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 63
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Trained in music and dance, tiny-framed, pixie-like Judy Carne was born Joyce Botterill in Northampton, England on April 27, 1939, the daughter of a grocer. Trained in dance, she appeared in music revues as a teenager and changed her name at the advice of a dance teacher.
Slowly building up a career on British TV, she arrived in America in 1962, the eve of the mid-60s "British invasion," and appeared to good advantage on the TV series Fair Exchange (1962). Beginning unobtrusively in film, she developed enough as a light comedienne to score well on the smaller screen and won a regular role on the sitcom The Baileys of Balboa (1964). Stardom came with her own romantic comedy series Love on a Rooftop (1966) opposite the late Pete Duel. The latter series, though short-lived, was quite popular and showcased Carne's appeal to maximum advantage. She found herself embraced by America as a cute, pert-nosed Cockney lass with a Peter Pan-like effervescence.
It was no surprise when a couple of years later she soared to "flower power" stardom on the hip and highly irreverent TV cult variety show Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967), where she introduced the phrase "Sock it to me!" to the American vernacular. As the plucky brunette, she always seemed to be on the receiving end of a slapstick prank, but the audiences loved her for it. The show also made instant household names out of fellow Laugh-In comrades Arte Johnson, Ruth Buzzi, Henry Gibson, Jo Anne Worley, Lily Tomlin, and, notably, Goldie Hawn, who managed to out-perk even Judy and grab the lion's share of attention. Judy proved herself a game sport for a while, but made the decision to leave the series after only two seasons-- tired of the grind, the typecast, and the disappointment of having her singing/dancing skills undermined.
In the long run it probably was a major career mistake. With the exception of her role as Polly (the Julie Andrews roles) in a Broadway revival of "The Boy Friend" that also featured Sandy Duncan, Judy's post "Laugh-In" professional life was unexceptional with a surprising quick descent. There were a couple of mini-movies, a failed TV idea for a sitcom called "Poor Judy", a failed Las Vegas music act, and the TV talk show circuit. Nothing panned out. Despite an innocent, bubbly, cheery exterior, her private life was anything but. Her 1963 marriage to rising star Burt Reynolds was over within a couple of years. The divorce was acrimonious, to say the least, with nasty, below-the-belt accusations being flung from both sides and feeding the tabloid sheets. A second marriage to TV producer Robert Bergman in 1970 lasted even less than that. More problematic, however, was Judy's escalating financial problems and a drug problem which started with marijuana and hallucinogens and developed into a full-fledged heroin addiction.
In the late 60s and 70s she tried to maintain somewhat with scattered appearances on the musical and comedy stage with roles in "Cabaret" (as Sally Bowles), "Absurd Person Singular," "There's a Girl in My Soup", "The Owl and the Pussycat" and "Blithe Spirit". Her career pretty much in shambles, she fell quickly into the lifestyle of a junkie and began living in squalor. For the next decade, she literally dropped out of sight. The only time she was heard from was when she was busted for a drug arrest or when she made unhappy headlines for a near-fatal 1978 car crash (her ex-husband Robert was driving) that left her with a broken neck.
Judy's tell-all 1985 autobiography, "Laughing on the Outside, Crying on the Inside", was a harrowing and heart-wrenching read with explicit detailing of her descent into degradation. Despite the book, the adorable English girl who captured America's heart in the late 1960s failed to win back a now-disinterested audience. She remains a prime example of what the flip side of a glamorous Hollywood can turn out to be.
In later years, Judy lived and was not heard of much since the publishing of the book. She has allegedly been married twice more since then. She was also in attendance for the televised 25th anniversary of "Laugh-In" and a televised "Laugh-In" Christmas show both in 1993. Out of the picture since the early 1980's, she was a 1990 guest for talk show hosts Geraldo Rivera and Howard Stern and made an isolated appearance as a homeless person in the downbeat urban movie drama What About Me (1993), written and directed by the film's star Rachel Amodeo.
