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- Actor
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Gary Oldman is a talented English movie star and character actor, renowned for his expressive acting style. One of the most celebrated thespians of his generation, with a diverse career encompassing theatre, film and television, he is known for his roles as Sid Vicious in Sid and Nancy (1986), Drexl in True Romance (1993), George Smiley in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), and Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017), among many others. For much of his career, he was best-known for playing over-the-top antagonists, such as terrorist Egor Korshunov in the 1997 blockbuster Air Force One (1997), though he has reached a new audience with heroic roles in the Harry Potter and Dark Knight franchises. He is also a filmmaker, musician, and author.
Gary Leonard Oldman was born on March 21, 1958 in New Cross, London, England, to Kathleen (Cheriton), a homemaker, and Leonard Bertram Oldman, a welder. He won a scholarship to Britain's Rose Bruford Drama College, in Sidcup, Kent, where he received a B.A. in theatre arts in 1979. He subsequently studied with the Greenwich Young People's Theatre and went on to appear in a number of plays throughout the early '80s, including "The Pope's Wedding," for which he received Time Out's Fringe Award for Best Newcomer of 1985-1986 and the British Theatre Association's Drama Magazine Award as Best Actor for 1985. Before fame, he was employed as a worker in assembly lines and as a porter in an operating theater. He also had jobs selling shoes and beheading pigs while supporting his early acting career.
His film debut was Remembrance (1982), though his most-memorable early role came when he played Sex Pistol Sid Vicious in the biopic Sid and Nancy (1986) picking up the Evening Standard Film Award as Best Newcomer. He then received a Best Actor nomination from BAFTA for his portrayal of '60s playwright Joe Orton in Prick Up Your Ears (1987).
In the 1990s, Oldman brought to life a series of iconic real-world and fictional villains including Lee Harvey Oswald in JFK (1991), the title character in Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Drexl Spivey in True Romance (1993), Stansfield in Léon: The Professional (1994), Jean-Baptiste Emanuel Zorg in The Fifth Element (1997) and Ivan Korshunov in Air Force One (1997). That decade also saw Oldman portraying Ludwig van Beethoven in biopic Immortal Beloved (1994).
Oldman played the coveted role of Sirius Black in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004), giving him a key part in one of the highest-grossing franchises ever. He reprised that role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire (2005) and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007). Oldman also took on the iconic role of Detective James Gordon in writer-director Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins (2005), a role he played again in The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012). Prominent film critic Mark Kermode, in reviewing The Dark Knight, wrote, "the best performance in the film, by a mile, is Gary Oldman's ... it would be lovely to see him get a[n Academy Award] nomination because actually, he's the guy who gets kind of overlooked in all of this."
Oldman co-starred with Jim Carrey in the 2009 version of A Christmas Carol in which Oldman played three roles. He had a starring role in David Goyer's supernatural thriller The Unborn, released in 2009. In 2010, Oldman co-starred with Denzel Washington in The Book of Eli. He also played a lead role in Catherine Hardwicke's Red Riding Hood. Oldman voiced the role of villain Lord Shen and was nominated for an Annie Award for his performance in Kung Fu Panda 2.
In 2011, Oldman portrayed master spy George Smiley in the adaptation of John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), and the role scored Oldman his first Academy Award nomination. In 2014, he played one of the lead humans in the science fiction action film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014) alongside Jason Clarke and Keri Russell. Also in 2014, Oldman starred alongside Joel Kinnaman, Abbie Cornish, Michael Keaton, and Samuel L. Jackson in the remake of RoboCop (2014), as Norton, the scientist who creates RoboCop.
Aside from acting, Oldman tried his hand at writing and directing for Nil by Mouth (1997). The movie opened the Cannes Film Festival in 1997, and won Kathy Burke a Best Actress prize at the festival.
Oldman has three children, Alfie, with first wife, actress Lesley Manville, and Gulliver and Charlie with his third wife, Donya Fiorentino. In 2017, he married writer and art curator Gisele Schmidt.
In 2018 he won an Oscar for best actor for his work on Darkest Hour (2017).- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Hailing from rural Western Australia, Cody made his auspicious stage debut as the lead in the National Theatre's production of 'War Horse'. He played David Madson on the Emmy and Golden Globe winning Limited Series: 'American Crime Story, The Assassination of Gianni Versace', Michael Langdon (The Antichrist) and Xavier Plympton in the Ryan Murphy anthology series 'American Horror Story' and Duncan Shepherd in the globally acclaimed series 'House of Cards'.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Kenneth Gilbert More C.B.E. (20 September 1914 - 12 July 1982) was one of Britain's most successful and highest paid actors of his generation, with a multi award-winning career in theatre, film and television spanning over 4 decades.
At the height of his fame during the 1950's More appeared in some of the most memorable feature films of the decade including Genevieve (1953), Doctor in the House (1954), The Deep Blue Sea (1955), Reach for the Sky (1956), Paradise Lagoon (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959).
Starting out as the lovable, happy-go-lucky gentleman with boyhood charm and cheerful optimism, he would later refine his acting style into a leading man who could articulate a whole range of emotions in serious dramatic performances. More managed to embody courage and a sense of moral certitude with a relaxed, informal manner that made audiences warm to him immediately.
From very early on in his career More was very conscious of his talents, what parts suited him as an actor and what did not. More would have been the first to admit there were other actors that could better perform the works of Shakespeare than he. More was probably being self-deprecating. He had more range than he sometimes gave himself credit for, but he knew how best to appeal to an audience.
