Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-50 of 117
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
In a career spanning more than four decades, James MacArthur developed a body of work which is wonderfully dynamic in both scope and range. Portraying everything from crazed killer to stalwart defender of law and order, frustrated teenager to cynical senior supervisor, he has appeared in numerous films, television programs, and stage productions since his career officially began back in 1955. Although he had been performing in parts during summer stock productions since 1949, making his stage debut in "The Corn Is Green", his real acting career did not begin until he starred as the complex and misunderstood teenager in John Frankenheimer's "Deal a Blow". Broadcast live on the Climax! (1954) television anthology series, the program told the story of "Hal Ditmar", a relatively ordinary youngster on the verge of manhood who finds himself caught up in a snowballing world of trouble with his parents, the law, and virtually everyone in authority after a minor infraction of the rules at a movie theater. The story was so well-crafted and MacArthur's performance so compelling that a year later it was remade by Frankenheimer into his first theatrical release, The Young Stranger (1957). The movie received much critical acclaim and earned its star a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Film Award nomination as Most Promising Newcomer (1958) and won a film festival in Switzerland. Next up was the Disney movie of Conrad Richter's novel, The Light in the Forest (1958). Set in the late 18th century in the burgeoning United States, it told the tale of a young man who had been kidnapped by Indians as a baby and raised as the son of a chief. A respected and accepted member of the tribe, the boy, known as "True Son", is ripped away from the only life he has ever known and forced to return to his biological parents due to a treaty signed by people of whom he has no knowledge and who cannot possibly have any interest in his individual welfare. His subsequent struggles to find out exactly where he fits in and to gain the trust and sanction of his new community are told in a way which is as wrenching and relevant to today's society as it was then. The corollaries between this story and the custody battles which seem to occur with alarming frequency in our own time are strong and thought provoking. It seems the question regarding when in a child's life his biological parentage begins to be outweighed by the environment in which he is being raised is one which has yet to be answered. The depth with which MacArthur imbued the role makes his performance both truthful and unforgettable. Before its release in theaters, The Light in the Forest (1958) was preceded by three more appearances in live teleplays, including another outstanding performance in the Studio One (1948) production of "Tongues of Angels" as "Ben Adams", a young man with a devastating stuttering problem who pretends to be a deaf/mute in order to hide his infirmity. A string of meaty roles quickly followed, including the Disney classic films Kidnapped (1960), Third Man on the Mountain (1959) and Swiss Family Robinson (1960); television programs such as The Untouchables (1959), Bus Stop (1961) and Wagon Train (1957); and two more live teleplays. As sociopathic killer and racketeer "Johnny Lubin" in The Untouchables (1959) episode "Death for Sale", MacArthur for the first time portrayed an unsympathetic character. The heart-stopping realism of his performance provided definitive proof of his abilities as a multifaceted and talented actor. In what he described in one interview as his first "mature" role, he then appeared as a doctor-in-the-making in The Interns (1962), turning in a fine performance as a somewhat naive young man who grows up rather quickly when presented with several tough choices and life-defining situations. After that came more television, the underrated yet stirring film, Cry of Battle (1963), and Spencer's Mountain (1963), the highly successful precursor to the popular television series The Waltons (1972). Once again, in both films, MacArthur played young men whose lives are changed by circumstances beyond their control and who must dig deep within themselves to find the inner strength and fortitude to deal with those events. Having by now amassed an impressive list of film and television credits in addition to stage performances on Broadway and other venues, MacArthur then turned to the pivotal role of "Ensign Ralston" in the tense and nerve-wracking Cold War yarn, The Bedford Incident (1965). His performance as the eager to-please and earnest young officer carried a subtlety and intensity hard to believe of someone not yet thirty years old. The role of "William Ashton" in the light-hearted romance, The Truth About