Italian adult film actress Ursula Cavalcanti died of cancer just one month after being diagnosed with the disease. Ms. Cavalcanti was very popular in her native country. She also worked in productions by US filmmakers working in Europe.
SADAMASA ARIKAWA Died Sep. 22, 2005
Another part of my childhood has passed away. My love of monster movies started at a very earlier age. The second film I saw in the theater was "King Kong vs. Godzilla." The giant rubber monsters played a big part in the development of my imagination. Special effects director Sadamasa Arikawa died of lung cancer at age 80. Mr. Arikawa began his career as director of photographic special effects under master special effects director Eiji Tsuburaya. The pair were responsible for the classic Japanese monster movie "Gojira." A much different, but no less popular version of the same film was released in the US as "Godzilla." Mr. Arikawa worked as director of photographic effects on a number of films before becoming a director of special effects himself. Mr. Arikawa’s many credits (most of which I’ve seen) include the first "Godzilla" sequel "Gigantis: The Fire Monster," "Rodan," " King Kong vs. Godzilla," "Varan the Unbelievable," "Attack of the Mushroom People," "Atragon," "The Mysterians," "Battle in Outer Space," "Storm Over the Pacific," "Ghidrah," "Godzilla vs. Mothra," "Monster Zero" and "Yog: The Monster From Space." Mr. Arikawa was also a producer on the popular Japanese TV series "Ultraman."
JULIE ROBBINS Died Sep. 22, 2005
Adult film actress Julie Robbins died in a one-car accident. Ms. Robbins (AKA Brandy Koonts) was trapped in her vehicle after it rolled over and burst into flames. She was 26 years old. Julie Robbins is the third adult film actress to die this month. Ms. Robbins made over 40 videos for such top adult industry companies as Vivid Video, Wicked Pictures and Sin City. She also operated an Internet website, which will remain open to raise funds for the care of her 7-year-old daughter. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.
CHARLEY GORMLEY Died Sep. 22, 2005
Scottish writer/director Charley Gormley died of cancer at age 67. Mr. Gormley began his career making documentaries and industrial films in Scotland during the 1960s. He founded Tree Films with "Local Hero" director Bill Forsyth. Of course, this was long before the two broke out into feature films. During his documentary days, Mr. Gormley supplemented his income by writing scripts for adult films being shot in Denmark, most notably "Blue Movie." Mr. Gormley wrote the feature films "Heavenly Pursuits" and "Living Apart Together." He later directed the TV movies "Down Among the Big Boys" and "The Bogie Man."
JOSEPH WOLF Died Sep. 22, 2005
Producer Joseph Wolf died of complications from injuries suffered in a fall. Horror movie fans remember Mr. Wolf as the man who produced numerous genre films during the slasher days of the 1980s. Mr. Wolf was an executive producer on "Halloween II" and "Halloween III: Season of the Witch." He also produced the original "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Other credits include "Blood Beach," "Fade to Black," "Children of the Living Dead" and "Hellbent." Mr. Wolf produced two of Linda Blair’s films: "Roller Boogie" and "Hell Night."
GREG MARTELL Died Sep. 22, 2005
Actor Greg Martell died of Parkinson’s Disease at age 87. One of my earliest monster movie memories was of watching the stop-motion animation film "Dinosaurus!" I remember my pre-school laughter as I watched the scene in which a caveman came face to face with a woman in curlers and covered in face cream. Both the woman and the caveman ran away in fear. Greg Martell was the actor playing the caveman (pictured at right) in the low-budget movie. Greg Martell appeared in over 60 films and TV shows. He made his debut in a small role in the Film Noir classic "Kiss of Death." Other film appearances include "Winchester ’73," "The Glory Brigade," the original version of "Ransom," "Somebody Up There Likes Me," "Gunfight at the O.K. Corral," "The Cincinnati Kid" and "A Patch of Blue." Mr. Martell served his country during WWII."
