Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Dorothy Provine

Dorothy Provine was born January 20, 1935 in Deadwood, South Dakota.



Dorothy Provine is best remember for her role as Emeline Marcus-Finch in It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963).



Dorothy Provine made her film debut as Bonnie Parker in The Bonnie Parker Story (1958). She also appeared in Riot in Juvenile Prison (1959), The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock (1959), Wall of Noise (1963), Good Neighbor Sam (1964), The Great Race (1965), Kiss the Girls and Make Them Die (1966), and Never a Dull Moment (1968).




Dorothy Provine's television credits include Lawman, Mike Hammer, The Real McCoys, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Alaskans, The Roaring 20s, 77 Sunset Strip, and Police Story.







Dorothy Provine passed away on April 27, 2010 at the age of 75. Dorothy Provine is survived by her husband (Robert Day) of forty two years and one child.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Al Pacino

Al Pacino is one of the most celebrated actors today. He has won Tony Awards, Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, and an Academy Award.

Alfredo James "Al" Pacino was born April 25, 1940 in East Harlem, Manhattan, the son of Rose Gerardi and Salvatore Alfred Pacino.




Al Pacino attended the High School of Performing Arts, a division of the Fiorello H. La Guardia High School of Music and the Arts in New York City. Al Pacino failed nearly all of his classes except English and dropped out of school at the age of 17. He next worked at a string of low-paying jobs, including messenger boy, busboy, janitor, and postal clerk, in order to finance his acting studies.

He acted in basement plays in New York's theatrical underground, and then joined the Herbert Berghof Studio (HB Studio), where he met acting teacher Charlie Laughton, who became his mentor and best friend.

In 1966, after many previous unsuccessful attempts, he auditioned at The Actors Studio and got accepted. He studied under legendary acting coach Lee Strasberg .

Al Pacino made his film debut as Tony in Me, Natalie (1969).

In 1972, Al Pacino was cast to play Michael Corleone in The Godfather. He would be nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.




Al Pacino would receive two more Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor one for Dick Tracy (1990) and one for Glengarry Glen Ross (1992).

Al Pacino would received Academy Award nominations for Best Actor for Serpico (1973),
The Godfather: Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), and for And Justice for All (1979).




Al Pacino would win the Academy Award for Best Actor for Scent of a Woman (1992).

Al Pacino would win a primetime Emmy award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for: "Angels in America" (2003).

In 2001, Al Pacino would receive the Cecil B. DeMille Award.

Al Pacino has also won three Golden Globe awards: Best Motion Picture Actor - Drama
for: Serpico (1973; Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama
for: Scent of a Woman (1992); and Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television for: "Angels in America" (2003).




Al Pacino made his Broadway debut in 1969 in Does a Tiger Wear a Necktie? He has also appeared in King Richard III, The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, American Buffalo, Hughie and Salome.

Al Pacino has received two Tony Awards: 1977 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play & 1977 Tony Award Best Actor in Play both for The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Harry Morgan

Long before he was Detective Bill Gannon on Dragnet (1967-70) and Colonel Sherman T. Potter on M*A*S*H (1975-83), Harry Morgan was one of the most popular character actors of the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, appearing in more than 100 films.




Harry Morgan was born Harry Bratsberg in Detroit, Michigan on April 10, 1915.




A statewide debating champion in high school, Harry original aspired to obtain a law degree. However, when Harry was a junior in college he joined the acting club.

Morgan began acting on stage under his birth name, joining the Group Theatre in New York City in 1937, and appearing in the original production of the play Golden Boy, followed by a host of successful Broadway roles including plays such as The Gentle People, Thunder Rock, and Heavenly Express.

Harry Morgan made his screen debut (originally using the name "Henry Morgan") in the 1942 movie To the Shores of Tripoli. His screen name later would become "Henry 'Harry' Morgan" and eventually Harry Morgan, to avoid confusion with the then-popular humorist of the same name.