Spring (1965) came next, almost immediately followed by yet another coming-of-age performance as "Lt. Weaver" in the blockbuster WWII saga, Battle of the Bulge (1965). Westerns and war dramas predominated the next phase of MacArthur's career with appearances in television programs such as Branded (1965), 12 O'Clock High (1964), Gunsmoke (1955), Combat! (1962), Hondo (1967), Bonanza (1959), and Death Valley Days (1952), in addition to the films Ride Beyond Vengeance (1966), "Mosby's Marauders" (1966) and Hang 'Em High (1968). It was his appearance in this last movie that would ultimately lead him into the role of "Dan Williams" on Hawaii Five-O (1968). When Leonard Freeman found himself looking for a replacement to play the complex sidekick to Jack Lord's powerful "Steve McGarrett", he went looking for the young actor he remembered from just two or three days' work on his low-budget spaghetti Western. The juxtaposition of MacArthur's still-boyish good looks with his ability to bring a convincing toughness and sincerity to the role made him one of the best-remembered and well-admired actors of 1960s and 1970s popular television. Even today, more than twenty years after the program stopped production, it is broadcast in syndication in markets all over the world. Its "Book 'im, Danno" catchphrase is still as much a part of our popular culture as that famed line from another show of the same era: "Beam me up, Scotty". Departing "Five-O" prior to its 12th and final season, MacArthur's appearances became less frequent, yet still memorable. He was featured in such popular television shows as The Love Boat (1977), Vega$ (1978), Fantasy Island (1977), and Murder, She Wrote (1984) and starred in two made-for-television movies: Irwin Allen's The Night the Bridge Fell Down (1980) and Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980). His poignant portrayal of hapless "Walt Stomer" in the latter provided a fine example that his skills as an actor had not waned in the 25 years since that first television appearance. He concentrated on the stage for a while then, performing in productions such as "Arsenic and Old Lace", "A Bedfull of Foreigners" and "Love Letters", as well as the occasional live appearance at charity and celebrity sporting events. In 1998, after nearly a decade away from television screens, he took up the role of "Frank Del Rio" in the Family Channel movie Storm Chasers: Revenge of the Twister (1998). With the new century, MacArthur returned to a more active professional schedule, continuing to make a number of personal appearances to sign autographs and greet fans, as well as several speaking engagements such as northeast Ohio's "One Book, Two Counties: An Evening With James MacArthur", The Cinema Audio Society Annual Awards Banquet and AdventureCon in Knoxville, Tennessee. In addition, he has been featured in several television specials and interview programs, including Emme & Friends, Entertainment Tonight (1981), Inside TVLand, and Christopher Closeup. The increasing popularity of the DVD market has seen the re-release of Swiss Family Robinson (1960) with a new behind-the-scenes documentary narrated by MacArthur and a lengthy on-screen interview covering many aspects of his career. Planned for re-release in July 2003, the 1956 version of Anastasia (1956) is expected to include an on-screen interview with MacArthur discussing his mother, Helen Hayes, and her work in that movie. April 2003 marked his return to the stage as "Father Madison" in Joe Moore's original play Dirty Laundry. On 6 November 2003, the Hawaii International Film Festival chose James MacArthur and Hawaii Five-O (1968) as the recipient of their annual "Film in Hawaii" award, an honor both well-deserved and especially significant, coming as it did from the people and the State of Hawaii. Plans were being made to feature MacArthur in a new television series set in the Hawaiian Islands, though nothing more definitive had ever been arranged.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Tall, dark and imposing American actor Paul Sorvino made a solid career of portraying authority figures.
He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His mother, Angela (Renzi), was a piano teacher, of Italian descent. His father, Ford Sorvino, was an Italian immigrant who worked in a robe factory as a foreman. Paul originally had his heart set on a life as an opera singer. He was exposed to dramatic arts while studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. He furthered his studies with Sanford Meisner and eventually made his film debut in Where's Poppa? (1970).
Sorvino suffered from severe asthma, and worked hard at mastering various breathing techniques to manage the illness. He wrote a best-selling book entitled "How to Become a Former Asthmatic". He also started the Sorvino Asthma Foundation based in New York City.