Born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, Kenneth More was the son of a civil engineer, a profession he initially pursued but with little success. More was not a trained actor and had not gone into show business to tread the boards. He was merely looking for work and happened to walk past the Windmill Theatre in London's West End one day and saw a sign above the door 'General Manager - Vivian Van Damm'. More had remembered that a man called Van Damm had known his father and so he asked for a job. More was soon a stagehand earning two pounds and ten shillings a week, shifting scenery and helping to get the nude female performers off the stage during their risqué performances. One day he was called upon to help comic Ken Douglas on stage with a sketch, More playing the small part of a Policeman. It was this experience and the subsequent taste of the audience's laughter which made him want to pursue a career in acting. He was soon an actor in his own right appearing on stage as Ken More in comedy sketches. Following 2 years at the Windmill he moved into repertory theatre with seasons at Byker's, Grand Theatre in Newcastle, and the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton.
With the outbreak of war, and following a stint with the Merchant Navy, More joined Royal Navy cruiser HMS Aurora (R12) . It would end up having the greatest impact on his character and his acting style during wartime. As ship's Action Commentator he found an opportunity to hone his craft as an actor, keeping steady nerves when reporting action during conflict to the crew below decks. He also got on well with his shipmates by helping them to write wonderfully romantic love letters home to their ladies. Aurora would journey across the Atlantic and Mediterranean seeing its fair share of action. Wartime missions aboard Aurora, and later with aircraft carrier HMS Victorious (R38) would lead him to receive medals, including campaign stars for Africa, Italy, the Atlantic and Pacific.
After being demobbed from the Navy More returned to England and signed with agent Harry Dubens, who was seeking actors who had served in the forces. More went into 'The Crimson Harvest' (1946) at the Gateway Theatre in Notting Hill, and it was there that BBC producer Michael Barry saw him and offered him a contract to play in small television roles at the Alexandra Palace to help restart the BBC.
Jenny Laird and John Fernald's 'And No Birds Can Sing' (1946) marked More's West End debut at the Aldwych Theatre, playing the part of the Reverend Arthur Platt. Within a year he was back on stage in 'Power Without Glory' (1947) by Michael Clayton Hutton at the New Lindsey, Notting Hill Gate. It was so well received that it led to a live version being broadcast on the BBC. That same year Noël Coward cast More as a British Resistance Leader in 'Peace in Our Time' at the Lyric Theatre; a story of what might have happened if Britain had lost the Second World War. More and Coward got on well and stayed friends throughout their lives. 1950 saw More in 'The Way Things Go' by Frederick Lonsdale at the Phoenix Theatre, alongside a cast which included Michael Gough, Glynis Johns, Ronald Squire and Janet Burnell.
His first breakthrough came on stage at The Duchess Theatre in 1952 playing the role of Freddie Page alongside Peggy Ashcroft in Terence Rattigan's 'The Deep Blue Sea'. It was noted actor Roland Culver who had put More forward for the part having known Rattigan. The production was an enormous success and Kenneth More received great critical acclaim. He would often cite it as his favourite stage performance.
It was whilst More was performing in 'The Deep Blue Sea' that filmmaker Henry Cornelius came back stage to offer him a part which would change his career forever, the role of Ambrose Claverhouse in a film called Genevieve (1953). Cornelius had remembered More from a screen test he had directed him in for the part of Lt. E.G.R. (Teddy) Evans in Scott of the Antarctic (1948). This had been More's first attempt to break into cinema which had not come to fruition although plenty of film work followed. Cornelius was sure More was the Claverhouse he needed for 'Genevieve' and he was not disappointed. More's perfect comic timing was made for the part and he won the audience immediately making him a rising star overnight. 'Genevieve' was the second most popular movie that year and went onto become a British comedy classic, winning Best British Film at the British Film Academy Awards.
More channelled the same energy and zest for life he had shown as Claverhouse in his next performance as student Doctor Richard Grimsdake in the first of the much-loved Doctor in the House (1954) film series. It was a winning formula becoming the most popular film at the box office in 1954 securing More Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards.
1955 saw More returning to the role of Freddie Page in a big screen version of Terence Rattigan's The Deep Blue Sea, playing alongside Vivien Leigh. Incidentally, he had brought the role back to life the previous year for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) series. The screen adaptation was produced by Alexander Korda and directed by Anatole Litvak. More's performance was once again praised by audiences and critics alike, leading to being awarded the prestigious Volpi cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival, as well as nominations for Best Actor at the British Film Academy Awards. Further honours were bestowed by the Variety Club of Great Britain as Most Promising International Star of 1955. He had finally made his mark.
It was a serious leading role initially turned down by Richard Burton which would make More a major star. Playing the legless, real-life fighter pilot Douglas Bader in Reach for the Sky (1956) was the role of a lifetime. He felt the part of Bader was one he was born to play as he mentioned in his autobiography, 'More or Less': "Bader's philosophy was my philosophy. His whole attitude to life was mine." More had met Bader at Gleneagles where they played a round of golf together, Bader winning each time. They got on well which was somewhat surprising in that Bader was not that keen on actors. Not wanting to caricature him More kept his distance whilst preparing for the role, only meeting him on a handful of occasions for dinner with his friend, actor Ronald Squire. 'Reach for the Sky' became a smash hit upon release and the most popular British film of 1956, winning a British Film Academy award for Best Film. Playing Bader also garnered a Best Actor award for More from popular cinema publication, Picturegoer magazine.
