June 2006 Film World Obituaries

ALLAN PRIOR Died June 1, 2006

Award-winning screenwriter Allan Prior died at age 84. Mr. Prior won the Writer’s Guild of Great Britain’s Best British Drama/Series Script award for his work on the TV series "Z Cars." The 1962 series ran for 16 years. It also spawned the spin off series "Softly, Softly," which he also wrote for. Mr. Prior was one of the founding writers on the TV show. Mr. Prior wrote for many noted British TV shows including "Blake’s 7" and "Coronation Street." He was the father of Steeleye Span lead singer Maddy Prior. Allan Prior served his country in the RAF during WWII.

VINCE WELNICK Died June 2, 2006

Keyboardist Vince Welnick died of an undisclosed injury at age 55. News reports have said that family members say it appears to be a suicide. Mr. Welnick was a member of the bands The Grateful Dead, The Tubes and Todd Rundgren. Mr. Welnick’s teenage band The Beans eventually became The Tubes. He worked at the keyboardist for The Grateful Dead from 1990 until the group disbanded in 1995. As a member of The Tubes, Mr. Welnick appeared in the films and TV specials "Alice Cooper and Friends," "Cracking Up," "Cher…Special" and "Xanadu." He also appeared in the movie "Ladies and Gentlemen, the Fabulous Stains."

LEON POWNALL Died June 2, 2006

Canadian actor Leon Pownall died of cancer at age 63. Mr. Pownall enjoyed a successful stage and screen career. He was a frequent performer at the Stratford Festival for nearly 40 years. Mr. Pownall appeared in nearly 40 films and TV shows. He played McAlistar in "Dead Poets Society." Mr. Pownall also had a nice supporting role in the excellent Canadian TV movie "Hiroshima," in which portrayed General George C. Marshall. Other credits include "Wiseguy," "Road to Avonlea" and "The Day Reagan Was Shot." Mr. Pownall was nominated for the Canadian Gemini Award for "Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series" for his work in the mini series "The Sleep Room."

WILLIAM DRISKILL Died June 2, 2006

Screenwriter William Driskill died of lung cancer at age 76. Mr. Driskill wrote both feature films and TV episodes. His credits include the TV shows "Highway Patrol," "Maverick," "The Alaskans" and "Tarzan."

EDWARD YATES Died June 2, 2006

Director Ed Yates died at age 87. Mr. Yates directed and produced the TV show "American Bandstand" for 17 years. He began with the show when it was a local Philadelphia program. Mr. Yates stayed with the show from 1952 until 1969. Mr. Yates served his country in the military during WWII.

JOHNNY GRANDE Died June 2, 2006

Rock and Roll pioneer Johnny Grande died in his sleep at age 76. Mr. Grande was one of the founding members of Bill Haley and the Comets. He played with the band from 1949 through 1962. He rejoined the band in 1989 and played with the until poor health forced him to stop. Mr. Grande was the piano player for Bill Haley and the Comets. He played on the classic record "Rock Around the Clock." The song was featured over the opening credits of the film "Blackboard Jungle" and on the soundtracks to a multitude of other films and TV shows including "American Graffiti" and "Happy Days." He appeared in with the band in the films "Rock Around the Clock" and "Don’t Knock the Rock."

RONALD CASS Died June 2, 2006

Writer, composer Ronald Cass died at age 93. Mr. Cass wrote the scripts and composed music for three films starring British pop star Cliff Richard: "The Young Ones," "Summer Holiday" and "Wonderful Life." Mr. Cass also wrote for the TV series "This is Tom Jones." He wrote the original screenplay for Ken Russell’s 1964 film "French Dressing."

BRIAN MILLS Died June 3, 2006

British TV director Brian Mills died at age 72. Mr. Mills directed a number of episodes of the long-running British TV series "Coronation Street." He was the only director to helm episodes in each of the five decades in which the series has aired. Other credits include "Alas, Vegas," "The Spoils of War" and "The Cuckoo Waltz."

DICK ANDERSON Died June 3, 2006

Propmaker Dick Anderson died at age 73. Mr. Anderson was a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 44.

ZAKO HESKIJA Died June 3, 2006

Bulgarian film director Zeko Heskija died at age 83. Mr. Heskija was nominated for the Palm d’Or at Cannes for his 1966 debut film "Torrid Noon."

JOHN HORTON Died June 4, 2006

Army veteran turned public relations representative between the film industry and the US government John Horton died of liver failure at age 87. Mr. Horton served his country in the US Army during WWII. Mr. Horton acted as the military liaison on a number of films. He helped filmmakers like Clint Eastwood and Francis Ford Coppola gain access to military equipment and other services for a number of films. Mr. Horton’s credits include "Top Gun," "The Mission," "Gardens of Stone," "The Hunt for Red October" "In the Line of Fire" and "A Few Good Men."

ALEC BREGONZI Died June 4, 2006

British actor Alec Bregonzi died at age 76. Mr. Bregonzi worked on stage, film and TV. His career spanned 50 years. Mr. Bregonzi was adept at both comedy and drama. His credits include the TV series "The Two Ronnies," "Hancock’s Half Hour," "Spike Milligan," "It’s Saturday Night," "Steptoe and Son" and many others. His film credits include "Carry on Sergeant," "Georgy Girl," "Cry Wolf" and "School For Sex."

MATT LATTIMORE Died June 4, 2006

Actor Matt Lattimore died of undisclosed causes at age 45. Mr. Lattimore was a successful actor on many, many TV commercials. He also appeared in a handful of films including "Sasquatch Hunters," "In Your Face," "Hunter’s Moon" and "In Your Face."

BILLY PRESTON Died June 5, 2006

Musician Billy Preston died of kidney failure. While George Martin and Brian Epstein are more deserving of the title, Billy Preston was often called the "Fifth Beatle." This was due to the fact he played on the last three Beatle albums and was the only non-Beatle to get a label credit on a Beatle record. He appeared in the film "Let It Be" where he played with the Fab Four in the studio and during the famous Rooftop Concert. Mr. Preston first met the Beatles in Germany during the early 1960s. Billy Preston was playing in Little Richard’s backup band at the time. The Beatles opened up for Little Richard for part of the tour. Beatle George Harrison struck up a friendship with Billy Preston that lasted until the youngest Beatle’s death in November of 2001. Billy Preston was among the many stars who joined George Harrison on stage in Madison Square Garden for the famous benefit "The Concert For Bangladesh." Billy Preston enjoyed success away from the Beatles also. His hits include the very funky instrumental "Outta Space." "Outta Space" was featured in the landmark anti-drugs TV movie "Go Ask Alice." The song played during the scene in which Alice first used LSD. Other songs by Billy Preston include "You Are So Beautiful," "Will It Go Round In Circles" and "Nothing From Nothing." These songs were featured on the soundtracks for "Mother, Jugs and Speed," "Muppets in Space," "Wired," "Carlito’s Way" and "Modern Romance." Mr. Preston’s acting credits include "Blues Brothers 2000," "Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band" and "St. Louis Blues."

HODA SULTAN Died June 5, 2006

Egyptian singer/actress Hoda Sultan died at age 80. Ms. Sultan enjoyed a successful film career during the 1950s and 60s, although she continued to work after that busy era. She was married for 15 years to extremely popular Egyptian movie star Farid Shawqi. The couple appeared in 17 films together from 1950 through 1962. They divorced in 1965. Mr. Shawqi died in 1998 and appeared in nearly 400 films!

ASOKA PERERA Died June 6, 2006

Producer, production assistant and manager Asoka Perera died of a heart attack at age 55. Mr. Perera worked on a number of international productions set in Asia. His credits in various capacities include "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom," "Indochine," "The Promise," "The Father and the Son," "Bloodsport 2," "Jungle Book 2" and "The Iron Triangle."

KENNETH CALIHAN Died June 6, 2006

Kenneth Callihan died at age 59. The I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 member worked in property.

HOWARD ROSENSTONE Died June 7, 2006

Theatrical agent Howard Rosenstone died at age 68. Mr. Rosenstone represented such playwrights as David Mamet and Wallace Shawn. He appeared as a Mafia boss in the Davis Mamet/Shel Silverstein crime comedy "Things Change."

INGO PREMINGER Died June 7, 2006

Oscar-nominated producer Ingo Preminger died at age 95. He was the brother of Oscar-nominated director Otto Preminger. Ingo Preminger was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar for the Robert Altman film "M*A*S*H." The screenplay was written by Ring Lardner Jr. Ingo Preminger had been an agent for Hollywood writers during the McCarthy era. He represented Mr. Lardner and also Dalton Trumbo. The two blacklisted writers were able to work with ‘fronts’ due to Mr. Preminger’s help. When the blacklist was lifted, Mr. Lardner brought the novel "M*A*S*H." to Mr. Preminger who then took it to FOX. Mr. Preminger was the head of Ingo Preminger productions. His company produced "M*A*S*H." as well as "The Last of the Cowboys." Mr. Preminger also produced the spy thriller "The Salzberg Connection," which starred Barry Newman of "Vanishing Point" fame. Mr. Preminger appeared as himself in the 1999 documentary about his brother "Otto Preminger." His brother was nominated for three Best Director Oscars for "Laura," "Anatomy of a Murder" and "The Cardinal." Otto Preminger died in 1986.

ROBERT DONNER Died June 8, 2006

Veteran character actor Robert Donner died of a heart attack at age 75. Mr. Donner appeared in over 120 films and TV shows. He had one of the most familiar faces in TV and film Westerns. He appeared in six John Wayne films: "The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance," "El Dorado," "Chisum," "The Undefeated," "Rio Lobo" and "Rio Bravo." He worked with his friend Clint Eastwood in "Rawhide" and "High Plains Drifter." Mr. Donner played Boss Shorty in the classic "Cool Hand Luke." He played a cop who puts the bulldozers in place in the cult classic "Vanishing Point." Other feature film credits include "Fool’s Parade," "One More Train to Rob," "Zigzag," "The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing," "Bite the Bullet," "The Last Hard Men," "Under the Rainbow" and the upcoming "Hoot." It would be easier to list the TV shows from the 1960s through today that Mr. Donner DID NOT appear in! He had the recurring role of Exidor on the Robin Williams TV series "Mork and Mindy." Mr. Donner played Yancy Tucker on "The Waltons."

ALAN R. JORDON Died June 8, 2006

Actor/stuntman Alan R. Jordon died at age 57. Mr. Jordon acted in numerous TV shows and films. He also worked as a stuntman on such shows as HBO’s "Deadwood" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective." Mr. Jordon’s many acting credits include guest roles in such TV shows as "Knight Rider," "Friday the 13^th," "Hill Street Blues" and "Falcon Crest." His film credits include "Cocoon: The Return" and "South Beach."