Sorvino appeared in a variety of film, TV, and theatrical productions over five decades. He received critical praise for his role in the Broadway play "That Championship Season", and played the role again in the 1981 film alongside Robert Mitchum and Martin Sheen. Other noteworthy performances during the 1980s and 1990s included a stressed-out police chief in Cruising (1980), Mike Hammer's cop buddy in I, the Jury (1982), Lips Manlis in Dick Tracy (1990) with James Caan and in a standout performance as mob patriarch Paul Cicero in the powerhouse Goodfellas (1990).
Always keeping himself busy, Sorvino performed over 100 theatrical movies and over 30 TV movies throughout his career, including a dynamic and under-appreciated portrayal of Henry Kissinger in Nixon (1995), as "Fulgencio Capulet" in the updated Romeo + Juliet (1996) and in the Las Vegas thriller The Cooler (2003). At the time of his death in 2022, there were three more films in which he appeared yet to be released, including The Ride in which he worked alongside his wife Dee Dee Sorvino.
Sorvino was the proud father of Academy Award-winning actress Mira Sorvino.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Dave Madden was born on 17 December 1931 in Sarnia, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Partridge Family (1970), Charlotte's Web (1973) and Eat My Dust (1976). He was married to Sandra Martin and Alvena Louise (Nena) Arnold. He died on 16 January 2014 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Born Agnes Zetterstrand in 1902 in the small industrial town of Naugatuck, Connecticut, Grey was the seventh surviving and youngest child of Swedish immigrants. Her life and that of her family was sent into turmoil when her father died suddenly of a heart attack in 1911. Grey's family eventually moved to Waterbury, Connecticut while she was in her sophomore year of High School. She graduated from Waterbury's Wilby High School in 1919. Grey began her acting career with Sylvester Poli's Stock Theater Company, The Poli Players. She made her stage debut in the August 1920 production of "A Tailor Made Man" at the Lyric Theater in Bridgeport, Connecticut. While with the Poli Players, she performed in weekly stock performances throughout Poli's chain of theaters. She performed with the Poli Players until 1924. During the fall of 1924, Grey was "discovered" by Crane Wilbur while performing in a theater production in Springfield, Massachusetts. She was subsequently offered a part in Wilbur's play, "The Imported Wife". Although, the play was ultimately a failure, her exposure in this production opened numerous theatrical doors over the next several years. During the balance of the 20s she co-starred with many of the periods more popular theater performers including, Edward Arnold, William Collier Sr. and George M. Cohan. Grey married Jack Crosby, Ronald Colman's business manager, in 1927. Under Crosby's guidance, she was able to break into film. She performed in bit movie parts at first, but by 1929 and 1930 was working at RKO Radio Pictures' shorts division. In March of 1931, she was offered the opportunity to screen test for Samuel Goldwyn. Busby Berkeley subsequently signed her to a five-year contract for Goldwyn's company. Grey performed in more than 45 films during her brief movie career. She received great reviews, as Edith Varney in Secret Service (1931). Phantom Ship (1935), a movie in which she co-starred in with Bela Lugosi, remains a cult favorite. She co-starred with Ralph Bellamy in the Inspector Trent film series at Columbia Pictures and was seen in numerous B westerns during her career supporting such actors as John Wayne, Tim McCoy and Buck Jones. She married British actor, Arthur Margetson, in 1936. This marriage, as with two prior marriages, ended in divorce. After her only son died in 1945 in World War II, her divorce, loss of her son and her inability to find work led to despair. She lived the remainder of her life - reclusive - with sisters in Providence, Rhode Island and Arlington, Virginia until she finally settled in Florida. She died in a Jacksonville Beach convalescent home in 1981.