LORD BRABOURNE Died Sep. 23, 2005
Oscar and BAFTA nominated producer John Brabourne died at age 80. Lord Brabourne was the son-in-law of the late Lord Mountbatten. Lord Brabourne received two Best Picture Oscar nominations for Franco Zeffirelli’s wonderful "Romeo and Juliet" and David Lean’s "A Passage to India." Lord Brabourne also produced a series of films based on the works of Agatha Christie. "Murder on the Orient Express" was the first and the best of the series. It received six Oscar nominations and earned Ingrid Berman a Best Supporting Actress win. Other movies in the series are "Death on the Nile," "The Mirror Crack’d" and "Evil Under the Sun." Lord Bradbourne produced one of my favorite war films: "Sink the Bismark!" Lord Brabourne’s mother, his 14-year-old son Nicholas and father-in-law Lord Mountbatten were killed on August 27, 1979 when the IRA planted a bomb on their boat.
GEORGE CROONENBERGHS Died Sep. 23, 2005
Fly fisherman George Croonenberghs died at age 87. Mr. Croonenberghs was a friend of Norman MacLeans, the author of "A River Runs Through It." He was taught the art of fly-fishing and tying flies by Mr. MacLeans’ father. He was technical advisor to director Robert Redford on the excellent adaptation of Mr. MacLean’s book. Mr. Croonenberghs had promised his lifelong friend that he would ensure the film was accurate. He taught actors Brad Pitt and Craif Scheffer the fine art of fly fishing for their roles in the film. Mr. MacLean died in 1990, two years before the release of "A River Runs Through It."
ROGER BRIERLEY Died Sep. 23, 2005
British character actor Roger Brierley died of a heart attack at age 70. Mr. Brierley appeared in over 80 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. He was one of the terrorists intent on blowing up the Eiffel Tower during the opening sequence of "Superman II." Mr. Brierley played Sherlock Holmes father in Barry Levinson’s "Young Sherlock Holmes." Other credits include "The Wicked Lady," "A Fish Called Wanda" and "About a Boy."
DANIEL WHITNER Died Sep. 23, 2005
Actor Daniel Whitner died of pancreatic cancer at age 53. Mr. Whitner worked on stage as well as in film and on TV. Mr. Whitner appeared "The Family Man," "People I Know," "NYPD Blue," "Law & Order," "Third Watch," "Another World" and "One Life to Live." Mr. Whitner also did voice work on several audio books as well as the video game "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas."
TOMMY BOND Died Sep. 24, 2005
Tommy Bond, one of the last surviving cast members from the "Our Gang" series died of heart disease at age 79. Though Mr. Bond started out playing a character named Tommy in the Hal Roach comedy series, he was best know for playing his second character, Butch the bully. Most of his 80+ film appearances were in the "Our Gang" AKA "The Little Rascals" serials. As he grew older, Tommy Bond was a regular in the "Five Little Peppers" comedy serial. He played Joey Pepper in the Western comedy films. He also played Jimmy Olsen to Kirk Alyn’s Superman in 30 episodes of the serials "Superman" and "Atom Man vs. Superman." He later turned down the chance to play Jimmy Olsen on the George Reeves TV series version of "Superman." Mr. Bond retired from acting in 1951 and went into the fledgling TV industry where he remained until his retirement in the 1990s. Mr. Bond’s son, Thomas R. Bond II was a child prodigy radio journalist, and is now a producer and the owner of the production company "Biograph."
JERRY LAWRENCE Died Sep. 24, 2005
TV announcer Jerry Lawrence died at age 93. Mr. Lawrence worked in both radio and TV, announcing several shows during the early days of TV. He was the announcer for the TV game show "Truth or Consequences" in 1954 and 55. Jack Bailey was the emcee at the time. Bob Barker began his first stint as emcee one year later. Mr. Lawrence also did occasional acting roles. His credits include "The Donna Reed Show," Dragnet," "X-15" and "The Hitch-Hiker."
ANTONIO DROVE Died Sep. 24, 2005
Spanish writer/director Antonio Drove died at age 62 after a lengthy illness. Mr. Drove wrote and directed a dozen films. Due to the control of the Spanish film industry under the Franco regime, Mr. Drove never really attained the stature he was capable of. Mr. Drove was nominated for a Goya Award for Best Screenplay Adapted for "The Tunnel." Jane Seymour and Peter Weller starred in the film. Mr. Drove also acted in several films including the 1982 movie "Best Seller."