'Reach for the Sky' did something much greater for his career, it showed British audiences that Kenneth More was not just suited to comic roles, he had range as a leading man in dramatic performances. In later years More called several of his films 'favourites' in the press, but it is the belief that 'Reach for the Sky' remained his preferred choice and greatest accomplishment on screen.
Hugely popular films The Admirable Crichton (1957), A Night to Remember (1958), The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw (1958), North West Frontier (1959) and The 39 Steps (1959) galvanized his status as one of Britain's most sought-after actors of the decade. Once he was a £5 a week actor in rep, now he was commanding £50,000 a film.
At the height of his fame More was offered several opportunities to go to Hollywood but with the success he was enjoying at home he did not see the point, or even what he had to offer Tinseltown at this juncture.
The 1960s saw More continue as a leading man in Sink the Bismarck! (1960), Loss of Innocence (1961) and We Joined the Navy (1962). He would cite The Comedy Man (1964) as one of his most favourite roles playing down and out middle-aged actor Chick Byrd. This character resonated with him on two levels. The first was how it represented the experiences he had as a struggling young actor, the second was how he was coming to terms with the present, his own age and the shifting trends of the industry. It would be More's last leading role on the silver screen. Further successes on film came but in cameo or supporting roles, including The Longest Day (1962), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Battle of Britain (1969), Scrooge (1970) and The Slipper and the Rose: The Story of Cinderella (1976).
More finally achieved worldwide fame as leading man on the small screen in a BBC adaptation of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga (1967). He had been working steadily on television throughout the 1960's in starring roles, but The Forsyte Saga caught the world's imagination and was a huge, phenomenal success. The series managed to achieve that rare cult-like status and helped introduce Kenneth More to a whole new audience, many who had not seen his earlier work. Several years late More took on another famous literary character playing the part of a Catholic priest who was adept at solving mysteries in G.K. Chesterton's Father Brown (1974). The TV Times awarded him Best Actor for his performance.
Kenneth More had returned to the theatre as early as 1963, playing the part of Peter Pounce alongside Celia Johnson in Giles Cooper's 'Out of the Crocodile' at the Phoenix Theatre. A year later he appeared in a musical version of 'The Admirable Crichton' co-starring with Millicent Martin in 'Our Man Crichton' at the Shaftesbury Theatre. By the end of the 1960s he had received great critical praise as Hugh in a production of 'The Secretary Bird' (1968) by William Douglas-Home at the Savoy Theatre. It turned out to be the biggest stage success of his career. Terence Rattigan's 'The Winslow Boy' (1970), Alan Bennett's award-winning 'Getting On' (1971), Jeremy Kingston's 'Sign of the Times' (1973) and Frederick Lonsdale's 'On Approval' (1977) followed, all of which reinforced More's popularity in his later years.
He was made a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year's Honours list of 1970. The Kenneth More Theatre, a regional playhouse named in his honour opened in Redbridge in 1974. The Variety Club of Great Britain bestowed More with a special silver heart in 1975 for 40 years in show business. He had been a great supporter of the club over the years taking part in a great deal of charitable events. A special, televised ceremony was held in the Lancaster ballroom of the Savoy Hotel and was attended by many of the industry's best-known names, including Sir. Douglas Bader who More had remained friends with throughout the years.
1978 saw the release of his autobiography 'More or Less', reported to have sold 100,000 copies almost immediately upon release. It received widespread critical and public praise and showed that his appeal had not diminished after 4 decades in the business, despite how times had changed. More was considered an 'institution in British entertainment' according to presenter Michael Parkinson whilst introducing him on his chat show in 1978.
More announced his retirement in 1980 due to illness, at the time he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. It is now very likely that he was suffering from Multiple System Atrophy (MSA), due in part to the age of onset and the speed at which the condition progressed. Kenneth More passed away on July 12th, 1982. His wife Angela Douglas was by his side having nursed him in his final years.
Kenneth More's memorial service was held at St Martin-in-the-Fields on 20 September 1982, which also marked his birthday. The service was packed with family and friends alike, including Lauren Bacall, Dame Anna Neagle and Lady Joan Bader, widow of Sir Douglas Bader who had passed away the same year. A plaque was erected at St. Paul's Church Covent Garden, known more commonly as the Actor's Church.
It is almost 40 years since his passing, yet Kenneth More's performances have endured, continuing to screen worldwide on television and home entertainment. What greater legacy can there be for an actor than to be able to continue to thrill audiences long after one has taken their final bow.- Charles Dierkop was born on 11 September 1936 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor, known for The Sting (1973), Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969) and Silent Night, Deadly Night (1984). He was married to Joan Florence Addis. He died on 25 February 2024 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
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Belonging to an important family clan in Wisconsin, Joseph Losey studied philosophy but was always interested in theater and thus worked together with Bertolt Brecht. After directing some shorts for MGM, he made his first important film, The Boy with Green Hair (1948), for RKO. While he was filming The Prowler (1951) in Italy he was summoned to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee, the congressional committee charged with "rooting out" Communist "subversion" in the motion picture industry. Unwilling to subject himself to the committee's well-known intimidation tactics, Losey decided to seek exile in Great Britain. In the following years he used a pseudonym--"Joseph Walton"--for his films, which were of minor quality. He regained his prestige with the thrillers Chance Meeting (1959), The Concrete Jungle (1960) and Eva (1962). From that point on his films varied between top-quality work like Accident (1967) and much lower-quality projects such as Modesty Blaise (1966), which was a box-office success, and Galileo (1975), which wasn't.- Actor
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The acting bug bit Kenneth Williams when, as a student, his English teacher suggested he try out for a school play. He found that he enjoyed it tremendously, but when he raised the possibility at home of becoming an actor, his father forbade it. Williams was eventually sent to art school in London in 1941. In 1944 he was drafted into the army, and although posted to the Royal Engineers, he managed to land a job in the Combined Services Entertainment unit, where he got a chance to act in shows that were put on to entertain the troops, and even designed the posters that advertised the shows.
After his discharge from the army he began to work as a professional actor, and traveled the country in repertory companies. It was in a production of "Saint Joan", where he played the Dauphin, that a radio producer saw him and hired him to do voice characterizations on a popular radio comedy show, "Hancock's Half Hour". His penchant for wild, off-the-wall characters led to his being hired by the producers of the "Carry On" comedy series, where he performed in 26 entries in the long-running series. When the series ended, Williams returned to radio work, and also made the rounds of the TV talk shows in addition to writing several books, including his autobiography. Later in his life Williams developed a serious ulcer, and was given medication to combat the pain. On April 15th 1988, he was found dead in his bed; it was determined that in addition to his regular pain pills, he had apparently taken some sleeping pills the night before, and the combination of those and his regular medication proved fatal.- Actress
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She was one British character player who seemed to show up everywhere on post-war film, stage and TV, although, more times than not, could barely be glimpsed. A most efficient actress, Marianne Stone's career spanned four decades and was primarily enjoyed in bawdy, ribald comedy playing lowbrow or working-class ladies about town (waitresses, barmaids, clerks, shrews, landladies, secretaries, receptionists, etc.)
Born in King's Cross, London, on August 23, 1922, the dark-haired Marianne was raised by her grandparents who were furniture owners. Her grandmother also ran her own music school and Marianne benefited from that. Winning a music scholarship to the Camden School for Girls, she instead studied at the Royal College of Music, then earned an acting scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 1940. Following her graduation she initially made ends meet by working as secretary types in offices, and also found work as an assistant manager for various stock companies. She made her on-stage West End debut in 1945 with a role in "The King Maker" at age 23. A high point for her, as for her stage work, was winning the Gertrude Lawrence Award for "Character Acting".
Marianne moved quickly into films following WWII with minuscule roles in such films as Brighton Rock (1948) and Escape Dangerous (1947). During the latter film's shoot, she met her future husband, actor/producer, Peter Noble, who went on to become a noted London show business columnist, theatre critic and film historian. They married in 1947 and had two daughters Katina Noble and Kara Noble . Of the hundreds of films she appeared in, some "A" but primarily "B" pictures, Marianne was given the chance to shine in only a few.
Producing/directing brothers Roy Boulting and/or John Boulting utilized her presence in several of their films, albeit minor, including Seven Days to Noon (1950), High Treason (1951), Brothers in Law (1957), I'm All Right Jack (1959), Man in a Cocked Hat (1959) and Heavens Above! (1963). Marianne also became a steadfast player (nine total) in the highly popular "Carry On..." slapstick movie series beginning with Carry on Nurse (1959) and finishing a decade and a half later with Carry on Behind (1975). Her most engaging cameo in the series came with her old hag role in Carry on Dick (1974). In what would have been her tenth film in the series, she was deleted from the final print of Carry on Matron (1972).
While Marianne enjoyed a more visible part in Passport to Treason (1956), her most sharply-defined roles on celluloid was arguably that of co-writer Vivian Darkbloom in Lolita (1962) starring James Mason, Shelley Winters, Peter Sellers and nubile Sue Lyon in the title role. Supposedly it was Winters (who wound up staying with Stone during the film's shooting) who helped Marianne get the part. Ironically, one of Stone's last film, Déjà Vu (1985) also happened to feature Winters. A few of the character lady's bawdier 70s film work included Au Pair Girls (1972), the similarly-styled "Carry On" film Bless This House (1972), The Love Ban (1973), Mistress Pamela (1973), The Cherry Picker (1974) and Confessions of a Window Cleaner (1974).