- Victoria Harrington was born on 21 February 1944 in Willesden, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Sheep's Clothing (1960), That's My Boy (1963) and The History of Mr. Polly (1959). She was married to Norman David Eisenfeld and Michael Anderson Jr.. She died on 3 July 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Barbara Bedford was born on 19 July 1903 in Eastman, Wisconsin, USA. She was an actress, known for The Last of the Mohicans (1920), Sunshine of Paradise Alley (1926) and The Spoilers (1923). She was married to Terry Spencer, Alan Roscoe and Irvin Willat. She died on 25 October 1981 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Gloria Shea was born on 30 May 1910 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Dangerous Intrigue (1936), Black Gold (1936) and Women Won't Tell (1932). She was married to Vice Admiral Robert J. Stroh (Ret.). She died on 8 February 1995 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Joel Marston was born on 30 March 1922 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was an actor, known for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984), Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) and Heaven Can Wait (1978). He was married to Marilyn June Marston. He died on 18 October 2012 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Leanza Cornett was born on 10 June 1971 in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, USA. She was an actress, known for The Tick (2001), CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) and Still Waiting in the Wings (2018). She was married to Mark Steines. She died on 28 October 2020 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Writer
- Animation Department
Don Perlin was born on 27 August 1929 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. Don was a writer, known for Bloodshot (2020), Moon Knight (2022) and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter (1997). Don was married to Rebecca Blumenfeld and Arlene Bon . Don died on 14 May 2024 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- American professional wrestler who competed for a variety of wrestling promotions from 2003 to 2011 as Brodie Lee and as Luke Harper for WWE starting in 2011. Debuted for Roc City Wrestling and competed for NWA Upstate, Ballpark Brawl, Keystone Championship Wrestling, NWA Empire, Empire State Wrestling, Pro Wrestling Unplugged, Far North Wrestling, CZW, CHIKARA, Ring of Honor, and many other promotions. He took the name "Brodie Lee" from actor Jason Lee's character Brodie in Mallrats (1995), and his original gimmick was based on the New Kids on the Block, calling himself "The Right Stuff" Brodie Lee. He scrapped the gimmick for a new one as a wrestling truck driver at "CHIKARA Here Come the International Invaders: Attack of the Phantom Sith" on August 17, 2007. He was signed by WWE in 2012 and sent to their developmental promotion Florida Championship Wrestling. He formed the Wyatt Family with Bray Wyatt (Windham Rotunda) and Erick Rowan (Joseph Ruud). Among his in-ring achievements, he is a former WWE Intercontinental Heavyweight Champion, a former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion, a former JAPW (Jersey All Pro Wrestling) Heavyweight Champion, a former 2x 2CW Heavyweight Champion and a former JAPW Tag Team Champion.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Allen Collins was born on 19 July 1952 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. He was a composer, known for Kingsman: The Secret Service (2014), Straw Dogs (2011) and Speed Racer (2008). He was married to Kathy Evelyn Johns. He died on 23 January 1990 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Dea St. Lamont was born on 18 January 1938 in New Mexico, USA. She was an actress, known for Coffy (1973), From Here to Eternity (1980) and From Here to Eternity (1979). She died on 2 April 1993 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ken Carson was born on 14 November 1914 in Coalgate, Oklahoma, USA. He was an actor, known for San Fernando Valley (1944), Song of Nevada (1944) and Sunset in El Dorado (1945). He died on 7 April 1994 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Beth Marion was born in Clinton, Iowa in 1912. She attended Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois and was part of a musical trio called the Co-Eds. After starring in several B-Westerns with the likes of Ken Maynard, Tom Tyler, and Johnny Mack Brown in the 1930s she retired from acting after her marriage to stuntman Cliff Lyons around 1938. They had two children together, Clifford and Gary, and divorced in the mid 1950s. A few years later she married architect Julian Koch and in 1982 they moved from Los Angeles to southern Oregon.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Bobby "Nick" Nicholson was born in New York on April 29, 1918. A talented musician, Nicholson's instrument was the trombone. Nicholson got his start in jazz bands in the late 1930s. While serving in World War II, he met his future wife Jane (nee Togler). They had two children.