Harry Morgan appeared in films such as The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), State Fair (1945) ,Dragonwyck (1946), The Big Clock (1948), High Noon (1952), Bend of the River (1952), The Glenn Miller Story (1953), Thunder Bay (1953), The Far Country (1955) Strategic Air Command (1955); The Teahouse of the August Moon (1956), Inherit the Wind (1960), Cimarron (1960), How the West Was Won (1962), Frankie and Johnny (1966), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), Support Your Local Gunfighter! (1971), The Apple Dumpling Gang (1975), and The Shootist (1976).






In 1980, he won a Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy or Variety or Music Series for: "M*A*S*H." He was also nominated seven other times for his role as Colonel Potter. He was also nominated in 1972 for a guest appearance on M*A*S*H when he appeared as a crazy general in the episode The General Flipped at Dawn.




A talented painter, in several episodes of M*A*S*H, Colonel Potter is seen painting, these are actually works by Harry Morgan.

Harry Morgan has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for radio. Why he doesn't have one for television and motion pictures is beyond comprehension.

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

Kurt Russell

Kurt Vogel Russell was born on March 17, 1951 in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is the son of Louise Julia Crone, a dancer, and Bing Russell (photo below), a character actor, best-known for playing Deputy Clem Foster on Bonanza.




Kurt Russell began acting at the age of 6 when he appeared in several episodes of Sugarfoot (1957-1958). In 1960, Walt Disney himself signed Russell to a 10 year contract. He made his movie debut in It Happened At The World's Fair (1963).

As a child actor, Kurt Russell appeared in episodes of The Dick Powell Show, Sam Benedict, The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., The Virginian, Lost in Space and The Fugitive.

On February 6, 1965, Russell, not quite fourteen, played the role of Jungle Boy on an episode of CBS's Gilligan's Island.





As a child actor, he appeared in films such as Guns of Diablo (1964) Follow Me, Boys! (1966) and The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes (1969).




During the early 1970s, Kurt Russell had a baseball career. He played second base for the minor league team the El Paso Sun Kings. Kurt Russell's baseball career ended when he tore a rotator cuff during a game. Before his injury, he was leading the Texas League in hitting, with a .563 batting average. The injury forced his retirement from baseball in 1973 and led to his return to acting.


As an adult, Kurt Russell has appeared in films such as The Barefoot Executive (1971), Fools' Parade (1971), Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972), Superdad (1973), The Strongest Man in the World (1975), Used Cars (1980), Escape from New York (1981), The Thing (1982), Silkwood (1983), Swing Shift (1984), Overboard (1987), Tequila Sunrise (1988), Tango & Cash (1989), Backdraft (1991), Tombstone (1993), Escape from L.A. (1996), and Poseidon (2006).














In 1979, Kurt Russell gave a classic performance as Elvis Presley in John Carpenter's ABC-TV movie Elvis. He was nominated for an Emmy for his performance.





Kurt Russell married actress Season Hubley, whom he had met on the set of Elvis in 1979 and they had a son, Boston Russell, in 1980. They divorced in 1983.

In 1983, he began a relationship with Goldie Hawn while filming Swing Shift. They had a son, Wyatt, in 1986. They have been together 26 years.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Dean Stockwell

Dean Stockwell was a popular child actor of the 1940s, known for his air of innocence, beautiful dimples, sparkling eyes and his crown of curls. Sixty plus years later, Dean Stockwell is still an actor in demand. He is one of the few child actors to transition to successful adult actor.




Dean Stockwell was born Robert Dean Stockwell on March 5, 1936 in Hollywood, California. Dean's father was Harry Stockwell, an actor an singer. His mother was Nina Olivette, an actress and dancer. Dean's elder brother is actor Guy Stockwell.

Dean's father Harry is most famous for supplying the speaking and singing voice for Prince Charming in Walt Disney's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937).


By the age of 10, Dean Stockwell had appeared on Broadway and in several movies.

Dean Stockwell made his debut in 1945 at the age of 9 in the film The Valley of Decision.