On TV Marianne was seen in such colorful productions as Eccentricities of a Nightingale (1976), Little Lord Fauntleroy (1976) and the mini-series A Man Called Intrepid (1979). Marianne's husband Peter predeceased her (1997) and she herself died on December 21, 2009, at the age of 87. Survived by her children, one of her daughters, Kara Noble appeared with her mother in the film Funny Money (1983).- Actor
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The King of stock car racing, Richard Petty retired from NASCAR competition after the 1992 season. During his storied career, he won 200 Winston Cup race (a feat that will never be equaled), seven Winston Cup championships (tied by Dale Earnhardt in 1994), and seven Daytona 500's. His 200th win came in the July 4th, 1984 Firecracker 400 at Daytona, when he beat Cale Yarborough by mere inches with President Ronald Reagan in attendance. Petty remains a fixture on the Winston Cup circuit. He still owns the familiar number 43 STP Pontiac team, and you can still find him signing autographs for his legion of fans. His son, Kyle Petty, is currently a NASCAR Winston Cup series driver.- He was born in the United Kingdom into a wealthy family; his mother was British and his father a Brazilian diplomat. He was educated in Switzerland where he learned to ski. His parents were friends of producer Michael Balcon who was looking for a boy who could ski for his 1954 film The Divided Heart (1954). Young Michel fitted the part perfectly and started a film career which culminated in the role of Faraj in Lawrence of Arabia (1962). This project took eighteen months, causing Michel to reflect on the impact his film work was having on his education. He decided to quit acting instead attending Harvard University. He graduated in business studies, and went on to take a Masters (MBA). In the meantime, he pursued his passion for winter sports, representing Britain in the Winter Olympics in Grenoble 1968 (ski), Sapporo 1972 (luge) and Innsbruck 1976 (luge). After university he joined merchant bankers White Weld & Co before moving on to NM Rothschild and Credit Suisse First Boston. In his London city career in investment banking he made his first millions. In 1995 he joined Nikko Securities and in 1998 became the first non-Japanese member of the main board. He had married a childhood friend Charlene, daughter of Alfred "Freddie" Heineken. Her mother was Lucille Cummins daughter of a Kentucky Bourbon maker. Her father Freddie died in January 2002 and left his controlling interest, 50.05%, in the Heineken brewing empire to the couple. With an estimated wealth of £3 billion or $4.2 billion, Michel's life story is more glamorous than many a Hollywood fiction.
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Hans Obma was born in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Better Call Saul (2015), WandaVision (2021) and Narcos: Mexico (2018).- Lisa was born to actress Ann Beach and producer/director Francis Coleman. She has an older sister, Charlotte Coleman. She attended Ann Scher's Theatre School at age six, and took 'O' and 'A' Levels, and 2 years of an Open University degree in Clinical Psychology. Before acting she also spent a year in Botswana teaching English. She also did nude modelling for artist Euan Oslow and sang in a funk band called 'The Hot Heads'.
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Angela Douglas was born in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire but has lived her whole life in South London.
Her first professional appearance was in the West End, aged just 14 years old.
Small roles in television along with teenage modelling and commercials followed. Aged twenty, Angela was taken to Rome for 3 months to work on CLEOPATRA starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton. Her twenty-first birthday was spent there.
On her return, Angela was cast as Fancy Smith (Brian Blessed's) girlfriend in the popular British TV series, Z CARS. Immediately after she went to Bristol to film SOME PEOPLE, directed by Clive Donner. The leading man was the British movie star Kenneth More. At forty-seven years old he was at the top of his career, following successes in classics such as "Genevieve", "Reach for the Sky", "A Night to Remember" and "Sink the Bismarck!" Older and married. Angela aged just twenty, they fell in love. Society, the press, all frowned upon their relationship, and they were ostracised by many.
Several very difficult years were to follow. Divorce laws eventually changed, and they were free to marry in 1968. In July 1969, she miscarried the longed-for baby with More. During those years Angela still worked for several leading directors including: Ted Kotcheff, Christopher Morahan, Bryan Forbes, and J.Lee Thompson in Hollywood for JOHN GOLDFARB: PLEASE COME HOME, with Shirley MacLaine and Peter Ustinov.
On stage, Angela travelled to Hong Kong to star in the musical SOMETHING'S AFOOT with Virginia McKenna and George Cole. Toronto followed with the play, THE SCENARIO with Trevor Howard. Next to London, in KILLING JESSICA alongside Patrick McNee. Angela also toured with Tony Britton in THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH, and with Anna Neagle in THE FIRST MRS FRASIER. Feature film appearances continued in ITS ALL HAPPENING with Tommy Steele, THE COMEDY MAN with Kenneth More and MAROC SEVEN with Gene Barry.
Angela was then cast to play the female lead in four classic Carry On films - starring first as Annie Oakley in CARRY ON COWBOY. CARRY ON SCREAMING, CARRY ON FOLLOW THAT CAMEL, and CARRY ON UP THE KHYBER all followed.
T.V. Appearances in hit series included: GIDEON'S WAY, THE SAINT, THE AVENGERS, DOCTOR AT LARGE, JASON KING, THE PROTECTORS, FATHER BROWN, OIL STRIKE NORTH...and many more...
In 1979, her husband Kenneth More was diagnosed with a rare form of Parkinson's - MSA (Multiple System Atrophy). Angela nursed him for three years until his death in 1982. The entertainment industry was wonderfully supportive, rallying around to offer her work, but she chose to stay at home and spent eighteen months writing her autobiography: SWINGS AND ROUNDABOUTS. It was incredibly well received by critics and audience alike, with the Daily Mail purchasing the serial rights. The Mail on Sunday went on to give Angela a regular column in its Femail pages. The Daily Telegraph sent her to L.A to write a feature for them. Additional magazines followed suit with offers to write for them.
Angela dipped in and out of films and television during that time. Features included DIGBY THE BIGGEST DOG IN THE WORLD with Jim Dale, Kenneth Branagh's HAMLET, SHADOW RUN with Michael Caine, THIS YEAR'S LOVE, SOUTH KENSINGTON and FOUR FEATHERS with Heath Ledger. TV credits included THE GENTLE TOUCH, THIRD TIME LUCKY with Derek Nimmo, DOCTOR WHO as Brigadier Lethbridge-Stewart's wife, STRATHBLAIR, FOUR SEASONS playing opposite Frank Finley and Tom Conti, as well as guest appearances in long-running series: CASUALTY, HEARTBEAT, PEAK PRACTICE and HOLBY CITY.
