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1-22 of 22
- Mario Puzo was born October 15, 1920, in "Hell's Kitchen" on Manhattan's (NY) West Side and, following military service in World War II, attended New York's New School for Social Research and Columbia University. His best-known novel, "The Godfather," was preceded by two critically acclaimed novels, "The Dark Arena" and "The Fortunate Pilgrim." In 1978, he published "Fools Die," followed by "The Sicilian" (1984) and "The Fourth K" (1991). Mario Puzo has also written several screenplays, including Earthquake (1974), Superman (1978), and all three "Godfather" movies, for which he received two Academy Awards. Mario's latest novel, 1996's "The Last Don," was made into a CBS television miniseries in May 1997, starring Danny Aiello, Kirstie Alley and Joe Mantegna. In 1997, Part II was aired. Also in 1997, Mario's "The Fortunate Pilgrim" was re-released by Random House. Mario passed away July 2, 1999, at his home in Bay Shore, Long Island. His last novel, "Omerta," will be published July, 2000. He is survived by his companion of 20 years, Carol Gino, and five children.
- Lilia Sofer was born on November 28, 1896, to Catholic Katharina Skala and Jewish Julius Sofer , in Vienna, Austria. Julius Sofer worked as a manufacturer's representative for the Waldes Kohinoor Company. Lilia had two sisters: Lisl (later known as renowned dance-therapy pioneer Elizabeth Polk); and Felicitas ("Lizi"--pronounced "Litzi"), an infant nurse. All three sisters adopted their mother's Gentile maiden name of "Skala" and emigrated to the United States.
Lilia Skala would become a star on two continents. In pre-World War II Austria she starred in famed Max Reinhardt's stage troupe, and in post-war America she would become a notable award-worthy matronly character star on Broadway and in films. Forced to flee her Nazi-occupied homeland with her Jewish husband, Louis Erich Pollak (who also adopted his mother-in-law's Gentile maiden name of "Skala") and two young sons in the late 1930s, Lilia and her family managed to escape (at different times) to England. In 1939, practically penniless, they emigrated to the USA, where she sought menial labor in New York's garment district. She quickly learned English and worked her way back to an acting career, this time as a sweet, delightful, thick-accented Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee.
She broke through the Broadway barrier in 1941 with "Letters to Lucerne", followed by a featured role in the musical "Call Me Madam" with Ethel Merman. In the 1950s, she did an extensive tour in "The Diary of Anne Frank" as Mrs. Frank, and performed in a German-language production of Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera". Lilia became a familiar benevolent face on TV in several early soap operas, including Claudia: The Story of a Marriage (1952).
She won her widest claim to fame, however, as the elderly chapel-building Mother Superior opposite Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field (1963), for which she won both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. That led to more character actress work in films, most notably as the dog-carrying Jewish lady in the star-studded Ship of Fools (1965) and as Jennifer Beals's elderly friend in Flashdance (1983). On TV she played Eva Gabor's Hungarian mother in Green Acres (1965) and earned an Emmy nomination for her work in the popular miniseries Eleanor and Franklin (1976)).
She continued filming into her 90th year. Her final film work, occurring in the 1980's, went on to include a touching role as Hanna Long in the hit musical Flashdance (1983), plus parts in Testament (1983), House of Games (1987) and Men of Respect (1990). A few years later, on December 18, 1994, Lilia died of natural causes in Bay Shore (Long Island), New York, a few weeks after her 98th birthday. - Enid Markey was born on 22 February 1894 in Dillon, Colorado, USA. She was an actress, known for Tarzan of the Apes (1918), The Yankee Way (1917) and Sink or Swim (1920). She was married to George W. Cobb. She died on 15 November 1981 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Juanita Hall was an American actress from New Jersey. She is primarily remembered for her roles in two Rodgers and Hammerstein stage musicals ("South Pacific" and "Flower Drum Song") and in their respective film adaptations. In 1950, Hall became the first African American actress to win a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress.
In 1901, Hall was born in Keyport, New Jersey to an interracial couple. Her father was African-American and her mother was Irish-American. Hall was orphaned at an early age, but she and her siblings were raised by her maternal grandparents. She received her secondary education at the Keyport High School, a public high school. She then received classical training at the Juilliard School, a private performing arts conservatory located in New York City.
By the early 1930s, Hall served as the assistant director for the Hall Johnson Choir. She went on to become both a leading Broadway performer. and a regular performer in the clubs of Greenwich Village. Her signature role was that of the Vietnamese trader Bloody Mary in "South Pacific". She portrayed the character in 1,925 Broadway performances at the Majestic Theatre.
In 1958. Hall recorded the music album "Juanita Hall Sings the Blues", backed by experienced jazz musicians. That same year, Hall returned to the role of Bloody Mary in the film adaptation of "South Pacific". Due to doubts on whether the aging actress could perform the role's key songs, the opera singer Muriel Smith (1923-1985) was hired as the character's singing voice.