AUDREY CAMPBELL Died June 8, 2006

Exploitation star Audrey Campbell died at age 76. Ms. Campbell was the star of three successful sexploitation films from the mid 1960s. She played the title character in "Olga’s Girls," "Olga’s House of Shame" and "White Slaves of Chinatown." Olga was an iron-fisted, leather clad dominatrix who knew how to keep her girls in line. The nudie films were directed by Joe W. Sarno. He also directed Ms. Campbell in "Lash of Lush" and "Sins in the Suburbs." Audrey Campbell’s other exploitation credits include "50,000 Years B.C. (Before Clothes)," "1000 Shapes of a Female" and "The Sexperts." Most of her films have been released on DVD and are available from Something Weird Video. Ms. Campbell did the commentary track on the "Olga’s Girls" DVD. (Not a plug, just FYI.)

RICHARD WARREN PUGH Died June 9, 2006

Broadway actor Richard Warren Pugh died of undisclosed causes at age 55. Mr. Pugh was a member of the original New York cast of "Phantom of the Opera." His other stage credits on Broaway include revivals of "The Music Man" and "Zorba" as well as original productions of "Sweeney Todd" and "Copperfield." Mr. Pugh was a member of the chorus in Disney’s animated film "Pocahantas."

ENZO SICILIANO Died June 9, 2006

Italian writer Enzo Siciliano died at age 72. Mr. Siciliano was a noted novelist and journalist. He also wrote a biography of famed Italian director Pier Paolo Pasolini. His novel "Who Killed Pasolini?" was turned into a 1995 film. His works "La Coppia" and "Io e Lui" were also turned into films. Mr. Siciliano appeared in Pasolini’s film "The Gospel According to St. Matthew" and Bernardo Bertoluci’s "Luna."

RUSTY HANSON Died June 10, 2006

Stuntman Rusty Hanson died of an undisclosed illness at age 39. Mr. Hanson performed stunts in "Jurassic Park," "Pontiac Moon," "Jingle All the Way," James Cameron’s "Titanic," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "Prefontaine," "Sleepers," "The Cure" and "Mathilda" among others. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

JOHN MILTON KENNEDY Died June 11, 2006

Radio and TV announcer John Milton Kennedy twelve days shy of his 94^th birthday. Mr. Kennedy had a lengthy career that included announcing for "The Lux Radio Theater." He was the announcer for the TV show "The Loretta Young Show." He starred in the 1949 TV series "Armchair Detective." He also lent his vocal talents to the Doris Day version of "Lullaby of Broadway."

TIM HILDEBRANT Died June 12, 2006

Famed fantasy artist Tim Hildebrant died of complications related to diabetes at age 67. Mr. Hildebrant and his twin brother Greg are world-renowned for their fantasy artwork. The Brothers Hildebrant have illustrated thousands of books, magazines and movie posters. Tim Hildebrandt is the man who drew the original "Star Wars" movie poster. He was also known by millions of J.R.R. Tolkien fans for his illustrations of the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy and "The Hobbit." His artwork was featured on hundreds of Tolkien calendars. Mr. Hildebrant appeared as himself in the documentaries "Secrets of Middle Earth: Inside Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings" and "Secrets of Middle Earth: Inside Tolkien’s The Hobbit."

GYORGY LIGETI Died June 12, 2006

Famed composer Gyorgy Ligeti died at age 83. Stanley Kubrick used Mr. Ligeti’s music in his films "2001: A Space Odyssey," "The Shining" and "Eyes Wide Shut." His work was also featured in films such as Michael Mann’s "Heat," "2010" and "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Mr. Ligeti appeared as himself in the documentary "Stanley Kubrick: A Life in Pictures."

MIKE CHEVALIER Died June 12, 2006

Cinematographer and cameraman Mike Chevalier died of a heart attack while participating in a Hash House Harriers run. He was 62 years old. The Hash House Harriers are groups world wide who like to finish up a run with cold beer. The group was founded in England in the 1930s. Instead of a pub crawl, I guess it is a pub run or jog. Mike Chevalier worked behind the camera in various capacities. He was a camera operator, assistant cameraman, director of photography and cinematographer. Mr. Chevalier was cinematographer on the award-winning documentary "16 Days of Glory," which covered the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. Mr. Chevalier worked on such films as "Superman," "Rocky II," "Big Wednesday," "1941," "Rocky III," "Heartbrteak Ridge," "Colors" and "JFK."

GEORGE KANE Died June 13, 2006

Retired actor George Kane died. His age and cause of death was not disclosed. Mr. Kane appeared in such films and TV shows as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Thriller" and "The Naked City." Mr. Kane served his country in the US Navy during WWII.

JUDITH WOLINSKY Died June 13, 2006

Producer Judith Wolinsky died of cancer. Ms. Wolinsky was a collaborator with director Henry Jaglom. Her credits include "New Year's Day," "Babyfever," "Last Summer in the Hamptons" and "Déjà Vu."

CAROL STAYER Died June 13, 2006

Social worker and actress Carol Stayer died of a stroke at age 78. Ms. Stayer worked for the State of Maryland for over 30 years. In addition to acting in regional theater in Maryland, Ms. Stayer appeared in the John Waters film "Pecker" as well as the TV series "Homicide: Life on the Streets."

MONTY BERMAN Died June 14, 2006

Producer/cinematographer/director Monty Berman died at age 94. Mr. Berman rose from camera operator and cinematographer to successful B-movie movie producer. Horror movie fans remember Mr. Berman for producing such films as "Blood of the Vampire," "The Crawling Eye," "Jack the Ripper" and "Mania." Mr. Berman was partners with producer Robert Baker. The pair made over 30 films together. Mr. Berman also photographed and directed a number of them. He was an assistant camera operator on Carol Reed’s classic Film Noir "The Third Man." Mr. Berman later produced several TV series including "The Saint."

BILL F. BLAIR Died June 14, 2006

It is with personal sadness that I write this tribute. Bill F. Blair died at age 75. Bill Blair was an independent film producer. He was also the founder of VCI Entertainment. Way back when Entertainment Insiders was nothing more than a fanboy website, we were thinking of ways to turn what we had into a professional entertainment magazine. I started the DVD page by contacting every DVD distributor listed in the Leonard Maltin TV guide with the offer of a permanent link on our website in exchange for DVD screeners. At first only a few smaller DVD houses responded. After several months in which we built up a review archive of 100 reviews, did we begin to get responses from the major studios. Bill Blair's VCI Entertainment was the very first DVD company to respond to my offer. Today, Einsiders.com has several thousand DVD reviews in our archives and our various critics have had review quotes posted on the occasional DVD box or movie poster. Bill Blair and the folks at VCI played a big part in the evolution of EInsiders.com. I will always be thankful. A number of their special edition DVDs were on par or better than those put out by the majors. "City of the Dead" "The Mark" and "The Fighting Sullivans" come to mind. There were others. Bill Blair’s executive producer credits include "The Ripper," "Blood Cult," "Revenge," "Forever Evil" and "The Last Slumber Party." Thanks for everything Bill. You were a class act. Prayers of comfort for his family, friends and the many, many members of his extended VCI family.

RILEY MORGAN Died June 14, 2006

Property Master, art director and fire arms specialist Riley Morgan died at age 53. Mr. Morgan was a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local 44. His prop master credits include "Zapped!," "Everybody’s Baby: The Rescue of Jessica McClure" and the TV series "Gun." He was the fire arms specialist on the thriller "Hard Drive." Mr. Morgan was art director on the 1985 film "Sunset Strip."

SAM CAPUANO Died June 14, 2006

Actor Sam Capuano died of natural causes at age 89. Mr. Capuano appeared in a number of films and TV shows. He appeared in two religious biopics: "Hoodlum Priest" and "The Cross and the Switchblade." Actor Don Murray played the lead in "Hoodlum Priest" and later directed "The Cross and the Switchblade." Mr. Capuano’s other credits include "Wagon Trail," "Men Into Space," "Route 66" and "The Defenders."

GWEN WILLSON Died June 15, 2006

Actress Gwen Willson died at age 88. Ms. Wilson appeared in hundreds of TV commercials during her long career. She appeared in a Hertz Rent a Car commercial with O.J. Simpson. She also enjoyed success as an actress in regional theater. Ms. Willson;s film and TV credits include "Gremlins," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Black Magic Woman," "The Wonder Years" and "Unsolved Mysteries."

DANIEL RAFFLOER Died June 15, 2006

Musician/actor Daniel Raffloer died at age 56. Mr. Raffloer acted Off Broadway and in several indie films. He appeared in the NYU student film "The Cutman." "The Cutman" won the Jury Prize as Best Student Film at the Atlanta Film Festival. Mr. Raffloer also composed music for some of the stage and film productions he participated in.

RAYMOND DEVOS Died June 15, 2006

French actor and writer Raymond Devos died of a cerebral hemorrhage at age 83. Mr. Devos co-wrote, produced, co-directed and starred in the 1973 drama "The Right of the Maddest." He appeared in Alejandro (El Topo) Jodorowsky’s first film during the 1950s. "The Severed Heads" was a fantasy short based on a Thomas Mann play.

JAY DEE SKIDMORE Died June 15, 2006

Naval photographer Jay Dee Skidmore died at age 78. Mr. Skidmore made a career of the Navy. He served during WWII and Korea. Mr. Skidmore was one of the men who developed the Navy’s underwater cameras. He worked as a cameraman for American master John Ford. Mr. Skidmore was a stuntman in the submarine movie "Run Silent, Run Deep." He helped photograph the 1959 film "Up Periscope." Mr. Skidmore also did cameraman work for "ABC’s Wide World of Sports." Thanks for the service to your country.

ARTHUR FRANZ Died June 16, 2006

Prolific character actor Arthur Franz died of emphysema at age 86. Mr. Franz appeared in nearly 150 films and TV shows during his career. Arthur Franz starred in the 1952 thriller "The Sniper." Mr. Franz usually worked as a supporting player. And work his did! His was one of the most familiar faces on film and TV for nearly 25 years. He played the Invisible Man in "Abbott and Costello Meet the Invisible Man." He co-starred in William Cameron Menzies classic sci-fi film "Invaders From Mars." Tow years earlier he appeared in "Flight to Mars." Mr. Franz’s feature film credits include "The Caine Mutiny," "Hellcats of the Navy" with Ronald Reagan and wife Nancy, "The Young Lions," "Monster on the Campus," "The Carpetbaggers," "The Sweet Ride," "Anzio," "The Human Factor" and "That Championship Season." Mr. Franz made guest appearances on nearly every major TV series of the 1950s and 60s. Arthur Franz served his country in the US Army Air Corp during WWII.

CHARLES OLDER Died June 17, 2006

Retired Los Angeles judge Charles Older died of complications from a fall at age 88. Judge Older was the man who presided over the 10-month trial of Charles Manson and his followers. He was portrayed by actor Skip Homier in the 1976 Emmy-nominated TV mini series "Helter Skelter." Judge Older served his country as a member of the feared Flying Tigers during WWII and Korea. He was one of the first two men to join Lt. General Claire Chennault’s volunteer force to protect China from Japan. He shot down nearly 20 Japanese fighter planes with his P-40 Warhawk! He was the top-scoring American fighter ace in the air war over China. His exploits are among the events covered in the documentary "The Real Flying Tigers."

