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1-14 of 14
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Veteran comedic actor Tom Poston, he with the bugged-out eyes that commonly accentuated a vague look of bewilderment, was born in Columbus, Ohio, on October 17, 1921. By age nine, the young boy was appearing with an acrobatic troupe.
Poston later attended Bethany College in West Virginia when World War II broke out and he joined the U.S. Army Air Corps. He won medals for his courage under fire, and rose to the rank of captain. While he never returned to Bethany College, he would later receive an honorary doctorate from the institution. Following his military service, Poston went to New York and studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA), training with acting guru Sanford Meisner, among others. Making his Broadway debut in 1947 in José Ferrer's production of "Cyrano de Bergerac", Poston had the makings of a serious dramatic actor, appearing in such classics as "The Barretts of Wimpole Street" and "King Lear".
Although he also appeared seriously in TV drama in the early stages, comedy would become his forte. Hosting the amusing daily TV show "Entertainment" led to his biggest break on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956). He, Louis Nye, Don Knotts, and other members of Allen's stock company became famous for their hilarious characters in Allen's famed sketch sequences. Poston himself would be best remembered as the "Man on the Street" interviewee who could never remember his own name. Winning an Emmy during those four seasons (1956-60), Poston went on to host another program, this time a game show, entitled Split Personality (1959).
He developed an affinity for parlor games and appeared as a panelist on other quiz shows as well, notably To Tell the Truth (1956). Given a chance to star in his own comedy films by the early 1960s, Poston went completely unnoticed in such blah vehicles as Zotz! (1962) and The Old Dark House (1963), which failed to capitalize on his delightfully bungling, eccentric humor, although he did turn in a very funny supporting performance as a perpetually soused playboy in the Dick Van Dyke comedy Cold Turkey (1971).
After his movie career dried up, television again became the object of his affection, usually in service to other stars. Alongside such top comedians as Bob Newhart (Newhart (1982)) and Robin Williams (Mork & Mindy (1978)), Poston's absent-minded "second banana" foils found their engaging niche. The comedic actor also continued with light comedy theater vehicles such as "Forty Carats", "Come Blow Your Horn", "Plaza Suite", and "Mary, Mary", and even managed a few musicals ("A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and "Fiddler on the Roof").
Poston had a pre-fame first marriage that ended in divorce. His second wife was film actress Jean Sullivan. Their daughter, Francesca Poston, also became an actress. He had two other children by third wife Kay, who was 22 years his junior: son Jason and daughter Hudson. They divorced in 1975, but remarried in 1980 and remained together until her death at age 54 in 1998 from ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease). He and Kay appeared on many telethons to discuss the crippling disease. Three years later, Poston found happiness again when he married Suzanne Pleshette (they originally met while appearing in the 1959 Broadway comedy "Golden Fleecing", then worked again together on the old The Bob Newhart Show (1972)). He continued to provide glum, baggy-eyed comedy relief on TV as an octogenarian up until the end. Sadly, while wife Suzanne was battling cancer, Poston passed away unexpectedly of respiratory failure at his Los Angeles home on April 30, 2007, after a brief illness. Pleshette died on January 19, 2008.
The stalwart actor may not have nabbed top comic superstardom in his heyday, but he certainly enjoyed a long, durable career doing what he did best -- acting goofy and giving audiences a reason to smile.- Physical Education major Gordon Weschkul left the University of Oregon after one term. He became an infantry drill instructor (rifle, pistol and bayonet; judo and hand-to-hand combat; close order drill), then a military policeman. After his honorable discharge in 1947, he was a fireman, cowboy, and farm machinery salesman. In 1953, a Las Vegas lifeguard, he was spotted by a pair of Hollywood agents who introduced him and his 19-inch biceps to Sol Lesser, who had already conducted 200 tests in search of a new Tarzan. The producer gave him a seven-year contract and a new last name. His three MGM Tarzans were run-of-the mill, but his two for Sy Weintraub, through Paramount, marked a rebirth of the Tarzan character. The movies were well received. Weintraub was looking for a leaner, more thoughtful Tarzan so Scott moved on to a number of Italian strong-man spectaculars and spaghetti westerns, becoming a sensation in Europe.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Zola Taylor was born on 17 March 1938 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Coronación (2000), Rock All Night (1957) and Why Do Fools Fall in Love (1998). She was married to Frankie Lymon, Lawrence James Savage and James Baptiste. She died on 30 April 2007 in Riverside, California, USA.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
André Valardy was born on 17 May 1938 in Antwerpen, Belgium. He was an actor and director, known for La Chèvre (1981), L'erreur est humaine (1984) and Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967). He died on 30 April 2007 in Paris, France.- Grégory Lemarchal was born in Chambéry, Savoie, France on May 13, 1983. At 20 months old, his parents learned that he had a disease called mucovisidosis, a respiratory disease.