Living quietly in the village of Pitsford for two decades, she died from pneumonia on September 3, 2015, at a hospital in Northampton.- Actor
- Additional Crew
A familiar patrician-looking face both here and abroad, blue-eyed, fair-haired classical stage and TV actor Tim Pigott-Smith, the son of a journalist, was born on in Rugby, Warwickshire, on May 13, 1946. The Britisher attended King Edward VI School in Stratford-upon-Avon, graduated from Bristol University in 1967, and then receiving his acting training at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. In later years, he would return to Bristol University as a lecturer.
Tim made his professional debut in 1969 with the Bristol Old Vic under the stage name of "Tim Smith" and was predominantly a stage player in both regional and repertory companies. He focused quite strongly on Shakespeare and Greek plays and went on to play Balthazar in "Much Ado About Nothing" for the Prospect touring company as well as Posthumus in a 1974 production of "Cymbeline" for the Royal Shakespeare Company. He made his Broadway debut that same year in "Sherlock Holmes" as Dr. Watson opposite John Wood. Over the years, he would act alongside most of England's grande dame royalty including Judi Dench, Helen Mirren, Geraldine James, Margaret Tyzack, Peggy Ashcroft, Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton.
A charming, distinguished presence on stage, Tim was invited by an ailing Anthony Quayle to take over the running of the Compass theatre company founded by him in 1984 and served as its artistic director from 1989-1992. A theatre director as well ("Hamlet," and "A Royal Hunt of the Sun"), he would take several Shakespearean classics later to BBC-TV. He, in fact, started his small screen career in secondary Shakespeare roles as Laertes in Hamlet (1970) opposite Ian McKellen in the title role and Proculeius in Antony and Cleopatra (1974) starring Richard Johnson and Janet Suzman. He transitioned into more prominent BBC roles with his Angelo in Measure for Measure (1979) and Hotspur in Henry IV Part I (1979).
Aside from Tim's theatre work, quality TV remained an extremely successful venue for decades with impressive performances in such prestigious min-series as North & South (1975), The Glittering Prizes (1976), The Lost Boys (1978), Danger UXB (1979), Winston Churchill: The Wilderness Years (1981), Fame Is the Spur (1982), I Remember Nelson (1982), The Jewel in the Crown (1984) (BAFTA-TV as sadistic villain Ronald Merrick) and The Challenge (1986). He enjoyed recurring roles on the TV series Doctor Who (1963), Hannah (1980) and regular roles in the short-lived comedy Struggle (1983), the drama The Chief (1990) and with The Vice (1999). His mellifluous voice was also popular on many BBC radio productions, in audio books, as well as serving as a narrator on such documentary series as Crimes That Shook the World (2006) and Doomsday: World War I (2013)
Film work began in the 1970's but remained far and few and less distinguished with his minor participation in Aces High (1976), Joseph Andrews (1977), Sweet William (1980), Clash of the Titans (1981), Richard's Things (1980), Victory (1981) and The Remains of the Day (1993). He did enjoy a prime role in the nuclear drama A State of Emergency (1985) starring opposite Martin Sheen and Peter Firth.
Pigott-Smith remained a strong, vibrant present on the stage throughout his career. In later years, he played in such contemporary plays as "Benefactors" (1984), "Coming in to Land" (1987) opposite Ms. Smith and "Amadeus" as composer Salieri. He also portrayed Leontes in "The Winter's Tale" (1988) and scored critical acclaim in the 1999 version of "The Iceman Cometh" (both London and Broadway) and with Ms. Mirren in an over four-hour production of "Mourning Becomes Electra." Into the millennium, he was seen in "Julius Caesar" (as Cassius, 2001), "A Christmas Carol" (as Scrooge, 2002), "Women Beware Women" (2006), "Enron" (2009), "Educating Rita" (2010), "A Delicate Balance" (2011), "King Lear" (title role, 2011), "The Tempest" (as Prospero, 2012), the Chorus in "Henry V" in 2013, and earned both Olivier and Tony nominations here and abroad for his powerful portrayal of King Charles III (2015). Tim became an RSC Associate Artist in 2012, and served on both the RSC board (from 2005 until 2011) and as a governor from 2005 until his retirement in 2016.