RUDOLF WICHMANN Died June 17, 2006

German producer Rudolf Wichmann died of undisclosed causes at age 59. His film credits include "The King’s Whore," "Snakes and Ladders," "Rebecca’s Daughters" and the 2004 film "Drum."

VINCENT SHERMAN Died June 18, 2006

Director Vincent Sherman died one month shy of his 100^th birthday. Mr. Sherman went from acting to directing in the late 1930s. His first film was "The Return of Dr. X," which was Humphrey Bogart’s only horror film. Mr. Sherman remained lucid and alert during his long life. He did a wonderful director’s commentary track on the recently released Warner Brothers DVD "Old Acquaintance," which is part of Volume 2 of "The Bette Davis Collection." Mr. Sherman directed Bette Davis in three films, the other two being "Mrs. Skeffinton" and "The Present With a Future." In his autobiography, Mr. Sherman admitted to having an affair with his frequent leading lady. Mr. Sherman also directed Davis rival Joan Crawford in three films: "Harriet Craig," "The Damned Don’t Cry" and "Goodbye, My Fancy." Other film credits include "Nora Prentiss," "Adventures of Don Juan," "The Young Philadelphians" and "A Fever in the Blood." He worked almost exclusively in TV from the mid 1960s to the end of his career. Mr. Sherman was the father of Eric Sherman. Eric Sherman was a co-producer and actor in the film "Pep Squad," which was directed by frequent Einsiders.com contributor Steve Balderson.

RICHARD STAHL Died June 18, 2006

Like millions of people my age, I swept up as a young teen by the film "Billy Jack." Tom Laughlin’s cult classic was my indoctrination into the world of political movies. If you weren’t alive at the time, you wouldn’t understand the phenomena caused by Tom Laughlin’s film during the early 1970s. While Laughlin was the star, the film succeeded in large part to the contributions of many supporting players such as Howard Hessman and the members of the improv group The Committee. Another member of The Committee who added depth and credibility to "Billy Jack" was actor Richard Stahl. He played the head of the city council. His two major scenes are among the most memorable in the film. He is at the center of the heated city council meeting between the town and the teens they fear so deeply. Mr. Stahl’s other great scene takes place at the Freedom School as he leads a contingent from town to see how the other side lives. The film highlights his dramatic and comedic talents. Though my politics have changed since those heady days, my love of the film "Billy Jack" hasn’t wavered. So I was a bit sad to discover that Richard Stahl had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease for a decade. His suffering ended Sunday. Richard Stahl was 74.

Richard Stahl enjoyed success on stage, screen and TV. He appeared in nearly 100 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. Richard Stahl appeared in several of the best films of the 1970s. Richard Stahl appeared in such films as "Five Easy Pieces," "Slaughterhouse-Five," "The Student Nurses," "Fuzz," "Hearts of the West," "High Anxiety," "Summertree," "Dirty Little Billy," "The Daring Dobermans," "Nine to Five," "All Night Long," "Under the Rainbow," "The Flamingo Kid," "Overboard," "L.A. Story," "The American President" and "Ghosts of Mississippi." Likewise, Mr. Stahl’s TV credits are numerous. Name just about any comedy TV series from the 1970s or 80s and Richard Stahl made a guest appearance. He is survived by his wife, actress Katherine Ish. They worked together as members of The Committee and on several TV and film projects. The pair had nice supporting roles in the TV movie "The Death of Ritchie."

HUBERT CORNFIELD Died June 18, 2006

Director Hubert Cornfield died of heart failure at age 77. Mr. Cornfield directed a handful of films, mostly B-movies. He wrote, produced and directed the little known Marlon Brando film "The Night of the Following Day." The brutal kidnapping caper features a great menacing performance by Richard Boone. Check out Jon Ted Wynne’s insightful review in our Video Risk section. Mr. Cornfield also produced the taut B-movies "Plunder Road" and "Lure of the Swamp." Actor Bobby Darin gave one of his best performances as a racist killer in a prison psych ward in Mr. Cornfield’s excellent "Pressure Point." Sidney Poitier played the psychiatrist trying to help the tormented Darin.

TRACY THIELEN Died June 20, 2006

Musician, poet and driver Tracy Thielen died of a drug overdose at age 43. The USC Film School graduate was a driver on a number of notable films. He worked on his friend Quentin Tarantino’s "Pulp Fiction" and "Jackie Brown." Other credits include "From Dusk Till Dawn," Scream," "Red Shoes Diaries," "Leaving Las Vegas," "Short Cuts" and "A Nightmare on Elm Street 5." Mr. Thielen founded the band "Tracy and the Hindenburg Ground Crew." He produced spoken-word records for several people including actor Viggo Mortensen.

CLAYDES SMITH Died June 20, 2006

Claydes Smith died of an undisclosed illness at age 57. Mr. Smith was the co-founder of the funk band Kool and the Gang. In addition to writing many of the band’s biggest hits, he was their lead guitarist. Mr. Smith appeared as himself in the documentary "Kool and the Gang: 40^th Anniversary of the Funk Legend." His music appeared on such movie soundtracks as "Pulp Fiction," "Me, Myself & Irene," "Shark Tale" and "Be Cool."

LARRY MOSS Died June 20, 2006

Renaissance man Larry Moss died just shy of his 72^nd birthday. Larry Moss was a man of many talents. He wrote scripts for such TV shows as "Ben Casey" and "Gunsmoke." The Navy veteran worked on the Atlas Missile System for Convair Astronautics. Although he had a great interest in science, his college degree was in literature. Mr. Moss was a self taught classical guitarist. He taught Peter Tork and Davy Jones how to pretend to play guitar for the cameras when he was cast in the hit TV series "The Monkees." Mr. Moss later became a noted conservationist working for The Sierra Club and serving in a cabinet position for former California Governor Jerry Brown.

BETTY ALEXANDER Died June 21, 2006

Former actress Betty Alexander died at age 80. Ms. Alexander was a Goldwyn Girl under contract to MGM studios during the 1940s. She appeared in such films as "Mildred Pierce," "Christmas in Connecticut," "Cinderella Jones," "Blondie Knows Best" and "The Princess and the Pirate." Ms. Alexander supported her country’s war effort during WWII by entertaining the troops and putting in time at the famous Hollywood Canteen. She appeared as herself in the film "Hollywood Canteen." Ms. Alexander became a spokeswoman on the TV series "The Milton Berle Show." She left show business and became a successful business woman, starting her own cosmetics and toiletry company.

MOOSE Died June 22, 2006

Moose, the Jack Russell Terrier who played ‘Eddie’ for ten years on the hit TV series "Frasier" died of old age at age 16. Moose also played the older Skip in the excellent family film "My Dog Skip."

JAMES WHITEHORN Death announced June 23, 2006

Film editor James Whitehorn died of peritonitis at age 40. Mr. Whitehorn edited hundreds of music videos since the 1980s. He also edited several documentary films. His credits include "Pornography: A Secret History of Civilization," "In Search of the Holy Grail" and "The Death of Alexander."

DIANE BONDER Died June 23, 2006

Award-winning experimental film and video artist Diane Bonder died after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. She was 46 years old. Ms. Bonder was on the screening committee of the New York gay and Lesbian Film and Video Festival. Her work won awards at the Black Maria Film and Video Festival as well as the Lyn Blumenthal Memorial Award and a Mid-Atlantic Fellowship. Ms. Binder was also a businesswoman who ran her own graphic design company. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.

AARON SPELLING Died June 23, 2006

Emmy-winning TV producer Aaron Spelling died of a stroke at age 83. Mr. Spelling suffered a stroke and died five days later. You could not watch TV during the 1970s and miss seeing Aaron Spelling’s name on an almost daily basis. The prolific producer changed the face of TV in the 70s and single-handedly made ABC the top network. Mr. Spelling was nominated for a multitude of Emmy Awards, winning for producing the outstanding HBO movie "And the Band Played On" as well as for the comedy special "Day One."

In many circles Aaron Spelling was known as the father of jiggle TV for creating the TV series "Charlie’s Angels." Others say that Aaron Spelling was the master of fluff for bringing the Soap Opera to prime time. Harsh criticisms for a man who produced many of the most powerful Made for TV films of the 1970s and beyond. Arron Spelling’s list of credits are impressive by anyone’s standards. Yes, he brought us lots of escapist fluff. Anyone familiar with the Preston Sturges classic "Sullivan’s Travels" knows that audiences need that kind of entertainment. Life is hard enough as it is without having the reality of the daily grind waiting for us on the TV at the end of the day. We needed to laugh and Aaron Spelling gave it to us. We needed to dream and Aaron Spelling gave that to us also. On the other hand, Aaron Spelling did not ignore the importance of education and informing an audience about socially relevant subjects. He also provided us with that.

Aaron Spelling began his showbiz career as an actor. He appeared in a handful of films as well as on numerous TV shows. His acting credits include "I Love Lucy," "Kismet," "Dragnet," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Gunsmoke" and "The Spirit of St. Louis." Mr. Spelling switched from acting to writing in the late 1950s. He wrote for a number of TV shows including "Wagon Train" and "Playhouse 90."

Mr. Spelling’s biggest mark on TV came from his long association with the ABC network. He worked exclusively for ABC during the 1970s producing, writing and creating TV series and TV movies. During the early 1970s, ABC’s lineup inlcudes the "The ABC Tuesday Night Movie" and "The ABC Wednesday Night Movie." Each week the network presented two Made for TV films that were usually of excellent quality. They pushed the competition to follow suit and produce their own TV films. It was a rich time for TV viewers. Much of the credit belongs to Aaron Spelling.

Aaron Spelling’s impressive TV Movie credits include "How Awful About Allan," "Crowhaven Farm," "The Last Child," "The Rookies," "Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole," "Rolling Man," "Letters From Three Lovers," "The Affair," "Savages," "The Boy in the Plastic Bubble," "Little Ladies of the Night," "The Best Little Girl in the World" and the powerful AIDS docudrama "And the Band Played On."

As impressive as Aaron Spelling’s contribution to the world of TV movies was, his biggest impact came from creating and producing TV series. Love them or hate them, there is no denying the success of Arron Spelling’s TV series. Many producers would be happy to have just one of the following on their list of accomplishments. Mr. Spelling’s credits as a TV series producer include "Burke’s Law," "Daniel Boone," "The Guns of Will Sonnet," "The Mod Squad," "S.W.A.T.," "Starsky and Hutch," "The Rookies," "Charlie’s Angels," "Family," "Fantasy Island," "Vega$," "Hart to Hart," "Dynasty," "Hotel," "The Colbys," "Melrose Place," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "7^th Heaven" and "Charmed."

Aaron Spelling did not work exclusively in TV. He also produced a number of feature films, some of which received Oscar nominations for cast and crew. They were also popular with the public in many cases. Mr. Spellin’s film credits as a producer include Robert Altman’s "California Split," "Mr. Mom," "Surrender," "Satisfaction," "Loose Cannons," "Soapdish" and "Night Mother."