On December 22, 2004 he was the big winner of "Star Academy" (4th edition), sort of "American Idol" TV show in France on TF1, with 80% of the votes against Lucie Bernardoni.
His first single "Ecris l'Histoire" was a huge success and his first recorded album "Je Deviens Moi" became a platinum disc.
On January 21, 2006 Grégory won the Award "French revelation of the year" at the NRJ Music Awards. - Director
- Producer
- Writer
Curt Linda was born on 23 April 1918 in Budweis, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic]. He was a director and producer, known for Die kleine Zauberflöte (1998), Animals United (1969) and Shalom Pharao (1982). He died on 30 April 2007 in Aschheim, Bavaria, Germany.- Sydney Rose was an entrepreneurial producer with an amazing track record spanning over four decades in the entertainment industry as a producer, writer, personal manager and agent. His worldwide entertainment experience covered movies, television, stage productions, large arena events and sports.
Sydney entered the film industry as a freelance writer, photographer and publicity agent. He worked with some of the legendary names in the entertainment industry - Judy Garland, Bob Hope, Sammy Davis Junior, The Beatles, Frank Sinatra and Johnny Mathis.
Next, Rose pioneered and produced the two famous "Glad Rag Ball" concerts at Wembley Arena in 1965 and 1966 that featured live performances by The Rolling Stones, The Who, The Hollies, Manfred Mann, Donovan and many other top names from this period. Rose was also responsible for the televising of both these major concerts, paving the way for large arena concerts with lineups of multiple major artists, now the norm in rock n' roll.
For a lengthy period in the 1970s, Sydney worked on both sides of the Atlantic as a leading agent with Management Agency & Music, also known as MAM, and the then European representatives of Creative Management (CMA) Associates, now International Creative Management (ICM.) During his time with MAM Sydney had the pleasure of working on productions with some of the most important and legendary names in the 'business' including Frank Sinatra, Liza Minnelli, Bob Hope, Grace Kelly and Dean Martin.
Sydney Rose was probably best known as the executive producer of the groundbreaking motion picture classic "The Kids Are Alright" about the legendary rock group The Who. This definitive "rockumentary" also featured The Rolling Stones, Steve Martin and Ringo Starr in addition to the members of The Who. This film was on the list of "Variety's" biggest grossing films of 1979 and the first major triumph for Sydney Rose Productions Ltd.
The next stage of Rose's career took him into the commercial world of airlines, hotels and travel companies by founding the pioneering in-flight entertainment company Airshow International that specialized in the production of in-flight product placement for major airlines and tourist boards. Travel related stories and destination films were written around high profile sponsors and were included in the in-flight entertainment programs on various international and domestic airlines. Sponsors included Hertz, Visa, Jameson Irish Whiskey, Hilton Hotels, Holiday Inn Hotels, Kentucky Fried Chicken and many other top brands.
As a direct result of these films, Rose was commissioned by a New York publisher to produce "The Innovators" for worldwide television distribution. This in depth production featured most of the UK's leading figures of the 80s from the worlds of media, entertainment, business and fashion. Included in the footage were Sir Terence Conran (Habitat), Anita Roddick (The Body Shop), Jeremy Isaacs (Channel 4), Bruce Oldfield (Royal Fashion Designer), Richard Rogers & Terry Farrell (Architects), composer Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber and Lord Romsey etc.
In his only directing credit Sydney made "The Ravenswood Experience" in the early 1980s. Broadcast on Thames Television, the program was a moving documentary on a residential village for the severely handicapped.