JOJO D’AMORE Died Sep. 24, 2005
Actor and comedian JoJo D’Amore died of cancer at age 74. Mr. D’Amore was a stand-up comedian who was a friend of Lenny Bruce. Mr. D’Amore appeared as himself in the documentary "Lenny Bruce: Swear to Tell the Truth" (available from First Run Features). His biggest role as an actor came in the comedy crime caper "The Doberman Gang." The film spawned two sequels. Mr. D’Amore also appeared in "Dracula’s Dog," "Mansion of Doom," "Alligator," "The Sword and the Sorcerer" and "The Idol Maker."
DENVER MATTSON Died Sep. 24, 2005
Veteran stuntman and actor Denver Mattson died at age 68. Mr. Mattson appeared in numerous films during his lengthy career. Mr. Mattson was adept at a multitude of stunt skills including boatwork, car jumps, fencing, fire burns, 50 ft + high falls, stage combat, stair falls and sword Fighting. Mr. Mattson’s fire burn in the Raquel Welch film "Flare Up" is considered by most stuntmen as one of the best burns in film history. Mr. Mattson’s many film credits include "Lethal Weapon 4," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," "Universal Soldier," "Unlawful Entry," "Sleepwalkers," "Police Academy," "Bad Boys," "John Carpenter's The Thing," "1941," "The Hindenburg," "The Master Gunfighter," "The Towering Inferno," "Earthquake," "Cleopatra Jones," "Battle for the Planet of the Apes," "The Poseidon Adventure" and "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes." Mr. Mattson served his country in the US Army.
DON ADAMS Died Sept. 25, 2005
Laughter unites generations. Laughter cuts across racial lines, as well as religious and political lines. Laughter has the power to heal pain, as well endure it. Those who have the gift of making us laugh are a blessing to the rest of us. Don Adams was one such man. For decades, Don Adams entertained millions through the medium of TV. Sure, he made a couple of films and also was seen by thousands in Vegas and other live performances, but Don Adams was a TV star. As the star of Mel Brook’s hilarious TV series "Get Smart," Don Adams entertained both young and old alike. The spy spoof had Adams playing agent Maxwell Smart along with sidekick Agent 99 played by Barbara Feldon. Adams’s character was more than a bit inept, but he always found a way to save the day. As a child of the 60s I enjoyed the slapstick antics of Mr. Adams. I had to watch the opening and closing credits or the episode would not be complete. You all know the gags. I was a kid. I laughed every time Mr. Adams got his nose busted by that door in the closing credits. Being somewhat of a klutz as a kid, I identified with a grown up who shared that trait with me. As a parent in the 80s and 90s I enjoyed sharing reruns of "Get Smart" with my kids. Watching their laughter as they discovered one of the joys of my childhood. I also enjoyed rediscovering the more adult humor, which I missed as a kid. Mr. Adams also entertained my children with his voice work in the cartoon series "Inspector Gadget." It was nice to have such shows that could be shared and used as bonding tools between my children and myself. I’m sure I was not alone in that regard.
On a more personal level, Mr. Adams passing hits close to home. Many of my readers also frequent The Google alt.obit board. Though there are many political battles waged on that message board, there is camaraderie among the posters when tragedy strikes. Actor and film historian Jim Beaver is a regular poster on the board. His knowledge of the movie business and the information he shares make for some of the most interesting reading on the message board. He is Don Adams son-in-law. His wife, Cecily Adams was an actress and casting director who died tragically of cancer at an early age. Mr. Beaver shared his pain and the pain of his father-in-law during that tragic time with those of us on the alt.obit board. When my own daughter Christy was near death’s door, Mr. Beaver offered his support and prayers for my family. Though I’ve never met him in person, like many others on the alt.obit board, he is cyber family. For Mr. Beaver, his young daughter Madeline Rose and the rest of Don Adams family I ask for prayers of comfort.
Don Adams served his country in combat during WWII as a US Marine. He was also a Marine Drill Instructor. Thanks for the joy your laughter brought to the world. Thanks for you service to your nation, for putting yourself in harms way when freedom was threatened and for training other young men how to be among The Few and The Proud.
HELEN CRESSWELL Died Sep. 26, 2005
BAFTA-winning writer Helen Cresswell died of cancer at age 71. Ms. Cresswell received the Writer’s Award for her many children’s stories at the 2000 BAFTAs. In 1996 Ms. Cresswell also shared a Best Children’s Writing BAFTA nomination with Roger Singleton-Turner for "The Demon Headmaster." Her book "Lizzie Dripping" was turned into a British TV series in 1973. Ms. Cresswell wrote for a number of other children’s TV shows. Ms. Cresswell was primarily a book writer. She won The Phoenix Award as well as being runner-up for four Carnegie Medals.