In 1989 she met and fell in love with acclaimed theatre director Bill Bryden. They were introduced to each other at a dinner party held by actress Marsha Hunt. In 2009 they married on her birthday in City Hall in New York, with agent Douglas Rae and actress Sally Ann Howes as their witnesses.
In 2018, Angela's first novel was published: JOSEPHINE: AN OPEN BOOK. A powerful and compelling story of a young woman's journey to stardom and the trials and tribulations of show business and celebrity. Set against the backdrop of London's 1960s, her paths cross with the likes of Kirk Douglas, Steve McQueen, and Neil Armstrong. Though a work of fiction, the novel draws extensively on Angela's own experiences.- Jenny Hanley was born on 15 August 1947 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), Scars of Dracula (1970) and The Flesh and Blood Show (1972). She was previously married to Herbie Clark.
- Val Bettin was born on 8 July 1923 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor, known for The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Shrek (2001) and Somewhere in Time (1980). He died on 7 January 2021 in Ventura, California, USA.
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Corey Sorenson was born on 23 June 1980 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Chicago Fire (2012), The Help (2011) and Get on Up (2014).- Director
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Buckinghamshire-born Gabrielle Amanda Beaumont was the first woman to make a groundbreaking impact in Hollywood as a prolific director of episodic prime-time television. She worked on some of the most popular TV shows of the 80s and 90s, including M*A*S*H (1972), Dynasty (1981), Cagney & Lacey (1981), Hill Street Blues (1981), Miami Vice (1984), L.A. Law (1986) and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (1993). She also became the first female director in charge of Star Trek episodes, working on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987) (including Booby Trap and Face of the Enemy, both ranking among the best of the series), as well as Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993) and Star Trek: Voyager (1995).
Beaumont's family was steeped in the arts and entertainment. Her father, Gabriel Toyne, was a master swordsman, an actor, poet and stunt man. Her mother, Diana Beaumont, was a leading lady in British films and an accomplished comedienne on the West End stage. A great-uncle was the noted thespian Sir Gerald du Maurier, more famous today as the author of the novel Svengali.
Gabrielle started out as a juvenile stage actress, debuting in a 1948 touring production of Peter Pan. She then spent five years with the ensemble of a repertory theatre company in London, appearing in classic plays like Billy Liar, Saint Joan and Five Finger Exercise. She had graduated to stage direction before joining the BBC as an editor, quickly working her way up the ladder to assistant director, production manager and producer. Having produced/directed and worked as occasional writer on several BBC documentaries and a couple of horror films, Beaumont travelled to Los Angeles in 1980 in search of new challenges. Hired by producer Aaron Spelling, she began her American sojourn by directing an episode of Vega$ (1978). She remained gainfully employed in Hollywood for the next two decades. Beaumont was a member of the Directors Guild of America, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.
Beaumont retired to Fornalutx, a municipality on the Spanish island of Mallorca where she spent the last two decades of her life. She was formerly married to the actor and writer Olaf Pooley and to the cinematographer Michael J. Davis, both of whom predeceased her.- Additional Crew
Ed Gein and his elder brother Henry lived on a rural farm near Plainfield, WI. George Gein, his father, was a tanner and carpenter and was drunk most of the time. Augusta, Ed's domineering mother, was the real power of the house. She was a religious fanatic who constantly warned her sons about the sins of premarital sex and railed against "evil" women. Ed's father died in 1940, and brother Henry died four years later fighting a marsh fire (although it was later suspected that Ed might have killed him). Ed stayed at the family farm with his mother and never strayed out of the surrounding few counties. When she died of a stroke in 1945, Ed was left all alone at the "tender" age of 39. He sealed her bedroom and the rest of his house off, living in just the kitchen and one other room. During the period of 1950-55, he visited three local cemeteries at night and dug up at least ten graves. He removed bits and pieces from each body, returning some to their graves. He used skullcaps for bowls, and stitched chair seats and lampshades out of human skin. On special occasions, he would dance outside in the moonlight wearing numerous stitched skin coverings, including the face masks of some of his victims. His first murder was committed on December 8, 1954, the other occurred on November 16, 1957. He attacked his last victim in her store and dragged her body to a truck parked out back. Later that evening the victim's son stopped in at the store to check on his mother and found the doors locked, the cash register missing and a trail of blood leading out to the back door. He recalled that he had seen Ed at the store the day before. When the police went to his farm, they found her headless body in his shed, hanging by it's heels from the rafters. Gein was arrested and eventually confessed to his crimes. On January 16, 1958, he was sent to Central State Hospital at Waupun, WI. In November 1968, he was judged competent to stand trial. He was now diagnosed to have chronic schizophrenia, found "not guilty by reason of insanity" and returned to Waupun. It has been theorized that Gein might have killed two men who hired him as their hunting guide in 1952 and were never seen again. There were also two other unidentified women's body parts were found at his farm. In that his murder & grave robbing victims were all of middle or elderly age, these two women's remains were decisively young, in their teenage years. This was never conclusively investigated. In 1978, he was moved to Mendota Mental Health Institute. Gein was a model prisoner and died quietly in his sleep in the geriatric psychiatric ward in 1984. He is buried next to his mother in the Plainfield Cemetery.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Jessa French has a gift for deception. This sunny, doe-eyed blond has an innocently magnetic, room-illuminating charm; yet, she has convinced millions of viewers otherwise, amassing a resume that reads like a rap sheet. Addict. Exhibitionist. Gangbanger. Prostitute. Religious fanatic. Arsonist. Murderer. But she is just as easily the goofball prom queen or your best friend's woefully perfect girlfriend.