Dean's next role was Donald Martin in Anchor's Aweigh (1945) starring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Kathryn Grayson.

In The Green Years (1946) he played Robert Shannon, as a child. In 1947, he played Nick Jr., son of Nick and Nora Charles in Song of the Thin Man. He also played Gregory Peck's son in Gentelman's Agreement (1947). In 1948, he had the lead role in The Boy with Green Hair. In 1949, he appeared in The Secret Garden. As a child actor, Dean also appeared in The Happy Years (1950) and Cattle Drive (1951).




In 1943, at the age of 7, Dean Stockwell appeared on Broadway in The Innocent Voyage.

In 1956, Dean Stockwell turned 20 years old and was still very active in movies and on television.

In 1957, Dean Stockwell appeared in the Broadway production of Compulsion.

In 1959, Dean Stockwell would appear in the film version of Compulsion.




During his 20s, he also appeared in films such as Sons and Lovers (1960), Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962) and Rapture (1965). On televison, he appeared in Climax, Cimarron City, General Electric Theater, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Wagon Train, The Twlight Zone, and The Defenders.




As Dean Stockwell entered his 30s, he was still very much in demand. His movies include Psych-Out (1968), The Dunwich Horror (1970), The Last Movie (1971), The Loners (1972), The Werewolf of Washington (1973), and The Pacific Connection (1974) . He appeared in episodes of televsion shows such as Dr. Kildare, Mannix, Mission Impossible, Bonanza, and The Streets of San Francisco.


During Dean Stockwell's 40s, he appeared in such films as Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood (1976), She Came to the Valley (1979), Dune (1984) Papa Was a Preacher (1985), To Kill a Stranger (1985), The Legend of Billie Jean (1985), and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). He appeared on episodes of Police Story, McCloud, The A-Team, Simon & Simon, hart to Hart, and Miami Vice.

In 1986, Dean Stockwell turned 50 years old and had been acting for 41 years. The former child actor was still popular in films and on television. He appeared in movies such as Blue Velvet (1986), Banzai Runner (1987), Gardens of Stone (1987), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), The Blue Iguana (1988), Tucker: The Man and His Dream (1988), Married to the Mob (1988), Buying Time (1989), Friends and Enemies (1992) and The Player (1992) He appeared in episodes of televsion shows such as Hunter, Murder She Wrote, Burke's Law, and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.




At the age of 53, Dean Stockwell received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Married to the Mob (1988).

In 1989 to 1993, Dean Stockwell starred as Admiral Al Calavicci in Quantum Leap. He would receive four Emmy nominations for Oustanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.




After Quantum Leap and now in his 60s, Dean Stockwell was not slowing down. He appeared in films such as Last Resort (1996), Mr. Wrong (1996), McHale's Navy (1997), Midnight Blue (1997), Living in Peril (1997), Air Force One (1997), The Rainmaker (1997), The Shadow Men (1998), Restraining Order (1999), Face to Face (2001), Inferno (2002), and The Manchurian Candidate (2004).

He also had a reoccuring role on the television drama JAG as SecNav Edward Sheffield.

Now 70 years old, Dean Stockwell was cast as John Cavil in Battlestar Galactica.

Dean Stockwell is an accomplished artist. He creates both digitally enhanced photographs and original collages in the style of his friend and fellow artist, Wallace Berman. He is also a friend of musician Neil Young and designed the album cover art for "American Stars'n'Bars".




Dean Stockwell has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for motion pictures.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Jean Simmons



Jean Merilyn Simmons was born on January 31, 1929 in London, England. The daughter of Charles Simmons and Winifred Loveland. Her father, a physical education teacher who had represented Great Britain in the 1912 Summer Olympics.

During World War II, the Simmons family was evacuated to Winscombe in Somerset.

After the war, she returned to London and enrolled at the Aida Foster School of Dance at the age of 14. She was spotted by the director Val Guest, who cast her in the Margaret Lockwood film Give us the Moon.