In 1997 he executive-produced "An Audience With Alf Garnett" for the ITV Network. 'Alf Garnett' was the main character played by actor Warren Mitchell that was the forerunner to the American 'Archie Bunker' in the renowned TV sitcom "All In The Family." Warren Mitchell's performance was described as one of the funniest individual tour de force's of comedy ever seen on British Television.
In 1998 Sydney executive-produced the international television special "A Royal Celebration for Prince Charles 50th Birthday" at The Lyceum Theatre in London. This was a live three-hour entertainment event with performances from Robin Williams, The Muppets, Roger Moore, Rowan Atkinson, Robbie Williams, Luciano Pavarotti, Charlotte Church, Peter Ustinov and many others. It included an amazing surprise comedy performance by the birthday boy himself...Prince Charles!
In 2004 he joined Reverie Productions and began developing feature film and television properties with producer/director/writer Christopher Carson. Rose and Carson produced a promotional piece for the "West Hollywood Halloween Costume Carnaval," the world's largest Halloween street party, which won them both a Telly Award.
Most recently, Sydney was attached to produce the epic feature film "1066" written by Robin Jacob about Duke William of Normandy and King Harold II of England warring against each other during the Battle of Hastings.
Sydney was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in June 2006 and died on 30 April 2007 at the age of 68. He leaves a wife, Judith, a daughter and son. - Actor
- Additional Crew
Clemens Ostermann was born on 11 June 1984 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. He was an actor, known for Pokémon Snap (1999). He died on 30 April 2007.- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Mehdi Mirsamadzadeh was born on 12 December 1929 in Astara, Iran. Mehdi was a director and writer, known for Hassan Dynamite (1972), Iron claw (1968) and Spider's Web (1963). Mehdi died on 30 April 2007 in Paris, France.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Eeki Mantere was born on 25 January 1949 in Helsinki, Finland. He was an actor, known for Daa-da daa-da - Syksyn sävel -retro (2011), The Hair (1974) and Prince of the Hit Parade (1991). He died on 30 April 2007 in Jorvi, Espoo, Finland.- Stanislaw Kozyrski was born on 11 February 1939 in Nowy Antonin, Lubelskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Gruby (1973) and Darmozjad polski (1998). He died on 30 April 2007 in Czestochowa, Slaskie, Poland.
- Actress
- Producer
Francette Mace was born on 17 November 1948 in France. She was an actress and producer, known for Hero and the Terror (1988) and Flashpoint (1984). She died on 30 April 2007 in Joshua Tree, California, USA.- Writer
- Actress
Jara Ribnikar was born on 23 August 1912 in Königgrätz, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary [now Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic]. She was a writer and actress, known for I'll Be Back (1957), Operacija 30 slova (1969) and Njih troje (1976). She died on 30 April 2007 in Belgrade, Serbia.- Director
- Actor
Grisha Ostrovski (Grisha Iser Ostrovski) was a Bulgarian theatre and film director, as well as an actor. Born in 1918 in Paris, Ostrovski came to play a crucial role on the theatre stages and sets of the late-starting movie industry of Bulgaria. He graduated National Academy of Theatre and Film Art, Sofia in science of dramatic art. Before the World War II, he was an actor in Realistic Theatre. After the World War II, he became a director. His debut as a director was in National Theatre, Sofia (1949). He continued to direct in the Army Theatre (1951 - 1957), then - in Satiric Theatre, in Varna Theatre, in Theatre of Youth. He specialized in Moscow Theatre School "Shchukin" (1969 /1970). Ostrovski was a professor in National Academy of Theatre and Film Art, Sofia. In France in 1990, he received the Award "The Honor Jacques" for his pedagogic work. He directed seven films between 1967 and 1979. He will be remembered for the respectability and depth of movies such as "Detour", "Nona", "Like branded atoms", "Walking with an angel". In the theatre he staged "Don Carlos", "When Roses Dance"', "The End of the Game". Ostrovski was conferred the annual theatre award Icarus in 2002. His 1967 film "Detour" was entered into the 5th Moscow International Film Festival where it won the Special Golden Prize and the Prix FIPRESCI.