On film in later years, he often appeared in official high-ranking parts. His list of movies include Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York (2002), The Four Feathers (2002), the historical Greek biopic Alexander (2004) starring Colin Farrell, V for Vendetta (2005), Flyboys (2006), Quantum of Solace (2008), Alice in Wonderland (2010), RED 2 (2013), Jupiter Ascending (2015) and Whisky Galore (2016). He also graced such TV shows as "Downtown Abbey" and recreated his stage triumph in the title role of King Charles III (2017) which earned him a second BAFTA-TV nomination.
Tim was in rehearsals for an upcoming stage performance of "Death of a Salesman" as Willy Loman in London when he died suddenly of natural causes on April 7, 2017, at age 70. He was survived by his actress wife Pamela Miles and their son Tom Pigott Smith, a concert/studio violinist.- Patricia Haines was born on 3 February 1932 in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Avengers (1961), The Last Shot You Hear (1969) and The Adventures of Don Quick (1970). She was married to Bernard Kay and Michael Caine. She died on 25 February 1977 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Freda Jackson was born in Nottingham, England in 1908, the daughter of a railway porter. After studying at High Pavement School and the University College there, she became a schoolteacher but gave up her career to study acting at the Royal College of Art, in London. Her first professional stage appearance was in Northampton, England in 1934, before moving on to London's West End in 1936. In 1938 she joined the prestigious Old Vic company, touring with them in Europe and Egypt. She played Shakespeare at Stratford on Avon in 1940, but it was in 1945 that she gained fame in 'No Room at the Inn' in London. Following this success she went on to play many starring roles. In total Freda Jackson appeared in some sixty two major stage roles in England and overseas.
At the same time she appeared in twenty six films, including Sir Laurence Olivier's 'Henry V', David Lean's version of Dicken's 'Great Expectations', Tony Richardson's 'Tom Jones', and the Hammer Horror classic 'Brides of Dracula'. Not content with this she also appeared in several classic British television shows, including Maigret, Adam Adamant Lives, and Blake's 7, together with a number of more serious dramas.
Freda Jackson, who was married to the painter Henry Bird ARCA, died in 1990. - Anne Jameson was born on 6 October 1933 in Hendon, Middlesex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Boy Friend (1971), The Paper Lads (1977) and A Severed Head (1971). She was married to Bryan Pringle. She died on 9 October 1999 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- David Neal was born on 13 February 1932 in Kettering, Northants, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Superman (1978), Flash Gordon (1980) and Hereward the Wake (1965). He died on 27 June 2000 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Willie began as a comedian on the North East club circuit and teamed up with Peter Lambert to form the comedy duo Lambert and Ross who became nationally known. When the partnership broke up in the 1980's Willie changed career tracks and became a successful actor in film, television and on stage. His big break was as the foul mouthed father in the film 'Rita, Sue and Bob Too'. He died following an accident at his home.
- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Rio Fanning was born on 7 November 1931 in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Relic Hunter (1999), Emmerdale Farm (1972) and Doctor Who (1963). He was married to Karen Ford and Alexandra Knowles. He died on 12 August 2018 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Stanley Unwin was born on 7 June 1911 in Pretoria, South Africa. He was an actor, known for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968), Carry on Regardless (1961) and The Secret Service (1969). He was married to Frances Anne Unwin. He died on 12 January 2002 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Ivan Beavis was born on 22 April 1926 in Liverpool, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Coronation Street (1960), Six Days of Justice (1972) and The Liver Birds (1969). He was married to Kathleen Atkins. He died on 24 December 1997 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Douglas Barr was born on 10 November 1930 in Glasgow, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Fortune Lane (1947), Dance Hall (1950) and Hue and Cry (1947). He died on 31 January 2015 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Fay Weldon was born on 22 September 1931 in Worcester, England, UK. She was a writer, known for She-Devil (1989), Puffball: The Devil's Eyeball (2007) and Flood Warning (2020). She was married to Nicolas P Fox, Ronald Weldon and Ronald G. Bateman. She died on 4 January 2023 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Arnold Peters was born on 3 June 1925 in Hendon, Middlesex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Germinal (1970), Warship (1973) and Pennies from Heaven (1978). He was married to Beryl. He died on 11 May 2013 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Rex Wei was born on 27 March 1933. He was an actor, known for The Knock (1994), Ping Pong (1986) and Tatort (1970). He died on 9 November 2006 in Daventry, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Iris Sadler was born on 22 March 1908 in Forest Gate, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Little Dorrit (1987), Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter (1968) and Mind Your Language (1977). She died on 12 January 1991 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Sound Department
Delia Derbyshire was born on 5 May 1937 in Coventry, West Midlands, England, UK. She was a composer, known for The Legend of Hell House (1973), The Sweeney (1975) and Doctor Who (2005). She died on 3 July 2001 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Music Department
Frederick Schiller was born on 23 August 1901 in Vienna, Austria-Hungary [now Austria]. He was an actor, known for The Crawling Eye (1958), Barry Lyndon (1975) and The Avengers (1961). He died on 29 September 1994 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Writer
Alan Cullen was born in 1916 in Atherton, Lancashire, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Superman (1978), Jack the Ripper (1973) and Victorian Scandals (1976). He died on 30 December 2000 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Robert Grange was born on 6 September 1938 in Gravesend, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Macbeth (1970), UFO (1970) and The Bunker (1981). He died on 23 March 2018 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Ray Clemence was born on 5 August 1948 in Skegness, Lincolnshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Nearly Complete and Utter History of Everything (1999), First Division Liverpool FC versus Derby County (1978) and 1984 UEFA Cup Final: Tottenham Hotspur Vs Anderlecht (1984). He was married to Veronica M. Gillespie. He died on 15 November 2020 in Desborough, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Christopher Hartstone was born on 15 July 1959 in England, UK. He was an actor, known for Captain Nemo and the Underwater City (1969) and Wicked Women (1970). He died in January 1993 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Duke of Gloucester was born on 31 March 1900 in Sandringham, Norfolk, England, UK. He was married to Duchess of Gloucester Princess Alice. He died on 10 June 1974 in Barnwell Manor, Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- J.L. Carr was born on 20 May 1912 in Carlton Miniott, Thirsk, North Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for A Month in the Country (1987), A Day in Summer (1989) and Paperbacks (1981). He died on 26 February 1994 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Lionel Hamilton was born on 1 March 1911 in Holborn, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for David Copperfield (1966), 199 Park Lane (1965) and Compact (1962). He died on 28 January 2002 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Cynthia Felgate was born on 8 October 1935 in Birmingham, England, UK. She was a producer and writer, known for Play School (1964), Play Away (1971) and Fast Forward (1984). She died on 2 November 1991 in Weedon Lois, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Writer
- Actor
Born in Scotland. Worked in merchant navy, then as a police officer. Emigrated to Africa. Worked in South Africa, Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and Protugese East Africa (now Angola). Began acting and writing in radio. Moved to Australia for his wife's health. Acted in amateur theatre, and moved into radio. Became a radio writer, novelist and TV writer, although would occasionally act. Helped establish the Australian Writers Guild.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
John Gale was born on 27 May 1932 in Steeple, Essex, England, UK. He was a composer, known for Emma (1996), Date Movie (2006) and The Killing Fields (1984). He was married to Caroline Gale. He died on 27 December 2015 in Farthingstone, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Philip Dale was born on 20 May 1916 in Woodley, Cheshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Six Proud Walkers (1954), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Circle of Danger (1951). He was married to Pauline Winter. He died on 5 October 1973 in Moreton Pinkney, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Alexander Chancellor was born on 4 January 1940 in Ware, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He was married to Susanna (Susie) Elisabeth Debenham. He died on 28 January 2017 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- William Palmerley was born on 4 June 1923 in Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for H.M.S. Pinafore (1973). He died on 3 March 2013 in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Born in Walsall, Staffordshire, in 1859, son of an unsuccessful ironmonger. Raised in London, and educated at Marylebone Grammar School. Started work as railway clerk at fourteen, and later worked as schoolmaster, actor and journalist. Two volumes of humorous essays preceded "Three Men In A Boat" (1889), which saw immediate and enormous success. This enabled him to become one of the founders of the humorous magazine "The Idler", which featured work by Bret Harte and Mark Twain, amongst others. Wrote a number of plays in a similar style to his friend J.M. Barrie. The most memorable of these is probably "The Passing Of The Third Floor Back".