Her films include Black Narcissus (1947), Hamlet (1948)
Affair with a Stranger (1953), The Actress (1953), Guys and Dolls (1955), The Big Country (1958), Elmer Gantry (1960), Spartacus (1960), The Grass Is Greener (1960),
Divorce American Style (1967), Heidi (1968), and The Happy Ending (1969).


In 1950, she married the English actor Stewart Granger and they divorced in 1960. They had one daughter, Tracy Granger. Granger and Simmons appeared together in Adam and Evelyne (1949), Caesar and Cleopatra (1945), Young Bess (1953),
and Footsteps in the Fog (1955).




In 1960 she married director Richard Brooks, divorcing in 1977. They had one daughter Kate Brooks. Brooks directed Jean in Elmer Gantry (1960) and
The Happy Ending (1969).

Jean Simmons received two Academy Award nominations for Best Actress, one for Hamlet (1948) and one for The Happy Ending (1969).




She won the Golden Globe for Best Musical/Comedy Actress, Guys and Dolls (1956).

In 1983, she received the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress for a Series or Special for her role in The Thorn Birds.

Jean Simmon's final film was Shadows in the Sun (2009).




Jean Simmons passed away on January 22, 2010 at the age of 80 from complications of lung cancer.

Saturday, February 27, 2010

Gavin MacLeod

Gavin MacLeod has been a familar face on television and movies for over fifty years.

If you grew up watching 1960s televison, you remember Gavin MacLeod as Seaman Joseph 'Happy' Haines on McHale's Navy from 1962 to 1964.

If you grew up watching 1970s televison, you remember Gavin MacLeod as Murray Slaughter on The Mary Tyler Moore Show from 1970 to 1977.





If you grew up watching 1980s television, you remember Gavin MacLeod as Captain Merrill Stubing on The Love Boat from 1977 to 1987.




If you love classic movies, you know Gavin MacLeod as one of the most memorable character actors working alongside Cary Grant, Tony Curtis, Steve McQueen, E.G. Marshall, Susan Hayward, Gregory Peck and Donald Sutherland.

Gavin MacLeod was born Allan George See on February 28, 1930 or 1931 (sources differ as to the year he was born) in Mount Kisco, New York. His father was a Chippewa (Ojibwa) Indian.

Gavin MacLeod studing acting at Ithaca College, graduating in 1952. After serving in the Air Force, he moved to New York City and worked at Radio City Music Hall while looking for acting work.

Gavin MacLeod made his acting debut in an episode of The Walter Winchell File in 1957.

After two uncredited roles in the films The True Story of Lynn Stuart (1958) and Young and Wild (1958), Gavin MacLeod received his big break.

Gavin MacLeod was cast to play a police lieutenant in the film drama I Want to Live (1958) starring Susan Hayward.




The Hollywood elite noticed Gavin MacLeod and his next role was as Padua, District Attorney Horn (played by E.G. Marshall) assistant in Compulsion (1959).

Gavin MacLeod's next film was Pork Chop Hill (1959) starring Gregory Peck in which MacLeod played Sexton.

In 1959, Gavin MacLeod gave one of his most memorable performances as Ernest Hunkle in Operation Petticoat starring Tony Curtis and Cary Grant.

Blake Edwards, the director of Operation Petticoat quickly cast Gavin MacLeod as Professor Thayer in his next feature High Time (1960) starring Bing Crosby.

In 1966, Gavin MacLeod played Crosley in The Sand Pepples starring Steve McQueen.

Gavin MacLeod's most memorable performance as a character actor was in Kelly's Heroes (1970) in which he played Oddball's (Donald Sutherland) sidekick Moriarty.




Gavin MacLeod has also appeared in films such as Twelve Hours to Kill (1960), McHale's Navy (1964), A Man Called Gannon (1968),and The Thousand Plane Raid (1969).

Gavin MacLeod has appeared on episodes of My Favorite Martian, The Untouchables, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan's Heroes, The Big Valley, The King of Queens, That '70s Show, Touched by an Angel, JAG and so many more.