BURTON SHARP Died Sep. 25, 2005
ADR coordinator Burton Sharp died of cancer at age 74. Mr. Sharp was the founder of ADR Voice Services. His company provided ADR work for numerous films. Mr. Sharp was the ADR coordinator on such films as "Dances With Wolves," "The Seventh Sign," "Bat*21," "Glory," "Born on the Fourth of July," "The Doors," "At Play in the Fields of the Lord," "Bram Stoker’s Dracula," "Army of Darkness," "Dave," "The Last Seduction," "Stargate," "Dumb & Dumber," "Se7en," "Independence Day," "Good Will Hunting," the remake of "Psycho," "Black Hawk Down" and "The Great Raid." Mr. Sharp served his country in the US Air Force during the Korean War.
JERRY JUHL Died Sep. 26, 2005
Emmy-winning writer Jerry Juhl died of cancer. Mr. Juhl was the first person to be hired by Jim Henson. The pair worked together starting in 1961. Mr. Juhl was nominated for seven Emmy Awards for his work on "The Muppet Show" and "The Jim Henson Hour." Mr. Juhl shared an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 1981 for an episode of "The Muppet Show." Mr. Juhl also received a WGA Award for "A Muppet Family Christmas." Mr. Juhl’s film credits include "The Muppet Movie," "The Great Muppet Caper," "The Muppet Christmas Carol" and "Muppet Treasure Island."
WILLEM VAN DE SANDE BAKHUYZEN Died Sep. 27, 2005
Award-winning Dutch film and TV director Willem van de Sande Bakhuyzen died of colon cancer at age 47. Mr. Bayhuyzen moved from theater to behind the camera in the 1990s. He won five major awards at various film festivals during the last five years. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.
ROGER TREVILLE Died Sep. 27, 2005
French actor Roger Treville died of natural causes at age 102! Mr. Treville’s film career dated back to the silent film era. Mr. Treville appeared in such films as "Pontius Pilate," "Paris Holiday," "How to Steal a Million" and Glenn Ford’s "The Green Glove." Mr. Treville dubbed Jimmy Stewart’s voice in the French version of Alfred Hitchcock’s "Vertigo."
RONALD GOLIAS Died Sep. 27, 2005
Brazilian comedian Ronald Golias died of multiple organ failure at age 76. Mr. Golias was one of the most popular TV comedians in Brazil during the 1950s and 60. His greatest success was in the 1967 TV series "The Trapo Family."
BRUCE JOHNSON Died Sep. 27, 2005
Emmy-nominated producer Bruce Johnson died of heart failure at age 66. Mr. Johnson shared an Emmy nomination for producing "Mork and Mindy." Mr. Johnson produced a number of TV series including "Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C.," "Arnie," "Alice" and "Webster." Mr. Johnson also wrote for several TV series including "The Doris Day Show."
SIG FROHLICH Died Sep. 30, 2005
Actor Sig Frohlich died of pneumonia at the Kaiser Permanente Medical facility in Los Angeles. The 95-year-old actor was a long time member of SAG, joining in 1937! He had a long time professional relationship with Mickey Rooney. He replaced Mickey Rooney’s stand-in Dick Paxton in the late 1930s. The two worked together until the mid 1960s. Mr. Frohlich worked in other films besides those he did with Mickey Rooney. He was one of the flying Monkeys in "The Wizard of Oz." His pre-WWII credits include "Mutiny on the Bounty" and "A Tale of Two Cities." During WWII Mr. Frohlich was a gunner on a B-24. He returned to Hollywood following the war and continued to work. His later film credits include the original version of "Ransom," "The Red Badge of Courage," "Jo Jo Dancer, You’re Life is Calling," "American Flyers," "True Confessions," "Annie," "Harry and Walter Go to New York" and "Once is Not Enough." Mr. Frohlich worked with Mickey Rooney in "Words and Music," "The Strip," "Riffraff," "Andy Hardy Comes Home," "Killer McCoy," "The Atomic Kid," "The Twinkle in God's Eye," "A Nice Little Bank That Should Be Robbed," "Off Limits" and the short-lived TV series "Hey Mulligan."