Under the direction of Emmy and Academy Award-winning filmmakers, this boundlessly enthusiastic, elastically emotive Texan has landed coveted roles on Without a Trace (2002) and The Shield (2002) and has been profiled in Indie Scene Magazine and ReelStyle. Aside from her work in film and television, she has appeared in dozens of national ad campaigns, including Reebok, Ford Explorer, and Mastercard.
Residing in Hollywood, the ambitious Miss French began her forays into cracking the human psyche as a private detective, co-founding the Red Hand Detective Agency. However, being merely five years old, young Jessa found balancing nap time, "Sesame Street", and suspicious neighbors to be somewhat taxing. She put down her magnifying glass and entered the creative arena of the dramatic arts instead.
These days, Miss French studies in the prestigious Master Class of world-renowned dramatist, Milton Katselas, and can be seen acting opposite such luminaries as Dennis Hopper, Michael Chiklis, and James Spader. Her recent ventures into lighthearted territory include Sweetzer (2007), a romantic comedy with Bryan Callen and Jorge Garcia and her portrayal of a melodramatic diva in "Small Packages".
In her spare time, Jessa immerses herself in creative writing endeavors and indulges her loves of yoga, literature, and travel. She has a passion for music, a weakness for Texas barbeque, and speculates that her obsession with Hawaii may have something to do with the "Brady Bunch" vacation trilogy.- Actor
- Director
Ford Sterling was born on 3 November 1883 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Good and Naughty (1926), The Trouble with Wives (1925) and He Who Gets Slapped (1924). He was married to Teddy Sampson. He died on 13 October 1939 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Scott Thorson was born on 23 January 1959 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is a writer, known for Behind the Candelabra (2013), Fame for 15 (2001) and Reputations (1994).
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
Ningali Lawford was born in 1967 in Christmas Creek Station, Wangkatjungka, Fitzroy Crossing, Kimberley, Western Australia, Australia. She was an actress, known for Rabbit-Proof Fence (2002), Last Cab to Darwin (2015) and Mystery Road (2018). She was married to Joe Edgar Wolf. She died on 11 August 2019 in Edinburgh, Lothian, Scotland, UK.- R.F. Delderfield was born on 12 February 1912 in New Cross, London, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Now and Forever (1956), All Over the Town (1949) and Glad Tidings! (1953). He was married to May ("Marnie") Evans. He died on 24 June 1972 in Sidmouth, Devon, England, UK.
- Jack Tweed was born on 7 July 1987 in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is an actor, known for Just for the Record (2010), Ultimate Big Brother (2010) and Celebrity Big Brother (2001). He was previously married to Jade Goody.
- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Writer
Tara Billinger is a graphic and digital artist who is employed by Walt Disney Television Studios Production Company. She has gained notoriety through her efforts as an actress and character/prop designer on various shorts and television series. Her notable efforts include Blenderstein! (2011) and The Amazing Lazy (2012). Presently, she is contributing to the Mickey Mouse (2013-2016) television series.- Minnie Dupree was born on 19 January 1873 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. She was an actress, known for The Young in Heart (1938), Anne of Windy Poplars (1940) and Two Masters (1928). She died on 23 May 1947 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
William S. Baker was born on 6 August 1925 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. William S. was a composer, known for The Incredible 2-Headed Transplant (1971), Diary of a Stewardess (1973) and Sexcapade in Mexico (1973). William S. was married to Shirley Dawn Denison and Abigail Shelton. William S. died on 27 August 2008 in Austin, Texas, USA.- Patsy Blower was born in 1953 in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Last Bus (2021), That'll Be the Day (1973) and The Houseman's Tale (1987).
- Mary Yates was born on 8 March 1929 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. She was married to Mike Wallace and Ted Yates. She died on 1 September 2012 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.
- Composer
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Russ Ballard was born on 31 October 1947 in Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He is a composer and actor, known for Idle Hands (1999), American Animals (2018) and Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey (1991).- Pius Savage was born on 27 March 1950 in Holy Cross, Alaska, USA. He is an actor, known for White Fang (1991), Spirit of the Wind (1979) and Moose (2015).
- Additional Crew
- Production Manager
- Editor
Jason Babin was born in Eel River Crossing, New Brunswick, Canada. He is a editor, content creator and podcast personality in the Quebec stand-up comedy scene. He has worked with Mike Ward, Jim Jefferies, Big Jay Oakerson, Jean-Thomas Jobin, Luis J Gomez, Yannick De Martino, Mehdi Bousaidan, Pantelis, Eddie Ifft, Jerr Allain, Pierre-Bruno Rivard, Dave Gaudet & more.- Reg Gadney was born on 20 January 1941 in Cross Hills, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for The Murder of Princess Diana (2007), The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992) and The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (2002). He was married to Fay Maschler and Annette Kobak. He died on 1 May 2018 in the UK.
