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1-8 of 8
- Despite the fact that hefty, beetle-browed character actor Robert Middleton (born Samuel G. Messer) was known for most of his career as a mop-faced villain capable of the most vicious and contemptible of crimes, the man himself was quite a happy and hearty gent who loved to play practical jokes, particularly on his family. Robert was educated at the University of Cincinnati and the Carnegie Institute of Technology, where he studied music. His deep, mellifluous voice earned him steady work as a radio announcer which, in turn, sparked his interest in acting.
In the early 1950s Middleton made it to Broadway, appearing in "Ondine." This in turn led to films and TV, where he solidified his evil image in such strong fare as The Desperate Hours (1955) as a sadistic killer, The Court Jester (1955) as a grim and determined knight who jousts with Danny Kaye in the famous "pellet with the poison" sequence, and as a sinister politician in The Lincoln Conspiracy (1977). Betwixt and between were an array of brutish mountain daddies, corrupt, cigar-chomping town bosses and lynch mob leaders. Occasionally he showed a bit of levity, as in his recurring role as Jackie Gleason's boss on The Honeymooners (1955) sketches. Middleton died of congestive heart failure in Hollywood at the age of 66. - Actor
- Soundtrack
Character player Alan Reed was a strong, gruff, burly presence on '40s and '50s film and TV but he would be best remembered for his equally strong, gruff, distinctive voice on radio and TV. In 1960, he gave vocal life to the bombastic prehistoric cartoon character Fred Flintstone on the prime-time TV series The Flintstones (1960), the character being inspired by the Ralph Cramden husband on the popular earlier sitcom The Honeymooners (1955). It is this direct association that continues to keep his name alive today. Reed himself thought up and introduced the Flintstonian catchphrase "Yabba dabba doo!" (improvised from a script calling for Fred to say "Yahoo!") for his beloved animated character to the delight of children everywhere.
Born Herbert Theodore Bergman on August 20, 1907 in New York City, to Jewish parents of Lithuanian/Ukrainian descent, he received his early education at Washington High School and studied theatre at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. After majoring in journalism at Columbia University, he decided to pursue to acting at such places as Provincetown Playhouse and toured in vaudeville shows. He supplemented his income operating a candy factory and worked as a social director at a country club.
A master of over 22 foreign dialects, Reed also worked steadily on Broadway with the Theatre Guild. His vocal talents were well suited for radio, becoming a prime announcer for that medium. In addition to billing himself as Teddy Bergman, he sometimes was credited under the moniker Alan Reed for more dramatic parts, eventually settling in on the Reed name. Reed was featured on the best radio shows of the time including "The Shadow," "Crime Doctor," "Abie's Irish Rose," "The Life of Riley," "The Fred Allen Show," "Life with Luigi" (which he later took to TV), and "My Friend Irma."
Once in Hollywood, Reed deserted the Bergman name completely. Sporting a comic Runyonesque appeal, he played in such fare as The Redhead and the Cowboy (1951), Emergency Wedding (1950), and Here Comes the Groom (1951). His more dramatic roles came with The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) and The Desperate Hours (1955). One of his most unusual parts was his portrayal of Pancho Villa in Viva Zapata! (1952) starring Marlon Brando. He also supplied the voice of "Boris" in Disney's Lady and the Tramp (1955). Featured in many TV shows, the popular prehistoric cartoon and its various offshoots made up most of Reed's later work after The Flintstones (1960) premiered.
Long married to a former Broadway actress, Finette Walker, one of their three children, actor/producer Alan Reed Jr., entered show business as a teenager. Reed started billing himself as Alan Reed, Sr. to avoid any confusion. Working up until his death, Reed died in Los Angeles from heart disease and emphysema at age 69 on June 14, 1977. Reed's incomplete autobiography was extensively used to publish his son's own biographical tribute: Yabba Dabba Doo: The Alan Reed Story.- Cinematographer
- Visual Effects
- Camera and Electrical Department
Alex Phillips was born on 11 January 1901 in Renfrew, Ontario, Canada. He was a cinematographer, known for Untouched (1954), In the Palm of Your Hand (1951) and La otra (1946). He was married to Alicia de Phillips. He died on 14 June 1977 in Mexico, D.F., Mexico.- Cordy Millowitsch was born on 8 April 1890 in Cologne, Germany. She was an actress, known for Peter the Great (1922), Trenck - Der Roman einer großen Liebe (1932) and Ihr letzter Fall (1920). She was married to ? Millowitsch. She died on 14 June 1977 in West Berlin, West Germany.
- Actor
- Composer
- Music Department
Alan Mills was born on 7 September 1912 in Montréal, Québec, Canada. He was an actor and composer, known for Mr. Holland's Opus (1995), Operation Manhunt (1954) and Les faucheurs de marguerites (1974). He died on 14 June 1977 in Montréal, Québec, Canada.- Actor
Joseph Kamaryt was born on 19 January 1890 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor. He died on 14 June 1977 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Signe Enwall was born on 14 July 1899 in Stockholm, Sweden. She was an actress, known for The Old Clock at Ronneberga (1944), Rågens rike (1929) and Kungajakt (1944). She died on 14 June 1977.
- Director
- Editor
- Writer
Sølve Kern was born on 5 April 1929 in Norway. He was a director and editor, known for Jakten (1959), Die Deutschlandreise (1970) and It Happened One Night (1958). He died on 14 June 1977 in Norway.