After another stint in dance bands, Nicholson was hired in 1952 by E. Roger Muir for "The Howdy Doody Show" (then :"Puppet Playhouse"), at the request of the show's star "Buffalo" Bob Smith. Nicholson's first role was as J. Cornelius "Corny" Cobb. When Bob Keeshan (who went on to be Captain Kangaroo) was fired in 1952 over a salary dispute, Nicholson assumed the role of Clarabell the Clown, which he played for about 18 months until fellow trombonist Lew Anderson replaced him in that character. Nicholson went back to being Corny Cobb until the end of the series in 1960 and for the revival of the series in the 1970s and the 40 year reunion in 1987.
Nicholson was also kept busy by NBC as the staff conductor of the NBC Symphony for 10 years, including the earlier years of The Tonight Show, as well as writing many arrangements for various NBC shows. NIcholson and Muir created and produced several game shows, including the first two versions of "The Newlywed Game."
Nicholson reverted to his love of music as a trombonist, arranger, and composer, and he was one of the founders of the Boca Raton Symphonic Pops, playing trombone and arranging music for the orchestra.
Nicholson died on September 23rd, 1993 at the age of 75.- Jackson "Jackie" Davis was born on December 13, 1920, in Jacksonville, Florida. At a very young age, Davis learned to play piano, and by the age of 8, he was playing with a local dance band. He attended Florida A&M College (now University), graduating in 1943 with a bachelor's degree in music. After serving in the Army, Davis worked as a piano accompanist for legendary jazz artists such as Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and Billy Daniels.
Later becoming attracted to playing the organ, he bought his first Hammond electric organ in 1951. As a result, Davis became world renowned as the first musician to popularize jazz on the Hammond organ. By the mid-1950's, he began leading his own sessions, and in 1956, he released his first album 'Hi-Fi Hammond' on Capitol Records. Davis spent 5 years recording albums for Capitol before moving over to Warner Brothers Records in 1961, releasing his first album for the label, 'Easy Does It'.
In 1978, Davis was hired to accompany Ella Fitzgerald on her album 'Lady Time'. 1980 saw Jackie return to the studio to record his self-titled album for EMI Records, as well as making an appearance as Smoke Porterhouse in the classic comedy film 'Caddyshack' (1980). In his later years, he performed at various clubs, jazz festivals and restaurants throughout the country. Davis suffered financially and physically after the devastation of Hurricane Andrew in Florida in 1992. His home was completely destroyed in the storm, the experience contributing to a series of heart attacks and strokes. By 1997, he recovered enough to start performing again, but not long after, his health started to decline, and in November of 1999, Jackie Davis died a month before his 79th birthday, due to complications from a stroke while in a nursing home in his hometown of Jacksonville, Florida. - Special Effects
- Actor
- Art Department
Tim Lawrence was born on 23 November 1958 in the USA. He was an actor, known for Howard the Duck (1986), Starman (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989). He died on 26 December 2019 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Writer
- Additional Crew
Maurine Dallas Watkins was born on 27 July 1896 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA. She was a writer, known for Chicago (2002), Search for Beauty (1934) and Easy to Wed (1946). She died on 10 August 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Corey Parker was born on 15 August 1973 in Rochester, New York, USA. She died on 26 November 1998 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Enrico Caruso Jr. was born on 7 September 1904. He was an actor and writer, known for El cantante de Napoles (1935), La buenaventura (1934) and Biography (1987). He died on 9 April 1987 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
Carlotta De Felice was born on 1 March 1892 in France. She was an actress and writer, known for The Christian (1914), Richard III (1912) and One Million Dollars (1915). She was married to Vinton Breese and Leon B. Barnard. She died on 6 March 1969 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Art Department
Howell Binkley was born on 25 July 1956 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA. He is known for Come from Away (2021), George Takei's Allegiance (2016) and Golda's Balcony (2019). He was married to Joyce Storey. He died on 14 August 2020 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, USA.- Soundtrack
Shorty Medlocke was born on 20 June 1912 in Buford, Georgia, USA. Shorty was married to Ruby Juanita Chase, Venice Hurst and Wilma Mary Slade. Shorty died on 6 August 1982 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.- Marshall Grauer was born on 18 December 1922 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Zaat (1971). He died on 4 April 1991 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA.