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
1-10 of 10
- Actor
- Writer
Dick Cusack was born on 29 August 1925 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for While You Were Sleeping (1995), Eight Men Out (1988) and The Fugitive (1993). He was married to Ann Paula "Nancy" Carolan. He died on 2 June 2003 in Evanston, Illinois, USA.- Fred Blassie was born and raised in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Accounts about his early athletic career do not quite agree, but he first tried to make his mark as a boxer, despite warnings that his arms were too short. After being pounded by a longer-limbed opponent, he switched to professional wrestling. His career began in earnest after his service in the United States Navy during World War II. Blassie wrestled as a dark-haired good guy until he found out that the "heels" (bad guys) got better pay. He bleached his hair and quickly became a heel's heel, outraging crowds by gleefully breaking every rule in the book. His penchant for biting opponents earned him the nickname "The Vampire". One poll ranked him as the most hated wrestler in the United States. Between matches, he gave loud and boastful interviews, making him a favorite of talk shows and reportedly influencing a fellow egomaniac then known as Cassius Clay. Blassie originally wrestled mainly in the Southeast and West Coast, winning many titles in both. In the late 1960s, he moved to the East Coast and the World-Wide Wrestling Federation (WWWF, later the World Wresting Federation (WWF) and now World Wrestling Entertainment WWE)). Managed by "Loud" Lou Albano, Blassie continued his winning ways, but never won the WWWF's championship. In 1973, knee problems largely forced Blassie to stop wrestling personally, though he occasionally donned the tights to tag-team with one of his heels, as he did in Madison Square Garden in June 1974, teaming with the hulking Nikolai Volkoff to face then-champ Bruno Sammartino and Chief Jay Strongbow in a tag team match (Blassie was forced to submit for the final fall by a Bruno bearhug, and the fans almost tore the Garden's roof off). He started a second career as a manager in the WWWF. He, Albano, and "The Grand Wizard of Wrestling" (Ernie Roth) formed the WWWF's "Evil Trinity" of heel managers. Blassie was a regular on the WWWF's "All-Star Wrestling" and "Championship Wrestling" weekly TV shows that were videotaped at small arenas in Pennsylvania and aired throughout the Northeast. He continued to outrage crowds by distracting referees so that his men could cheat and by getting in his own cheap shots when the refs weren't looking. Occasionally, he would get too close to the action and get beaten up himself, much to the crowd's delight. Still a motormouth, he gave interviews in which he bragged about himself and his protégés and denounced anybody he didn't like as a "pencil necked geek". His heels were always a bit more exotic and meaner than most. Around 1980, he adopted a new moniker: "Ayatollah Blassie." Blassie retired from wrestling in 1986, turning over his stable of heels to another manager called Slick. By this time, Blassie has acquired a cult following, leading to appearances in several feature films. Since his retirement, he has occasionally worked as a "goodwill ambassador" (!) for the WWF.
- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Eric Merriman was born on 6 December 1924 in London, England, UK. He was a writer and producer, known for Quincy's Quest (1979), Happy Ever After (1974) and The Dick Emery Special (1979). He was married to Jean Barnett. He died on 2 June 2003 in London, England, UK.- Actor
Ray Wehba was born on 16 August 1916 in Sherman, Texas, USA. He was an actor. He died on 2 June 2003 in Downey, California, USA.- Else Kourani was born on 15 November 1913 in Beirut, Lebanon. She was an actress, known for Lykke paa rejsen (1947), Sikken en nat (1947) and Hvor kunde og sælger mødes (1948). She died on 2 June 2003.
- Elsa Kourani was born on 15 November 1913 in Beirut, Lebanon. She was an actress, known for Suddenly, a Woman! (1963), Gengæld (1955) and Premiere i helvede (1964). She died on 2 June 2003 in Denmark.
- Burke Marshall was born on 1 October 1922 in Plainfield, New Jersey, USA. He was married to Violet Person. He died on 2 June 2003 in Newtown, Connecticut, USA.
- Viktor Pivnenko was born on 29 July 1936. He was an actor, known for 49 Days (1962), Dudaryky (1980) and Koleso istorii (1981). He died on 2 June 2003.
- Composer
- Director
- Music Department
Recorded 'Tea for Two' mambo (arranged by Danny Holmsen) with his 'Skylark Recording Orchestra' on Skylark Records number 001-B. Side 001-A was 'Tropic Mambo (composed by Danny Holmsen) also with the same orchestra. This may, or may not, have been Skylark's first (or only?) recording. The record was produced by Ilagan and Luna Co of Manila, Philippines.- Donald Jack was a Canadian humourist and author. He was born and grew up in Britain, served in the RAF in World War II then emigrated to Canada and became a writer. He is best know for his award-winning series of comic novels "The Bandy Papers" about the adventurous life and loves of a blundering First World War ace. Jack also wrote numerous scripts for stage, radio, and television, including one that was the first Canadian TV play broadcast simultaneously in the USA.