- Sound Department
Peter Butcher was born on 11 April 1916 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK. He died in April 1998 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.- James Carrall was born on 21 September 1856 in East Stonehouse, Devon, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Glorious Adventure (1922) and Important People (1934). He died in 1942 in Brixworth, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Ivan Stafford was born on 8 January 1924 in Whittlesey, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Emergency-Ward 10 (1957). He was married to Sheila Barker and Anne Godley. He died on 10 December 1992 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Winifred Finlay was born on 27 April 1910 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Tyne & Wear, England, UK. Winifred was a writer, known for The Secret of the Snowstorm (1951) and The Secret of the Sampler (1951). Winifred died on 25 September 1989 in Walgrave, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Margery Fisher was born on 21 March 1913 in Camberwell, London, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Jackanory (1965) and The Brains Trust (1955). She was married to James Fisher. She died on 24 December 1992 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- George Swindin was born on 4 December 1914 in Campsall, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Arsenal Stadium Mystery (1939) and Panorama (1953). He died on 26 October 2005 in Kettering, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- David Prophet was born on 9 October 1937 in Hong Kong. He died on 29 March 1981 in Silverstone, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Bertha Willmott was born on 16 September 1894 in Plaistow, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Millions Like Us (1943) and The Good Old Days (1953). She died on 3 June 1973 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Joe Beckett was born on 4 April 1892 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for When Giants Fought (1926) and Blue Bottles (1928). He died on 12 March 1965 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Bob Anderson was born on 19 May 1931 in Hendon, London, England, United Kingdom. He died on 14 August 1967 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom.
- Sacheverell Sitwell was born on 15 November 1897 in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, UK. He was married to Georgia Doble. He died on 1 October 1988 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Monte Crick was born on 25 May 1905 in Barwell, Leicestershire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for What Do We Do Now? (1945), Variety (1936) and Variety on View (1946). He was married to Anne Cullen. He died on 7 April 1969 in Aynho, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Miriam Rothschild was born on 5 August 1908 in Ashton Wold, Northamptonshire, England, UK. She was married to George Henry Lane. She died on 20 January 2005 in Ashton Wold, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Aidan Crawley was born on 10 April 1908 in Benenden, Kent, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Escape (1957), Adventure in Industry (1957) and See It Now (1951). He was married to Virginia Spencer Cowles. He died on 3 November 1993 in Farthinghoe, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Lady Christian Mary McEwen was born on 17 July 1929 in Greenlaw, Berwickshire, Scotland, UK. She was married to Frederick Fermor-Hesketh. She died on 7 April 2006 in Towcester, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Bobby Casey was born in 1926 in Annagh, Miltown Malbay, County Clare, Ireland. He was an actor, known for I Could Read the Sky (1999), The Music of Man (1979) and Open Door (1973). He died on 13 May 2000 in Northamptonshire, England, UK.- Jill McGown was born on 9 August 1947 in Campbeltown, Argyll, Scotland, UK. She was a writer, known for Lloyd & Hill (2001). She died on 6 April 2007 in Corby, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Trevor Richins was born in 1925 in Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Market in Honey Lane (1967) and George and the Dragon (1966). He died on 12 October 1967 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Jim Redmond was born in 1941 in Trinidad & Tobago, British West Indies [now Trinidad & Tobago]. He was married to Jennie and Jennie;. He died on 2 October 2022 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.