Aaron Spelling served his country in the US Army Air Corp during WWI. His first wife was actress Carolyn Jones. Mr. Spelling was married to his second wife and widow Candy in 1968. The couple are the parents of actress Tori Spelling and actor Randy Spelling. Prayers of comfort for Mr. Spelling’s family and friends. Thanks for adding so much to the lives of millions of people around the world including me.

WAYNE BROWN Died June 25. 2006

Chicago stage actor Wayne Brown died of cancer at age 65. Mr. Brown had been active in the Chicago-Theater scene for a number of years. He appeared in the TV series "Cupid" and "Chicago Hope" also.

ELKAN ALLAN Died June 25, 2006

British journalist and TV producer Elkan Allan died at age 83. Mr. Allan’s accomplishments as a producer and especially, as an entertainment journalist were quite innovative during the 1960s. Mr. Allan was the executive producer of the British TV series "Ready, Steady, Go!" "RSG!" was a weekly music show that featured such top acts as The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. Mr. Allan broke the mold for these types of show by banning the common practice of bands lip synching their songs. He directed the 1968 documentary "Love in Our Time," which dealt with the effect of the sexual revolution on the UK. Mr. Allan also contributed scripts on the US side of the pond for the camp, super-hero TV series "Batman."

KENNETH GRIFFITH Died June 25, 2006

British actor Kenneth Griffith died at age 84. The veteran character actor appeared in over 100 films during his lengthy career. He was also a documentary filmmaker. Mr. Griffith’s documentary films include "Hang Out Your Brightest Colours: The Life and Death of Michael Collins." Mr. Griffith’s many acting credits include "Four Weddings and a Funeral," "Shaka Zulu," "The Wild Geese," "Sky Riders," "S*P*Y*S," "The Assassination Bureau," "The Lion in Winter," "The Bobo," "Circus of Horrors," "Expresso Bongo," "Tiger Bay," "A Night to Remember," "Lucky Jim," the original version of "1984" and "The Baby and the Battleship." Mr. Griffith served his country in the RAF during WWII.

KATHY WOOD Died June 26, 2006

Kathy Wood, the widow of director Ed Wood Jr. died of esophagus cancer at age 84. Mrs. Wood was portrayed by Patricia Arquette in Tim Burton’s biopic "Ed Wood." She acted as art director on her husband’s "Night of the Ghouls." She appeared as herself in the documentary film "Ed Wood: Look Back in Angora." Director Aris Iliopulos cast Mrs. Wood in a cameo role in his 1998 film "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died." The movie was based on a script that Ed Wood tried to make for over 10 years. A number of name actors appeared in the bizarre film which has no dialogue at all!

STAFF SGT. RAYMOND PLOUHAR Died June 26, 2006

Marine Staff Sgt. Raymond Plouhar was killed by a roadside bomb in Iraq. The father of two was nearing the end of his second tour in Iraq. Mr. Plouhar’s father stated that his son was ordered to appear in Michael Moore’s propaganda film "Fahrenheit 9/11" after the Marines were led to believe this was for a TV documentary. Mr. Plouhar was a recruiter when he appeared in film. Staff Sgt. Plouhar, like several other military men who appeared in the movie, felt betrayed by the final film because he was proud to serve his country and believed in his mission. An AP photo shows Staff Sgt. Plouhar passing out candy to Iraqi children. Prayers of comfort to his family and friends, especially his wife Leigha and sons Raymond and Michael.

JEFFREY WINKLESS Died June 26, 2006

Actor/composer Jeffrey Winkless (he also acted under the name Jeffery Brock) died of a brain tumor at age 65. Mr. Winkless’s face wasn’t familiar to fans of the Saturday morning children’s series "The Banana Splits Adventure Hour," but he was the man inside the dog suit playing Fleegle. The late Paul Winchell did the voice of Fleegle. Mr. Winkless was a voice actor who did English dubs for a number of Japanese cartoons produced by Saban. His many voice credits include "Look Who’s Talking Now," "Spaced Invaders," "Vampire Hunter D" and "Space Adventure Cobra." Mr. Winkless also appeared in a number of live action films. Sci-fi fans caught a glimpse of him in "Soylent Green." He was the clerk who checked Edward G. Robinson into the suicide center. Other film credits include "Corporate Affairs," "The Nest" and "Ladykiller." He also appeared on an episode of "Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood." Mr. Winkless was also a composer. He scored the remake of Roger Corman’s "Not of This Earth," "Corporate Affairs" and "Ladykiller." Mr. Winkless and his father co-wrote the music for the Rice Krispies Snap, Crackle Pop commercial. He was the brother of writer/director Terrence Winkless.

EILEEN BARTON Died June 27, 2006

Singer Eileen Barton died of natural causes at age 85. Ms. Barton was best known for her 1949 hit record "If I Knew You Were Comin’ I’d’ve Baked a Cake." Her recording was one of the highest selling pop records of the last century. Ms. Barton was raised in a showbiz family. She began performing as a young child and shared the stage with many of the greats of the early20th century. Ms. Barton was a protégé of Frank Sinatra. Her film and TV credits include "Promises! Promises!," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Swift Show," "Video Village," "The Big Record" and "College Capers."

FABIAN BIELINSKY Died June 28, 2006

Argentine director Fabien Bielinsky died of a heart attack at age 47. Mr. Bielinsky wrote and directed the 2000 crime caper "Nine Queens." The movie garnered awards and nominations at film festivals in Europe, South America and the US. The movie was remade in the US in 2004 as "Criminal," which starred John C. Reily and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Mr. Bielinsky began his career as a second unit director. He was also a screenwriter. Mr. Bielinsky’s other director credits include "The Aura" and "Sleepwalker."

LENNIE WEINRIB Died June 28, 2006

Veteran voice actor and writer Lennie Weinrib died at age 71. Lennie Weinrib wrote the TV series "H.R. Pufnstuf." Among his many voice roles was that of the much hated Scrappy Doo on "Scooby Doo and Scrappy Doo." Mr. Weinrib was a live action character actor during the 1950s and 60s. Among his many live action credits are "Peter Gunn," "The Rebel," "The Twilight Zone," "77 Sunset Strip," "The Munsters," "Burke’s Law," "Happy Days," "Adam-12" and "My Favorite Martian." Mr. Weinrib’s many voice role credits include "The Jetsons," "Scooby Doo, Where Are You?," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "The Flintstones Comedy Hour" and "The Smurfs."

GEORGE PAGE Died June 28, 2006

Emmy-winning producer George Page died of cancer at age 71. Mr. Page created and was the host of the PBS TV series "Nature." He received one of his five Emmy nominations for the series. Mr. Page won an Emmy in 1980 as executive producer of the documentary "Fred Astaire: Change Partners and Dance." Mr. Page also received Emmy nominations for producing "Starring Katherine Hepburn," "Picasso: A Painter’s Diary" and "Fred Astaire: Puttin’ On His Top Hat."

LLOYD RICHARDS Died June 29, 2006

Acclaimed, Tony Award winning director Lloyd Richards died of heart failure at age 87. Mr. Richards won the 1987 Tony Award for directing August Wilson’s play "Fences." He was nominated for an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Directing for a Miniseries or a Special Emmy for directing the TV version of August Wilson’s "The Piano Lesson." Mr. Richards other TV credits include "Roots: The Next Generation," "Paul Robeson" and "Medal of Honor Rag." Mr. Richards was awarded the National Medal of the Arts in 1993.

DEAN COHEN Died June 29, 2006

Actor film critic and teacher Dean Cohen died of Alzheimer’s Disease at age 66. Mr. Cohen was a one time president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association. He was also an English professor for over 30 years. Mr. Cohen’s acting credits include "Hill Street Blues," "Knots Landing" and "Cagney and Lacey."

DAAN VAN TAMELEN Died June 29, 2006

Propmaker Daan Van Tamelen died at age 54. The I.A.T.S.E. Local 44 member worked in the film and TV industry for nearly 30 years and built sets for hundreds of films and TV series.

WALLACE POTTS Died June 29, 2006

Filmmaker Wallace Potts died of lymphoma at age 59. Mr. Potts wrote, directed, produced, edited and shoot movies. Mr. Potts wrote, produced, directed and edited a couple of gay adult films in France during the 1970s. He wrote and directed the horror films "Psycho Cop" and "Psycho Cop Returns" as well as the sci-fi film "Terminus." He was the long-time archivist for the Rudolph Nureyev Foundation. Mr. Potts was Nureyev’s lover in 1960s and early 70s. He was a second AD on the 1973 Nureyev film "Don Quixote."

ROLAND SCHLOTZHAUER Died June 30, 2006

Cinematographer Roland Schlotzhauer was killed in a helicopter crash while filming scenes for the Sean Astin film "The Final Season" in Iowa. Witnesses say that the pilot clipped some power lines sending the helicopter into a cornfield. Producer Tony Wilson and the pilot survived, but remain in critical condition. Mr. Schlotzhauer was known as an expert cameraman specializing in aerial work in helicopters. Mr. Schlotzhouer’s other credits include "Raising Jeffery Dahmer," Spike Lee’s "CSA: The Confederate States of America" and several IMAX features included "Celebrate Detroit," "Kansas City Presents" and "We the People."

May 2006 Film World Obituaries

JAY PRESSON ALLEN Died May 1, 2006

Oscar-nominated writer Jay Presson Allen died of a stroke at age 84. Jay Presson Allen was one of the best writers in Hollywood when it came to adapting stories from other mediums. Ms. Allen was nominated twice for her adaptations to the screen of the movies "Cabaret" and the true crime drama "Prince of the City." She adapted Muriel Spark’s novel "The Prime of Miss Jean Brody" to the stage and later the screen. Alfred Hitchcock called on her to adapt the novel "Marnie" to the screen. Other credits include George Cukor’s "Travels With My Aunt," "40 Carats," "Funny Lady," the Streisand version of "A Star is Born" and "Deathtrap." She also wrote the one-man play "Tru" based on the life of Truman Capote.

EMMA BUSHNELL Died May 1, 2006

Former actress and Ice Capades skater Emma Bushnell died at age 85. Ms. Bushnell acted under the stage name of Toni Riamando. Riamando was her birth name. Ms. Bushnell skated in the 1939 Ice Capades. She appeared in the comedy "Slave Girl," the Irene Dunne/Rex Harrison version of "Anna and the King of Siam" as well as the Charlie Chan serial "Red Dragon." She was also briefly married to actor Alan ‘Rocky’ Lane.

BETSY JONES-MORELAND Died May 1, 2006

Actress Betsy Jones-Moreland died of cancer at age 76. Fans of Roger Corman movies remember Ms. Jones-Moreland for her appearance in "The Creature From the Haunted Sea" and "The Last Woman on Earth." She appeared in over 50 films and TV shows during her lengthy career. Fans of the "Perry Mason" TV movies of the 1980s knew Ms. Jones-Moreland for her recurring role as Judge Elinor Harrelson. Her film credits include Elia Kazan’s "The Last Tycoon," "The Hindenberg" and "Gable and Lombard."