Hall continued her performing career until 1962, when she was forced to leave a road show tour due to poor health. Hall was suffering from diabetes for the last decade of her life, and she lost her eyesight due to complications from diabetes. She retired to the Lillian Booth Actors Home, an assisted-living facility located in Englewood, New Jersey. The Actors Fund of America financed her medical treatments until her death in 1968. Hall died at the age of 66, from complications of diabetes.- Riley Hatch was born on 2 September 1862 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Conquest of Canaan (1921), The Plunderer (1915) and Night Life of New York (1925). He was married to Florence Estelle Wiesner. He died on 6 September 1925 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Soundtrack
Barney Fagan was born on 12 January 1850 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 12 January 1937 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.- Harry Blakemore was born in 1859 in Gallatin, Tennessee, USA. He was an actor, known for Life's Shadows (1916), Rip Van Winkle (1914) and Fury (1923). He died on 14 February 1936 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Joseph Kilgour was born on 11 July 1863 in Ayr, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for My Lady's Slipper (1916), The House of Mirth (1918) and The Dawn of Freedom (1916). He was married to Angela L Kilgour (c1881 - 1929). He died on 21 April 1933 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Effie Shannon was born on 13 May 1867 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress, known for Her Boy (1918), Pearl of Love (1925) and Jacqueline, or Blazing Barriers (1923). She was married to Henry Guy Carleton and Herbert Kelcey. She died on 24 July 1954 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Florida Kingsley was born in 1867 in Jacksonville, Florida, USA. She was an actress, known for The Turmoil (1916), Dangerous Business (1920) and Annabelle Lee (1921). She was married to Wright Huntington. She died on 19 March 1937 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Charles J. Stine born Charles Jacob Stine in 1864. well-known on the Vaudeville theatre from the 1880's, later on Broadway stage, he appeared in the original Broadway production of 'The Young Turk' in 1910 and 'Ginger' in 1923. Stout white haired comedian who appeared in many films for the Essanay Film Company between 1913-16, first as a office clerk in 'The Drummer's Umbrella' co-starring Billy Mason, he will be best remembered in Charles Chaplin's 'His New Job' in 1915 and also many of the 'Fable' comedies in 1915-16, retired from the screen after appearing in 'Putting It Over' with Marguerite Clayton at the end of 1916. He died in New York in 1934 age 70.
- Carlton Macy was born in 1861. He was married to Maude Hall and Maud Hall Macy. He died on 17 October 1946 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Harry Leighton was born on 14 June 1866 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Dragon (1916). He was married to Fannie [Grubbs] Bernard (actress). He died on 20 May 1926 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Editor
Malcolm Duncan was born on 19 September 1881 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor and editor, known for The Spendthrift (1915), Wild Oats (1916) and The Scarlet Road (1916). He was married to Edith Barker (actress). He died on 2 May 1942 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.- Minnie Palmer was born on 31 March 1860 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was a writer, known for My Sweetheart (1918). She was married to John R. Rogers (1842-1932). She died on 21 May 1936 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Joseph Profaci was born on 2 October 1897 in Villabate, Sicily, Italy. He died on 6 June 1962 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Additional Crew
- Actor
- Writer
Frank Merlin was born on 29 March 1893 in Cork, Ireland. He was an actor and writer, known for A Song of Kentucky (1929), Her Golden Calf (1930) and Words and Music (1929). He was married to Mary Hutchinson. He died on 1 March 1968 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.- William Faversham was born in London on February 12, 1868. After attending Hill-Martin College, he served for a short time in a cavalry regiment in Warwickshire. He made his stage debut on November 19, 1885, in a London vaudeville theater. Two years later, he came to New York, making his American debut on January 17, 1887, in "Pen and Ink." In 1893, he joined Charles Frohman's Empire Theatre Company and remained with the group for eight years. On August 19, 1901, he received star billing, playing Don Caesar in "A Royal Rival." His status rose, and during 1905-1907, he toured the United States in "The Squaw Man," which earned him a small fortune. He later appeared in many Shakespearean productions, playing Romeo opposite Maude Adams as Juliet. He made a handful of silent films, but with the advent of younger actors, his status as a matinee idol slowly faded. On July 20, 1925, Faversham married his third wife, Edith Campbell, at his estate in Huntington, Long Island. But in 1927, he filed for bankruptcy, and despite several attempts to recoup his previous fortunes, he never succeeded, although he did continue to work. In 1929, he toured in Australia, appearing in several plays. In 1931 he joined the Chicago Civic Shakespeare Society, appearing in such plays as "Hamlet" and "The Merchant of Venice." He founded a drama school in 1932, but it was short-lived. Faversham's final stage appearance was in 1934, as Jeeter Lester in "Tobacco Road." That same year, he returned to Hollywood, appearing in a few films before retiring in 1937. He then entered the Percy C. Williams home, a retreat on Long Island for aged actors. Ironically, the home was not far from Faversham's former estate. Faversham insisted he work for his keep, so he tended a garden. He died of a coronary embolism on April 7, 1940. He was buried in the Huntington Rural Cemetery in Bay Shore, next to his second wife, Julie Opp. Faversham's first wife was Marian Merwin. He had two sons with Julie Opp: Philip, an actor, and William Jr.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Richard Ridgely was born on 16 September 1869 in Cynthiana, Kentucky, USA. He was a director and actor, known for Eugene Aram (1915), Meg o' the Mountains (1914) and The Destroying Angel (1915). He was married to Cleo Ridgely. He died on 30 November 1949 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.- Frank Monroe was born on 12 April 1863 in Jersey City, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for The Gray Mask (1915), Vengeance Is Mine (1917) and Torchy's Frame-Up (1921). He was married to Viola Miles. He died on 19 July 1937 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Steve Dalachinsky was born on 29 September 1946 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for River of Fundament (2014), Jazzy for Joe (2014) and Jacka Spades (2009). He was married to Yuko Otomo. He died on 16 September 2019 in Bay Shore, New York, USA.
- Fletcher Harvey was born in 1865. He was an actor, known for The Melting Pot (1915). He died on 8 September 1931 in Bay Shore, Long Island, New York, USA.