- Terence Frisby was born on 28 November 1932 in New Cross, London, England, UK. He was a writer and actor, known for There's a Girl in My Soup (1970), Adam Adamant Lives! (1966) and Lucky Feller (1975). He was married to Christine Doppelt. He died on 22 April 2020 in the UK.
- Director
- Editor
- Producer
Reuben James Steindorf is a writer, director, editor and producer of Alien Glaive Film in La Crosse, Wisconsin. At the age of 17, he wrote a business plan and received funding to begin a TV commercial production company. With an extensive background in special effects and animation, he worked on several award-winning Network TV and independent film projects and later formed Alien Glaive films commencing the production of several of his own independent film projects. Currently, he is putting the finishing touches on a feature-length Sci-Fi Thriller called Midian to be released nationwide in 2006. With the profits of his commercial production company, he solely funded Midian enlisting 260 residents of his hometown and receiving support from the Wisconsin National Guard in the form of troops and tanks to help realize the large-scale battle sequences in the film. Upon completion of Midian he plans to shoot a TV-pilot spin-off of the same concept to be pitched to Sci-Fi Channel after the festival run in 2006.- Diane Watts was born on 2 September 1930 in Bear Cross, Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK. She is an actress, known for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), The Blue Parrot (1953) and Jim's Inn (1957).
- Derek Burton Morris was born on 21 September 1988 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is an actor, known for The Smart Ones (2012), Strange Misery (2017) and America's Court with Judge Ross (2010).
- Tiny Lund was born on 3 March 1936 in Cross, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Speedway (1968), ABC's Wide World of Sports (1961) and Tiny Lund: Hard Charger! (1967). He died on 17 August 1975 in Talladega, Alabama, USA.
- Transportation Department
- Actor
Charlie Ping was born on 29 July 1957 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is an actor, known for Jupiter Ascending (2015), Flags of Our Fathers (2006) and Get Smart (2008).- Holly Rowe was born on 16 June 1966 in Woods Cross, Utah, USA. She is an actress, known for Look Both Ways (2007), Nothing But Net with Debbie Antonelli (2020) and College GameDay (1986).
- Max Austin Gabriel-Helm was born and raised in La Crosse, WI. He is of Norwegian, German, and English descent. Max relocated to Palatine, Illinois at the age of 14 with his father where Max attended William Fremd High School in Palatine. Max was an electrical engineering student at Northern Illinois University and began acting at the age of 22 in Chicago. He is best known for Upload Me.
- Editor
- Editorial Department
- Additional Crew
Kimberly Huston was born on 14 August 1983 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. She is an editor, known for Fast X (2023), Wonderwell (2023) and John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017).- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Editor
Erik Call was born on 12 May 1981 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is a writer and editor, known for Møkkakaffe (2013), Rangeland Romances (2004) and Raw (2011).- Lee Petty was born on 14 March 1914 in Level Cross, North Carolina, USA. He was married to Elizabeth Petty. He died on 5 April 2000 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
- Writer
- Producer
- Actress
Katie is a producer-writer with feature film credits that include "Method" (2004) and "Homecoming" (2009), released by Warner Brothers and Paramount respectively. She was the youngest Top 10 finalist in the first season of Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's HBO show "Project Greenlight."
Katie has optioned or sold an additional five scripts, including the Nicholl semi-finalist "Beyond Good & Evil" and developed projects with Latitude Productions, Junction Films and Animus Films, among others.
In addition to the entertainment business, Katie worked for several marketing agencies as a strategist and creative director. From 2020 to 2023, she ran marketing for Wilson Tennis as the Senior Director of Global Marketing for Racquet Sports.- Writer
- Producer
- Additional Crew
John Whitney was born on 20 December 1930 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for The Avengers (1961), Danger UXB (1979) and The Informer (1966). He was married to Roma Duncan. He died on 4 November 2023 in England, UK.- On the night of August 7, 1930 in Marion, Indiana, two African-American teenagers - 19-year old Abraham "Abe" Smith and 18 year old Thomas "Tommy" Shipp - who were in the Grant County jail after being charged with robbery, rape, and murder were taken from the jail at the hands of a howling mob and lynched. Also in the jail was sixteen year old James Cameron, who was friends with Smith and Shipp. Cameron narrowly escaped the fate of his two friends when someone in the crowd proclaimed that he was innocent. Proclaiming his innocence, Cameron was convicted of assault and sentenced to four years in prison. After his release, he moved to Milwaukee, working as a truck driver, day laborer,and factory worker before publishing his account of the events of August 7, 1930. In 1988, he founded the America's Black Hololcaust Museum in Milwaukee; this is a non-profit museum designed to preserve the history of lynching in the United States as well as telling the story of African Americans' struggle for equality. In 1993, Cameron received a full pardon from Indiana Governor Birch Bayh concerning his assault conviction.
- Maurice Petty was born on 27 March 1939 in Level Cross, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for 43: The Richard Petty Story (1972), ESPN SportsCentury (1999) and Richard Petty: The Legend (1992). He was married to Patricia Harris. He died on 25 July 2020 in the USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Jem Morton was born on 23 October 1969 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. Jem is known for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016), The World's End (2013) and Star Wars: Episode VII - The Force Awakens (2015).- Actress
Frieda Stoll was born on 19 April 1887 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. She was an actress. She died in April 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Additional Crew
- Art Department
John Solie was born in 1937 in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA. He is known for Submersion of Japan (1973), Savage (1996) and Darktown Strutters (1975).