TOMMY OLIVER Died May 2, 2006

Grammy nominated composer and musical director Tommy Oliver died at age 73. In addition to his extensive recording career, Mr. Oliver was the musical director for a number of TV series and films. His credits include the Robert Duvall film "Tender Mercies." Other credits include "Playboy After Dark," "The Donny and Marie Show," "Face the Music" and "Name That Tune."

LOUIS RUKEYSER Died May 2, 2006

The old saying states "they always die in threes." Economist Louis Rukeyser died of multiple myeloma at age 73. He is the second famous economist to pass away in less than a week. Mr. Rukeyser was probably the nation’s most recognizable economist. He was the host of the PBS TV series "Wall Street Week With Louis Rukeyser" for 32 years. He left his show in a dispute with producers and moved to CNBC to host "Louis Rukeyser’s Wall Street." Had I watched more of Mr. Rukeyser’s show during the nearly 35 years they aired, I might actually have a nest egg growing for retirement. My mistake. His show was enjoyable and informative, largely due to Mr. Rukeyser’s style and humor. Louis Rukeyser made cameo appearances on such TV shows and films as "Big Business," "Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood," "Gordy" and "Northern Exposure."

JOHNNIE BURKE Died May 2, 2006

Special effects supervisor Johnnie Burke died at age 85. Among Mr. Burke’s many film credits are several personal favorites of mine. He did special effects on the great P.O.W. drama from 1965: "King Rat." Some of his best work was in the cult classic "Endangered Species." "Endangered Species" was an excellent conspiracy theory film about the rash of cattle mutilations in the US during the 1960 and 70s. He also worked on Blake Edwards scathing satire of the movie business "S.O.B." Other credits include "Locusts," Norman Jewison’s under-rated "F.I.S.T.," "Assault on the Wayne" and the TV series "Mission Impossible." Mr. Burke was a member of I.A.T.S.E. Local #44.

EARL WOODS Died May 3, 2006

Earl Woods, the father of gold great Tiger Woods died at age 74 after a lengthy battle with prostate cancer. Earl Woods was a role model for fathers around the world. He loved and trained up his son to be a man. Would there were more dads like him. If you are interested in finding out how Mr. Woods did what he did, you might read his inspirational book "Training a Tiger: A Father’s Guide to Raising a Winner Both in Golf and Life." Earl Woods was the first Black man to play baseball in the Big Eight Conference. He served his country with two tours of duty in Vietnam as a Green Beret! Actor Keith David received a Daytime Emmy Nomination for his portrayal of Earl Woods in the TV movie "The Tiger Woods Story."

JUDITH HAVILAND Died May 3, 2006

Former actress Judith Haviland died at age 75. Ms. Haviland appeared in several of the 1955 TV series "Sherlock Holmes." The TV series was an American production shot in France and never shown in England!

MISS EDDIE CRISPELL Died May 3, 3005

Miss Eddie Crispell was a well-known psychic in addition to being a respected business woman in California. She hosted both radio and TV shows in local California markets. Miss Eddie appeared in the Glenn Ford Western "Heaven With a Gun."

ALEJANDRA BOERO Died May 4, 2006

Argentine actress/director Alejandro Boero died at age 88. Ms. Boero was a noted actress and theater director in her native company. She directed over 40 national stage productions in Argentina. Ms. Boero’s film credits include the movies "The Film" and "All Sun is Bitter."

HOSSEIN KASBIAN Died May 4, 2006

Iranian actor Hossein Kasbian died at age 72. Mr. Kassbian enjoyed a successful stage and film career in Iran. His career spanned 50 years. He was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award this year at the International Fajr Theater Festival. Mr. Kasbian’s film credits include "A House on Water," "Mother," "Tall Shadows of the Wind," "Grandfather," and "Like The Wind."

ATIF YILMAZ Died May 5, 2006

Award-winning Turkish write/director Atif Yilmaz died of cancer at age 80. Mr. Yilmaz’s films won awards at film festivals around the world including Moscow and Valencia. Mr. Yilmaz helmed over 100 films during his 50+ year career. His films "Mine," "Berdle" and "Ade Vasfiye" either won or were nominated for awards at a number of international film festivals.

HERBERT RADITSCHNIG Died May 6, 2006

Cinematographer and camera operator Herbert Raditschnig died of complications from a stroke at age 72. Mr. Raditschnig was well known for his skill as an alpine photographer. He shot mountain sequences for the James Bond films "Goldeneye" and "For Your Eyes Only." Mr. Raditschnig was the cinematographer on "Bergwind," "The Outing" and "The 500 Pound Jerk." Other credits include "Five Days One Summer," "Scream of Stone" and "White Rock."

SISTER ROSE THERING Died May 6, 2006

Sister Rose Thering began her life of service to the church in 1936. During the past 70 years Sister Rose has fulfilled many roles in serving the Lord. One subject close to her heart was the improvement of Christian-Jewish relations. This aspect of her life was the subject of the 2005 Oscar-nominated short subject "Sister Rose’s Passion."

STEVEN C. MARSHALL Died May 6, 2006

Inventor Steven Marshall died of melanoma at age 58. Mr. Marshall invented the Marshall Time Modulator. The device allowed the user to modify their voice. It was used heavily in the music industry. It was also one of the devices used to create Darth Vader’s voice. Mr. Marshall was also a noted sound engineer. His ‘revectorization’ process was used to restore the soundtracks of a number of older films including "Gone With the Wind."

ANDRE BRUMMER Died May 6, 2006

Composer Andre Brummer died of pneumonia at age 89. Although Andre Brummer conducted several noted orchestras and Broadway shows, under the name Henri Price, he composed the scores for many of the worst films ever made. He provided the musical accompaniment to such B-horror films as "Eegah!," "The Incredibly Strange Creatures Who Stopped Living and Became Mixed Up Zombies!!?," "The Monster Maker," "Sinthia, The Devil’s Dog," "Rat Pfink a Boo Boo" and Russ Meyer’s "Mudhoney." Most of his scores were for B-movie schlockmeister Ray Dennis Stickler.

MACHIKO SOGA Died May 7, 2006

Rita Repulsa has died but the Power Rangers had nothing to do with her demise. Japanese actress Machiko Soga died of pancreatic cancer at age 63. Ms. Soga was best know for her roles as the villainess Rita Repulsa on the "Mighty Morphing Power Rangers" and Queen Hedrian in the "Solar Task Force" and Electronic Task Force" TV series. Ms. Soga’s career began in the 1960s with an appearance in "Samaritan Zatoichi." She was also a prolific voice actress.

JOHN KIMBROUGH Died May 8, 2006

Football player/actor/state legislator John "The Haskell Hurricane" Kimbrough died of pneumonia at age 87. Mr. Kimbrough was a member of the 1939 Texas A&M National Champion football team. (My wife’s alma mater!) That team was the only Aggie team to win the National Championship. Mr. Kimbrough was second place in the Heisman Throphy voting the next year. He then played pro football for a few years. 20^th Century Fox tried to groom Mr. Kimbrough to be a Western movie star. He was given the lead role in two B-Westerns in 1942: "Sundown Jim" and "Lone Star Ranger." WWII interrupted his film career as he served his country in the US Army. Mr. Kimbrough later served his home state as a member of the Texas state legislature during the 1950s.

GEORGE LUTZ Died May 8, 2006

Writer George Lutz died of heart disease at age 59. Mr. Lutz and his then wife Cathy collaborated on the story which became the book and movies "The Amityville Horror." Though his story has been thoroughly debunked by numerous sources, Mr. Lutz claimed to have moved into a house possessed by evil spirits. The house in Amityville, New York was the scene of the infamous DeFeo family murders. Ronald DeFeo Jr. was convicted of killing his parents and four brothers and sisters. The Lutz later bought the house, claimed it was haunted and left. There were two film versions of "The Amityville Horror." Mr. Lutz was portrayed by James Brolin in the original 1979 film and Ryan Reynolds in the 2005 remake. Mr. Lutz appeared as himself in several documentaries. There were reports two years ago that his ex-wife Cathy Lutz had died. Despite many attempts to confirm the reports, I was unable to do so.

TONY WARD Died May 9, 2006

Australian actor Tony Ward died of cancer at age 82. Mr. Ward was the star of "Hunter," the first Australian Spy genre TV series. The hit series ran from 1967 to 69. Mr. Ward was a former TV news anchor turned actor. He also appeared in the Australian TV series "Riptide," "Dynasty" and "The Long Arm" among others.

PIETRO GARINEI Died May 9, 2006

Stage director/writer/producer Pietro Garinei died at age 87. Mr. Garinei wrote and produced a number of musical plays. His play "Rugantino" became the only Italian musical to also be produced on Broadway. The play was also turned into a 1973 film. It was one of many films he wrote.

MICHAEL TALIFERRO Died May 10, 2006

Former pro-football player turned actor Michael "Bear" Taliferro died of a stroke at age 45. My first memory of Mr. Taliferro was in the action/adventure film "Armageddon." His most memorable role came in the Eddie Murphy/Martin Lawrence comedy "Life." Among his many other film and TV credits are "The Last Boy Scout," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," "Bad Boys," "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate," "Witch Hunt," "Martin," "The Drew Carey Show" and "The Jamie Foxx Show." Mr. Talirerro played in the NFL with the Washington Redskins before moving on to the USFL and the Canadian Football League. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends, especially his three children.

VAL GUEST Died May 10, 2006

Prolific director/writer Val Guest died at age 94. Val Guest moved up the film ladder from movie journalist to actor to writer to director. His film career began in the early 1930s and he directed his final TV show in 1986. During his 50-year career, Val Guest created some of the best or at least best remembered sci-fi and horror films in history. Mr. Guest was not solely a genre director or writer. Val Guest had nearly 80 writing credits. He directed over 50 films. Val Guest directed the classic sci-fi films "The Quatermass Experiment" and its first sequel "Quatermass 2." For many people my age, these Hammer productions were the first adult sci-fi films they were exposed to. Brian Donlevy starred in the title role as Professor Bernard Quatermass. Val Guest had a long association with Hammer Films. Among the movies her directed for the famed British house of horror were "The Abominable Snowman," "The Camp on Blood Island" "The Day the Earth Caught Fire" and "When Dinosaur’s Ruled the Earth." "When Dinosaur’s Ruled the Earth" was a sequel to Ray Harryhausen’s "1,000,000 Years B.C." This time around the animation was done by Jim Danforth. Blonde beauty Victoria Vetri replaced Raquel Welsh as the eye-candy to keep the dads in the theaters while their children watched the dinosaurs. Val Guest was one of the many co-directors and co-writers of the original James Bond spoof "Casino Royale." Another noted film was the 1960 Cliff Richard movie "Expresso Bongo." "Expresso Bongo" starts out to be one of the best rock and roll films from that era. Unfortunately it fizzled before the running time ended. Still it is worth a look.

SORAYA Died May 10, 2006

Grammy-winning singer Soraya died of breast cancer at age 37. The Columbian-American singer had battled cancer since 2000. She won a Latin Grammy in 2004 and was nominated again in 2005. Soyara appeared on TV in concert many times including "Selena ¡Vive!, Acceso Total." "Selena ¡Vive!, Acceso Total" was an all-star concert that occurred on the 10^th anniversary of the death of Tejano star Selena. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.

DYLAN COLLIER Died May 10, 2006

Artist Rylan Collier died during an accident in his home at age 30. Among Mr. Collier’s film credits was as a scenic artist on M. Night Shymalan’s utopian fantasy "The Village." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

MILDRED ELMAN Died May 10, 2006

Writer Mildred Elman died at age 85. She is survived by her husband, Emmy-nominated writer/playwright Irving Elman. Ms. Elman worked with her husband as a writer on the 1950s TV series "True Story." She was one of the head writers on the soap operas "General Hospital" and "Search For Tomorrow." Her other credits include the TV shows "The Eleventh Hour" and "The Verdict is Yours." Ms. Elman was an instructor at Santa Monica College.

FLOYD PATTERSON Died May 11, 2006

Former Heavyweight Boxing champion Floyd Patterson died at age 71 for prostate cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. Mr. Patterson represented his country in the 1952 Olympic Games. After turning pro, Mr. Patterson became the youngest man to win the Heavyweight belt when he beat champ Archie Moore in 1956. Mr. Patterson was also the first man to lose the championship and then win it back. He was one of many great boxers defeated by the legendary Muhammad Ali. Mr. Patterson appeared as himself in the Made for TV movie "Terrible Joe Moran." That was the final film appearance of movie star James Cagney. Mr. Patterson appeared as himself on the TV shows "What’s My Line?" and "The Ed Sullivan Show." He also appeared in the documentary films "Muhammad Ali, The Greatest" and "Sonny Liston: The Mysterious Life and Death of a Champion."

YOSSI BANAI Died May 11, 2006

Popular Israeli actor Yossi Banai died at age 74. Mr. Banai enjoyed a successful career in his native land for the past 50- years. He appeared on stage screen and TV. He also had a successful recording career as a musician. Mr. Banai’s film credits include "The Patriots," "The Pill" and "What a Gang."

FRANK THOMAS JR. Died May 11, 2006

Actor Frank Thomas Jr. died of complications from a stroke and respiratory failure at age 85. Frank Thomas Jr. was best known for the role of "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." The TV series ran from 1950 to 1955. Though Mr. Thomas appeared in a number of memorable films and also was a successful author, he will forever be associated with "Tom Corbett, Space Cadet." Mr. Thomas came from a show biz family. His parents Frank M. Thomas, mother Mona Bruns were both stage and screen actors. Mr. Thomas’ other film credits include "A Dog of Flanders," "Boys Town," "The Major and the Minor" as well as several "Nancy Drew" films. After retiring from acting Mr. Thomas became a successful writer, penning a number of "Sherlock Holmes" novels. Mr. Thomas served his country during WWII in the US Navy.

MONY DALMES Died May 11, 2006

French actress Mony Dalmes died at age 91. Ms. Dalmes’ film career stretched back to the 1930s. She also appeared on Broadway. Her many film credits include "Mayerling" and Claude Charbrol’s cool thriller "The Swindle."

BYRON MORROW Died May 11, 2006

Prolific character actor Byron Morrow died at age 94. Mr. Morrow appeared in over 150 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. The majority of his work was on TV. He seems to have appeared on nearly every single TV show produced during the 1960s and 70.s Mr. Morrow often played military men and historical figures. He portrayed Sentator William Fulbright in the Cuban Missile Crisis telefilm "The Missiles of October." Mr. Morrow played Watergate special prosecutor Archibald Cox in the Chuck Colson biopic "Born Again." He played a movie studio executive in Elia Kazan’s final film "The Last Tycoon." Among the many films that Mr. Morrow lent his talents to are the excellent sci-fi film "Colossus: The Forbin Project," Dalton Trumbo’s antiwar film "Johnny Got His Gun," "King Kong Versus Godzilla," Charles Bronson’s brutal "The Stone Killer," "Panic in the Year Zero!," "Black Zoo," "Captain Newman M.D.," "The Best Man," "The Wrecking Crew," "The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes," "Sidewinder 1" and "How To Beat the High Cost of Living." Mr. Morrow served his country in the US Army during WWII.

BRENDAN O’DUILL Death Announced May 12, 2006

Irish actor Brendan O’Duill died at age 70. Mr. O’Duill was part of the ensemble cast on the long-running Irish soap opera "The Riordans." The TV series ran from 1965 through 1979. He also had a small role in the John Huston directed spy thriller "The MacKintosh Man."

JOAN DIENER Died May 13, 2006

Actress and singer Joan Diener died of cancer at age 76. Ms. Diener played the role of Dulcinea in the Broadway musical "Man of La Mancha." The role in the film version was played by non-singer Sophia Loren. Ms. Diener had the beauty and talent to succeed in Hollywood, but she chose not to do so. She appeared as herself on "The Ed Sullivan Show" in 1966.

MARY RITTS Died May 14, 2006

Puppeteer Mary Ritts died of natural causes at age 95. Ms. Ritts and her late husband Paul Ritts enjoyed a long and successful career as puppeteers on TV and film. Their son Mark followed his parents into the business. Mary Ritts’ credits include the Jerry Lewis film "The Errand Boy" as well as TV appearances on "The Pink Panther Show," "Exploring," "The Watch Your Child/The Me Too Show" "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show." She and her husband also starred in several TV specials. Her husband Paul Ritts died in 1980.

EVA NORVIND Died May 14, 2006

Former actress turned dominatrix Eva Norvind drowned in Mexico at age 62. Talk about your varied life! Ms. Norvind was born in Norway. She left New York by bus for Mexico when she was a teenager. She became the Mexican Bridget Bardot in short order, appearing in a number of films during the 1960s. Ms. Norvind also dabbled in prostitution, political activism, working with Mother Teresa and eventually became a top dominatrix in New York. A life like that is the stuff movies are made of. In fact, Ms. Norvind was the subject of the 1997 documentary "Didn’t Do It For Love." "Didn’t Do It For Love" was released on DVD by First Run Features. Ms. Norvind’s film credits include "Saint Tropez Blues," "Don Juan 67" and "Juan Pistolas." She was the mother of Mexican TV actress Nailea Norvind.

PAUL MARCO Died May 14, 2006

Actor Paul Marco died at age 80. Mr. Marco was best known for his role as Kelton the Cop in Ed Wood Jr.’s infamous "Plan Nine From Outer Space." He worked with Ed Wood in three films including "The Bride of the Monster" and "Night of the Ghouls." He reprised his role as Kelton the Cop in the horror movie spoof "The Naked Monster." Mr. Marco was portrayed by actor Max Casella in Tim Burton’s wonderful biopic "Ed Wood." It was just bad. Mr. Marco was a frequent guest at numerous fan conventions. Mr. Marco served his country in the US Navy during WWII.

LEW ANDERSON Died May 14, 2006

Musician and actor Lew Anderson died at age 84. Mr. Anderson was a noted Big Band musician and singer. He was known to millions of Baby Boomer children as the third and final Clara Bell the Clown on "The Howdy Doody Show." The only time he spoke on the show was to say goodbye during the final episode.

EVERETT OLSON Died May 15, 2006

Construction coordinator Everatt Olson Jr. died at age 83. The long time member of I.A.T.S.E. Local #44 worked on such films as "The Star Chamber," "All the Right Moves," "Revenge of the Nerds" and "Johnny Dangerously."

EBERHARD ESCHE Died May 15, 2006

German stage and film actor Eberhard Esche died at age 72. The East German actor was a devote communist who enjoyed great success and failure behind the iron curtain. Though primarily a stage actor, Mr. Esche appeared in nearly 30 films and TV shows.

SHELAH RELJIC Died May 15, 2006

Editor/producer/director Shelah Reljic died at age 77. Ms. Reljic began her showbiz career in theater during the 1930s. She was made an Honorary Lifetime Member of Women In Film. She edited a number of films including "Jablonski," "Mental Patient’s Association" and "Harrison’s Yukon." She directed the short film "Soccer" and the documentary "Harrison’s Yukon."

JORGE PORCEL Died May 16, 2006

Even though I understand very little spoken Spanish, I used to watch Jorge Porcel’s show "To Bed With Porcel" whenever it was on. Like British comedian Benny Hill, Jorge Porcel stocked his TV show with beautiful, scantily clad women. The actor/comedian died of complications from gall bladder surgery at age 69. Mr. Porcel was best known for his various TV shows, but he also enjoyed a lengthy film career. His final film appearance was in a cameo role in Brian DePalma’s excellent "Carlito’s Way." Mr. Porcel became a Christian in 1995 and retired from his risque comedy routines.

DAN Q. KENNIS Died May 17, 2006

B-movie producer Dan Q. Kennis died at age 86. Mr. Kennis was involved in the film industry starting in the 1940s. He was an investor and distributor for films and TV shows for many years. He began his career as a producer in the 1960s with the biker film "Satan’s Sadists." The biker movie was directed by noted cult movie director Al Adamson. Adamson was murdered in 1995. Mr. Kennis produced a number of films for Adamson including "Naughty Stewardesses" and "Cinderella 2000." Mr. Kennis was the production manager on the notoriously bad 1971 film "Dracula vs. Frankenstein." He did co-produce one non-genre film: the Made for TV biopic "It’s Good to Be Alive" about Brooklyn Dodger Roy Campanella.

CY FEUER Died May 17, 2006

Multi-Oscar nominated composer, musical director, film and Broadway producer Cy Feuer died of bladder cancer at age 95. Mr. Feuer worked on hundreds of films in various capacities. He was a producer on the Oscar nominated "Cabaret." He received a Best Picture Oscar nomination for the Bob Fosse directed film. Mr. Feuer was nominated for five Best Music Oscars. Those films were "Storm Over Bengal," "She Married a Cop," "Hit Parade of 1941," "Ice Capades" and "Mercy Island." In 1942 he was nominated twice in the same category for different films! His Broadway production credits include "Guys and Dolls" and "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying." As head of the music department for Republic Pictures, he provided the scores for dozens of B-Western films.

CLIVE MIZUMOTO Died May 17, 2006

Award-winning sound engineer Clive Mizumoto died of cancer at age 53. Mr. Mizumoto won two International Monitor Awards for his work as a re-recording engineer on the animated TV series "The Incredible Hulk" and "Mad Jack the Pirate." The International Monitor Award honor the creative achievements of production and postproduction professionals around the world. Mr. Mizumoto was the Vice President of Post Production for Saban Entertainment and Fox Family Worldwide. His other credits include the TV series "The Super Mario Brothers Super Show" and "Power Rangers in Space" among others.

FREDDIE GARRITY Died May 19, 2006

Even though I was just a small child at the time, I realized there was something very different about Freddie Garrity. The leader of the British band Freddie and the Dreamers was a bit odd when compared with The Beatles or the Animals. He was goofy. That was my opinion when I was five years old and it never really changed. Freddie Garrity was goofy and funny on stage. That was his show biz gimmick. He resembled Jeff Goldblum doing a Jerry Lewis impression. Freddie and the Dreamers enjoyed a number of hit records including their theme song "Do the Freddie." My favorite was the song "I’m Telling You Now." That song showed a deeper talent than the gimmicky stage persona. The band appeared on many TV shows of the time including "Shindig." The Dreamers starred in the movie "Every Day’s a Holiday." Freddie Garrity died of circulatory problems at age 69.

KIYOSUKE TADAHISA Died May 19, 2006

Japanese TV actor Kiyosuke Tadahisa was killed when the motorcycle he was driving was hit by a car. The 23-year-old actor was a regular on the Japanese children’s morning TV show "Gogo Sentai Boukenger." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

PETER BRYANT Died May 19, 2006

British actor/producer and agent Peter Bryant died at age 82. Mr. Bryant began acting on radio for the BBC. He starred in the first British TV soap opera "The Grove Family." He reprised his role in the feature film spin off "It’s a Great Day." Mr. Bryant was also a producer and script editor on the British sci-fi TV series "Dr. Who" from 1967 through 1969.

ABRAM GINNES Died May 20, 2006

On occasion, I will post an obituary written by someone else. This is one such occasion. TV and film historian Stephen Bowie has graciously allowed me to publish his tribute to TV writer Abram Ginnes. Thank you Stephen!

Abram S. Ginnes, an enormously talented writer whom I had the pleasure of knowing during his last years, died Saturday in Los Angeles following a long illness. He was 91.

Ginnes was nominated for a Writers Guild Award for his only screenplay, "Gaily Gaily" (1969), an adaptation of Ben Hecht's memoirs. Before that he wrote extensively for radio, television and the theatre, specializing in cop shows and flavorful tales of New York City life that drew upon his own Brooklyn upbringing. Ginnes was an unapologetic radical for his entire life, and as a result he was blacklisted for several years during the 1950s. Like most artists who ran afoul of the McCarthy-era witchhunts, Ginnes found himself out of work just as his career was beginning to gather momentum. He worked behind fronts for a while and finally became widely employable after the debut of his Broadway show, "Drink to Me Only." Ginnes' comeback from the blacklist took the form, primarily, of a baker's dozen of hour-long scripts for the New York-based police drama "Naked City." "Naked City" was always an anthology in disguise (the writers struggled to get the cops into their stories), and Abe's contributions were all perfectly polished gems that reflected his wry, offbeat, and optimistic outlook on life. They were obsessively psychoanalytical, deeply interested in folklore and outsider communities, and dabbled in a surrealism that was highly unusual for TV at the time. I could go on about these amazing, largely unknown works, but most of them are on DVD and I encourage anyone who's interested to seek them out.

Ginnes' other TV credits include scripts for "Big Story," "Philco Television Playhouse," "Armstrong Circle Theatre," "Decoy, Brenner," "The Untouchables," "Adventures in Paradise," "The Asphalt Jungle," "Hawaii Five-O," "Police Woman" and "Jessie," but few of these were as personal as the work he did for "Naked City" in 1961-1962. He should have enjoyed a more substantial post-blacklist career, but like Abraham Polonsky and others, Ginnes' comeback was cut short by ageism and a decided inability to suffer fools gladly.

One of the last moviemakers to arrive in Hollywood following a wholly different earlier career, Ginnes began writing professionally (for radio's "The Goldbergs") around the age of 35, following stints as a labor organizer and as the owner of a jazz nightclub in Chicago in the thirties. When I met Abe he was beginning to get a bit frail, but I'm told he was an avid partier, ladies' man, raconteur, arguer, and a man who lived life to the fullest.

Abe is survived by a loving family, including his wife of nearly 20 years, Dione.

CHERD SONGSRI Died May 20, 2006

Award-winning Thai film director Cherd Songsri died of cancer at age 74. Mr. Songsri studied filmmaking at UCLA in the 1960s and early 70. He directed nearly 20 films during his career. In 2005 The Thailand National Film Association awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contribution to the Thai film industry. His 1981 film "Plae Chow" was also recognized with film festival awards.

BENNAH BURTON-BURTT Died May 20, 2006

Production assistant Bennah Burton-Burtt died of breast cancer at age 60. Ms. Benton-Burtt was a long-time assistant to producer Charles Band. She worked with Mr. Band on 30 films. Ms. Benton-Burtt also worked with other producers. Among her many credits are "The Ghoulies," "Crash and Burn," "Puppet Master II," "Trancers II," "Prehysteria" and "Decadent Evil."

BILLY WALKER Died May 21, 2006

Country & Western musician Billy Walker was killed, along with his wife and two band members on an automobile crash in Alabama. Mr. Walker was 77 years old. Billy Walker was a long-time performer with the Grand Old Opry in Nashville. He had a number of hit records during his lengthy career. Billy Walker missed death once before. He was singing at a charity event in Kansas City, Missouri in 1963 when her received an emergency phone call from home. A fellow performer, Hawkshaw Hawkins, gave Mr. Walker his plane ticket so he could return home. Mr. Hawkins then took the chartered plane that crashed and killed him, as well as Patsy Cline and Cowboy Copas. Billy Walker appeared on a number of TV shows as well as in the film "Second Fiddle to a Steal Guitar" with the Bowery Boys!

KATHERINE DUNHAM Died May 21, 2006

Choreographer/teacher/civil rights activist Katherine Dunham died at age 96. Ms. Dunham established the first all-Black modern dance group in America. Ms. Dunham’s influence was felt from Broadway to the poorest inner city ghettos. She taught in prestigious colleges and inner city schools. Her dance students included Marlon Brando as well as the underprivileged. Ms. Dunham was honored by many nations including the Presidential Medal of the Arts awarded by President Reagan. Ms. Dunham appeared in the classic film "Stormy Weather." She also choreographed several films including "Carnival of Rhythm" and "Pardon My Sarong."

PIERRE GOBEIL Died May 21, 2006

Canadian actor Pierre Gobeil died of cancer at age 68. Mr. Gobeil acted on film, radio and TV. Among his many credits are "Dear Theo," "The Lucky Star" and "Beyond Forty."

CLIFFORD ANTONE Died May 22, 2006

Austin, Texas blues legend Clifford Antone died of natural causes at home at age 56. Mr. Antone was an influential figure in the music world, especially in Austin. He was the owner of the famed Blues club "Antone’s." Mr. Antone was the subject of the excellent 2004 documentary film "Antone’s: Home of the Blues." Mr. Antone died just two weeks before the film is set to make its Koch Vision DVD release. Mr. Antone also appeared in the documentary "Janis Joplin Slept Here."

SALVATORE BILLA Died May 22, 2006

Italian tough guy actor Salvatore Billa died of natural causes at age 63. Mr. Billa was usually the heavy in the background, though he did occasionally have larger roles. If you look fast you can spot Mr. Billa in Martin Scorsese’s "The Gangs of New York," "Sergio Leone’s "Once Upon a Time in America," Francis Ford Copolla’s "The Godfather Part II," Fellini’s "Fred and Ginger," Zefferelli’s "Romeo and Juliet," John Huston’s "The Bible," "National Lampoon’s European Vacation," "Mr. Scarface" with Jack Palance, "Bread and Chocolate," three of the "Sabata" Spaghetti Westerns and "Cleopatra" with Liz and Dick.

KATHLEEN ARC Died May 22, 2006

Actress Kathleen Arc died in her sleep. No age was given. Ms. Arc appeared such films and TV shows as "Chicago Hope," "Mary White," "Deadly Alliance" and "Moving West." She was an assistant to the producer on the film "A Hero Ain’t Nothing But a Sandwich."

LUCINA PAQUET Died May 23, 2006

Actress/teacher/author Lucina Paquet died of cancer at age 84. Ms. Paquet taught theater arts and directed plays on the college level. She also wrote two books on the works of playwrights Harold Pinter and Tom Stoppard. Ms. Paquet began acting in film later in life. Her film credits include "Groundhog Day," "Prelude to a Kiss," "My Best Friend's Wedding," "No Mercy" and "Novocaine." Her final film was "Sin City." Though her scenes as Mickey Rourke’s mother were cut from the theatrical version, you can see them on the Special Edition DVD version. She also acted as Grandma Joad in the 1990 Tony-winning production of "The Grapes of Wrath."

MAX MEYNIER Died May 23, 2006

French radio personality and actor Max Meynier died of cancer at age 68. Mr. Meynier had a successful radio career that began in the 1970s. He was the creator of "The French Truckers" radio show. Mr. Meynier appeared in the TV series "Figures and Letters" and "The Man of Picardy."

DODIE FOSTER Died May 23, 2006

Assistant producer/production manager/assistant director Dodie Foster died of lung cancer at age 77. He many film and TV credits include "The Color of Money," "Men Don’t Leave," "Funny Lady," "Harry and Tonto," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Quincy."

PAUL HELMICK Died May 23, 2006

Assistant director/production manager/associate producer Paul Helmick died at age 87. Mr. Helmick wrote and directed the hot rod films "Teenage Thunder" and "Thunder in Carolina." He was an associate producer on the classic adventure film "Hatari!" as well as "El Dorado" and "Rio Lobo." Mr. Helmick was a production manager on "Funny Girl" and "The Cheyanne Social Club." He was an assistant director on a number of A-list films. His AD credits include "Gentleman Prefer Blondes," "River of No Return," "Marty," "Land of the Pharaohs," "The Defiant Ones," "Rio Bravo," "Hello, Dolly!" and "Comes a Horseman." Mr. Helmick shared the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures with Delbert Mann for his AD work on "Marty."

HENRY BUMSTEAD Died May 24, 2006

Two-time Oscar-winning production designer/art director Henry Bumstead died of prostate cancer at age 91. Mr. Bumstead was nominated four times for the Best Art Direction Oscar. He won twice for "To Kill a Mockingbird" and "The Sting." His other two nominations were for Hitchcock’s classic "Vertigo" and Clint Eastwood’s brutal Western "Unforgiven." Mr. Bunstead was a long-time collaborator with Clint Eastwood. The Art Director’s Guild honored Mr. Bumstead with a Excellence in Production Design Award for his work on Eastwood’s "Mystic River." He was also nominated for his work on Eastwood’s "Million Dollar Baby." In 1998, the Guild also bestowed a Lifetime Achievement Award on Mr. Bumstead.

Henry Bumstead worked on a number of great films. I addition to "Vertigo," he worked on Hitchcock’s "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "Topaz" and "Family Plot." Mr. Bumstead’s films for Clint Eastwood include "Joe Kidd," "High Plains Drifter," "A Perfect World," "Absolute Power," "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," "True Crime," "Space Cowboys" and "Blood Work." His final two films, also for Clint Eastwood are currently in post-production: "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Red Sun, Black Sand." Not bad for a man in his 90s! Who says the elderly don’t have anything to contribute to society!

Among Mr. Bumstead’s many, many credits are the remake of "Cape Fear," "The Little Drummer Girl," "The World According to Garp," "A Little Romance," "House Calls," "Slaughterhouse Five," "Slap Shot," "The Great Waldo Pepper," "Tell Them Willie Boy is Here," "Cinderfella," "I Married a Monster From Outer Space," "Come Back Little Sheba" and "My Friend Irma."

Mr. Bumstead served his country in the US Navy during WWII.

CLAUDE PIEPLU Died May 24, 2006

French actor Claude Pieplu died at age 83. Mr. Pieplu had a successful career on both stage and screen. He appeared in a number of international hit films including Luis Bunuel’s "The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie." His greatest fame in his native land came for his voice work in the cartoon series "Shadoks." Mr. Pieplu appeared in over 100 films and TV series. His many credits include "Le Sex Shop," Claude Charbrol’s "Wedding in Blood," Roman Polanski’s "The Tenant" and "Asterix and Ceasar."

LEO PESCAROLO Died May 24, 2006

Award-winning producer Leo Pescarolo died of respiratory failure due to asthma at age 70. Mr. Pescarolo won the David di Donatello Award for Best Producer for the 1997 film "Truce," which starred John Turturro. Other credits include "Galileo," "Autopsy" and "Time to Kill" with Nicolas Cage.

CHARLOTTE MCGINNIS Died May 24, 2006

Actress Charlotte McGinnis died of cancer at age 53. Ms. McGinnis was a one-time comedy partner of Paul Reubens before he became known as Pee Wee Herman. The pair appeared together on Chuck Barris’ hit TV show "The Gong Show." Ms. McGinnis’ film credits include "Billy Jack Goes to Washington," "Hardcore" and "Reform School Girls." She was the wardrobe supervisor on the film "Down On Us." She is survived by her husband, producer/director Howard Wiffinden.

DOROTHY STRONGIN Died May 25, 2006

Actress Dorothy Strongin died at age 86. The SAG member appeared in the cult-classic horror film "Basket Case."

AIDA LUZ Died May 25, 2006

Actress Aida Luz died at age 89. The Argentinean actress appeared in nearly 50 films during a career that began in the 1930s. In 1999 Ms. Luz was given a lifetime achievement award at the Argentinean Film Critics Association Awards.

DESMOND DEKKER Died May 25, 2006

Composer Desmond Dekker died of a heart attack at age 64. Mr. Dekker was one of the first Jamaican artists to break through to international audience; giving many outside the Caribbean their first taste of Reggae. His song "The Israelites" broke through as an international hit in 1969. He composed the song "0.0.7. (Shanty Town)" for the Jimmy Cliff cult classic "The Harder They Come." His hit song "The Israelites" was featured on the soundtracks of "Miami Blues," "Drugstore Cowboy" and "A Walk on the Moon."

JUNE WHITLEY TAYLOR Died May 25, 2006

Actress June Whitley Taylor died at age 84. Ms. Whitley began her film career in the 1940s. She worked in film and TV until the mid 1980s. Mr. Whitley appeared in the pilot episode of the TV series "The Monkees." Among her many credits are the TV shows "The Lone Ranger," "Dragnet," "Mr. Ed," "The Donna Reed Show," "The Flying Nun," "Mannix," "Love American Style," "The Rockford Files," "The Incredible Hulk," "Little House on the Prairie" and "Alice." Mr. Whitley’s film and TV movie credits include "Confidentially Yours," "Bright Victory," "Women in Chains," "Captains and the Kings," "The Patricia Neal Story" and "Rescue From Gilligan’s Island."

MASUMI OKADA Died May 26, 2006

Japanese actor Masumi Okada died of cancer at age 70. Mr. Okada’s career dated back to the 1950s. He appeared in the hit TV mini-series "Shogun." He also appeared in the Christopher Lambert action flick "The Hunted." Mr. Okada’s other credits include "Atragon II," "Marco" and the TV series "The Space Giants."

SEAN BELLANICH Died May 27, 2006

Actor Sean Bellanich drowned at age 24. Mr. Bellanich was at the beginning of his career. He appeared as a Holocaust victim in the MTV series "BIOryhtym." He also appeared in the short film "Yakimoto, Good for You." He studied art at Santa Monica College. In a 2001 college profile, Mr. Bellanich stated that he grew up drawing animation cells. Mr. Bellanich was working as an animator and was in the process of writing a screenplay. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

ODUVIL UNNIKRISHNAN Died May 27, 2006

Popular Indian character actor Oduvil Unnikrishnan died of renal failure at age 62. Mr. Unnikrishnan appeared in over 70 Malayalam language films. He received numerous awards for his work in his native land including the Maiden State Award.

ALEX TOTH Died May 27, 2006

Comic artist Alex Toth died at his drawing board at age 77. Mr. Toth was both a comic book artist and character designer for Hanna Barera. He designed characters for such shows as "Johnny Quest," "Space Ghost," "The Fantastic Four," "Shazzan" and "Battle of the Planets." He worked for Dell and DC comics among others.

BARBARA COHEN Died May 27, 2006

Casting director Barbara Cohen died of breast cancer at age 53. Ms. Cohen was married to producer/director Tom Huckabee. Ms. Cohen’s credits include "Hocus Pocus," "Needful Things," "Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain," "Rushmore," "Frailty," "House of Wax" and "Kiss Kiss Bang Bang."

PAUL GLEASON Died May 27, 2006

Prolific character actor Paul Gleason died of mesothelioma at age 67. The illness which killed him is a rare lung cancer connected to asbestos exposure. Paul Gleason appeared in over 130 films and TV shows during his career. He was adept and both comedy and at playing the heavy. Though Mr. Gleason delivered a number of memorable performances, he was best know for his role as the principle in John Hughes’ teen classic "The Breakfast Club." Paul Gleason’s hard-line disciplinarian personified everything that kids saw as wrong and unjust with adults. His scenes with actor Judd Nelson were the most devastating as far as the way they portrayed an authority figure gone bad. Paul Gleason was also remembered as the full of crap FBI agent in the original "Die Hard." He also was memorable as the henchman who got a big surprise from an amorous ape in "Trading Places." Paul Gleason began his film and TV career in the 1960. The student of Lee Strasberg appeared in several TV series and films in the 60s and 70s, but his career didn’t really take off until the 1980. Mr. Gleason’s many feature film roles include "Doc Savage: Man of Iron," "The Great Santini," "Fort Apache the Bronx," "Arthur," "Tender Mercies," "Miami Blues," "Not Another Teen Movie" and "National Lampoon’s Van Wilder." I recently had the pleasure of reviewing "Abominable," a new horror film by director Ryan Schifrin: son of composer Lalo Schifrin. "Abominable's" cool ending features Mr. Gleason as a loudmouth sheriff.

THELMA BERNSTEIN Died May 27, 2006

Actress Thelma Bernstein died at age 95. Ms. Bernstein was the mother of actor/director Albert Brooks and actor Super Dave Osborne. She was the inspiration for the title character in son Albert Brooks’ film "Mother." The title role was played by Debbie Reynolds. She appeared in her son’s films "Modern Romance" and "Real Life." Ms. Berstein acted in the 1930s under the name Thelma Leeds. She appeared in the films "Follow the Fleet," "New Faces of 1937" and "The Toast of New York."

DAVID BUTLER Died May 27, 2006

Oscar-nominated screenwriter David Butler died at age 78. Mr. Butler received a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination for the 1976 film "Voyage of the Damned." He co-wrote the script with Steve Shagan. The pair was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award. David Butler wrote primarily for TV. His specialty was the historical drama. He won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Mini Series or Special for "Lord Mountbattan: The Last Viceroy." Other credits include "Bear Island," "Disraeli," "Edward the King," "Marco Polo" and "Jesus of Nazareth."

ARTHUR WIDMER Died May 28, 2006

Oscar-winning inventor and special effects pioneer Arthur Widmer died at age 91. Mr. Widmer was awarded an Award of Commendation by the Academy in 2005 for his lifetime achievement in the science and technology of image compositing for motion pictures as exemplified by his significant contributions to the development of the Ultra Violet and the 'bluescreen' compositing processes. He worked for Warner Brothers and Universal during his long career, making significant contributions to the development of such movie process as 3D and Widescreen technology. Mr. Widmer served his country during WWII as a member of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge Tennessee.

BROOK BYRON Died May 29, 2006

Actress Brook Byron died at age 92. She was also billed as Delma Byron. Ms. Byron appeared in a number of films from the 1930s through the 1960s. She starred with Shirley Temple in the 1936 film "Dimples." Over 20 years later she appeared with Rosalind Russell in the best version of "Auntie Mame." Her film and TV credits include "Everybody’s Old Man," "Laughing at Trouble," "M Squad" and "The Untouchables."

STEVE MIZERAK Died May 29, 2006

Pool champion Steve Mizerak died at age 61 of complications following gall bladder surgery. Mr. Mizerak won four U.S. Open Championships. He appeared as Paul Newman’s first opponent in Martin Scorsese’s "The Color of Money." He played himself in the 1980 comedy "The Baltimore Bullet."

BILL KOVACS Died May 30, 2006

Oscar-winning computer animator Bill Kovacs died of complications of a stroke brought on by a cerebral hemorrhage at age 56. In 1998 he shared a Scientific Oscar with Roy Hall for his leadership that lead to the Wavefront Advanced Visualizer computer graphics system. The Wavefront Advanced Visualizer is an integrated workstation-based 3D animation system that offers a comprehensive set of tools for 3D modeling, animation, rendering, image composition, and video output. Mr. Kovacs worked on Disney’s sci-fi film "Tron." He appeared in the documentary "The Story of Computer Graphics."

ROBERT STERLING Died May 30, 2006

Actor Robert Sterling died of natural causes at age 88. Mr. Sterling co-starred with his second wife Anne Jeffreys in the hit TV series "Topper." The stars of "Topper" are pictured at right. He and first wife, actress Ann Southern were the parents of actress Tisha Sterling. Mr. Sterling appeared in over 70 films and TV shows. His credits include "Golden Boy," "The Gay Caballero," "The Sundowners," "Show Boat," "Lights Out," "Suspense," "Robert Montgomery Presents," "Studio One," "Wagon Trail," the film version of "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Twilight Zone," "Naked City," "Nanny and the Professor," "Fantasy Island" and "Murder, She Wrote."

SHOHEI IMAMURA Died May 30, 2006

Award-winning Japanese director Shohei Imamura died of liver cancer at age 79. Mr. Imamura’s work was recognized internationally with numerous awards. He won or was nominated for awards at Cannes, the Venice Film Festival, Kinema Junpo Awards, Independent Spirit Awards, Cesar Awards, Berlin International Film Festival and the Awards of the Japanese Academy. He is only one of four directors to win the Palm d’Or twice. Mr. Imamura made both features and documentary films. He worked to show the grittier side of life. He embraced the anti-hero. His 1979 film "Vengeance Is Mine" had a murderous thief on the run from the law as its hero. One of Mr. Imamura’s best know films was the bizarre "The Eel." "The Eel" won the Palm d’Or at Cannes. His final film was a short subject entitled "Japan," which was part of the feature compilation known as "September 11."

KEN LETTVIN Died May 31, 2006

TV film editor Ken Lettvin died at age 80. The longtime film editor worked primarily on TV. His credits include Andy Griffith’s "Deadly Game" and "Nightmare in Badham County" among others.