Ray Liotta in Martin Scorsese's 1990 crime classic "Goodfellas".
(Photo: Warner Bros.)
Actor Ray Liotta, who rocketed to fame with his performances in "Field of Dreams" and "Goodfellas", has died at age 67. He was on location for a film in the Dominican Republic.
Acclaimed actor and star of TV and feature films Fred Ward has passed away at age 79. As of this writing, no cause of death has been announced. Ward overcame a hardscrabble childhood and had eclectic careers that included a short-order cook, a lumberjack, a boxer and a stint in the U.S. Air Force before trying his hand at acting on stage. He gravitated to feature films by 1979 and appeared with Clint Eastwood in the hit crime thriller "Escape from Alcatraz". Before long, he was much sought after for more prominent roles. Ward sometimes scored starring roles, as in "Henry and June" (in which he played controversial novelist Henry Miller) and "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins", which was designed to launch him as a screen action hero in a series of a films. However, the movie flopped and no sequels were made. "Remo Williams", as with Ward's 1990 boxoffice disappointment, "Tremors", would go on to become far more popular in later years and build loyal fan followings. Ward won acclaim for his performance as astronaut Gus Grissom in the 1983 NASA space epic "The Right Stuff". A favorite of Robert Altman, he appeared in the director's "Short Cuts" and "The Player". His television work included "ER" and "True Detective".
Actor William Hurt, Oscar winner for the 1985 film "Kiss of the Spider Woman", has died at age 71. Prostate cancer was apparently the cause of death. Hurt came to the fore as a popular leading man in the 1980s with roles in films such as "Altered States", "Broadcast News", "The Accidental Tourist", "Body Heat", "The Big Chill", "Children of a Lesser God" and "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in which he played an imprisoned transvestite. Hurt's trademark was his low-key charm. Some critics griped that he lacked charisma, but his choice of early film roles resulted in his being nominated for Best Actor Oscars in three consecutive years. Equally at home in stage and TV productions, in more recent years Hurt had appeared in a number of superhero blockbusters including "Avengers: Endgame", "The Incredible Hulk", "Captain America: Civil War", "Avengers: Infinity War" and "Black Widow". For more, click here.
Alan Ladd Jr., one of the few remaining Hollywood studio moguls who could be regarded as a legend, has died at age 84. Ladd's career was characterized by the countless blockbusters he brought to the screen during his long career. Most notably, he backed George Lucas for the original "Star Wars" when the board of 20th Century Fox wanted to walk away from the project. Other classics he oversaw were "Chariots of Fire", "Braveheart", "Blade Runner", "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and "Young Frankenstein" during his tenure at various studios. When James Bond producer Cubby Broccoli had a falling out with the management of MGM/UA in the late 1980s, he refused to make another 007 film until the studio brass was replaced. When Ladd assumed the top position in the mid-1990s, Broccoli trusted him and together, they revived the series with "GoldenEye". For more about Ladd's remarkable career, click here.
Ivan Reitman, the acclaimed director and producer who brought "National Lampoon's Animal House" and "Ghostbusters" to the screen, passed away on Saturday at age 75. This is a sentimental and moving tribute to his life and career.
With the passing of each year, movie lovers must come to grips with the loss of so many film industry professionals. However, 2021 was especially harsh when it came to alumni of the Western movie genre. The YouTube channel A Word on Westerns presents a moving tribute to 26 talented professionals who were associated with the genre. Sadly, they all left us in 2021 but their memories will live forever through their fine work.
Monica Vitti, one of Italy's most honored film stars, passed away on Tuesday at the age of 90. Known for her collaborations and love affair with director Michelangelo Antonioni, Vitti became one of the "it" actresses of the 1960s and her image graced the covers of countless magazines. In the 1960s, Vitti was perfectly poised to be part of the mod generation and was widely photographed in the latest fashions. She was also enlisted in the spy movie craze of the period, starring in the title role in "Modesty Blaise" and in Mario Bava's "Danger: Diabolik". The above video, created in 2021, provides interesting insights about her life and career. For more, click here.
Actress Yvette Mimieux passed away on Tuesday from natural causes. She was 80 years old. Mimieux rose to fame starring opposite Rod Taylor in George Pal's 1960 screen adaptation of H.G. Wells' "The Time Machine". Prominent roles in major films soon followed and she won acclaim for her abilities primarily in dramas, although the1960 film "Where the Boys Are" combined comedy with tragedy and Mimieux's star rose further when the movie became a boxoffice hit with teenagers. In 1962, she teamed again with George Pal for his Cinerama classic "The Wonderful World of the Brothers Grimm". Other major films in which she starred included "The Light in the Piazza", "Toys in the Attic", "Diamond Head", "The Reward" and the Disney hit "Monkeys Go Home!". In 1968, she reunited with Rod Taylor for "Dark of the Sun" (aka "The Mercenaries"), a brutal but well-made adventure film centering on social unrest and revolution in the Congo.
Many of her films from this era were less-than-stellar, however, but she did score a major hit in 1972 starring opposite Charlton Heston in "Skyjacked". In 1976, she starred in the exploitation/sexploitation crime drama "Jackson County Jail", which has become a cult favorite from the era. Her last role in a major film was in Disney's 1979 sci-fi movie "The Black Hole". She had been active in television since 1959 and continued to appear in the medium while simultaneously starring in feature films. Her last screen credit was the TV movie "Lady Boss" in 1992, after which she retired from acting. She had been married three times including a 13 year union with director Stanley Donen. She had no children. The web site Deadline reports that no memorial services are planned, keeping true to her penchant for privacy in her personal life. For more, click here.
Sidney Poitier, a man who rose from humble beginnings to become one of the biggest boxoffice stars in Hollywood history, has passed away at age 94. He grew up in poverty in the Bahamas and had to quit school at age 13 to do manual labor. As a young man, he immigrated to America with the hope of pursuing a career in acting. He auditioned for the American Negro Theater in New York but was initially rejected. Relegated to washing dishes in a restaurant, Poitier befriended an older Jewish man who taught him to read properly. Poitier attributed that training to his ultimately joining the theater company and launching his career on stage and screen. He first gained attention with a prominent supporting role in the 1955 film "Blackboard Jungle" in which he played one of a group of delinquent students who defy high school teacher Glenn Ford. From that point, he was launched into starring roles in films with racial overtones such as "No Way Out", "Edge of the City" and the 1958 classic "The Defiant Ones" in which he and Tony Curtis played escaped convicts who are handcuffed together, with Curtis portraying a racist. Poitier was nominated for Best Actor, breaking racial barriers. In 1961, he had the starring role in the film version of "A Raisin in the Sun", giving a magnificent performance as an earnest but flawed young man determined to get his family out of poverty by any means necessary. Poitier had earned a Tony nomination for his performance in the 1959 Broadway production. A few years later he would defy the odds and win the Best Actor Oscar over favorite Paul Newman for "Hud", based on his performance in the low-budget, but highly popular comedy "Lilies of the Field" in which he played a drifter in the desert who helps German nuns build a small chapel. He became the first Black male actor to win an Academy Award.
Poiter's fame skyrocketed just as the civil rights movement was heading into high gear in America. He found himself in the uncomfortable position of being a reluctant symbol of his race, much as Jackie Robinson had been when baseball had been desegregated. Nevertheless, he was more than symbol. Stated simply, he made good movies. White audiences flocked to his films and in 1967 he was arguably the top boxoffice star in the world. In that pivotal year, a career highlight for Poitier, he starred in three massive hits: "In the Heat of the Night", "To Sir, With Love" and "Guess Who's Coming to Dinner". In director Norman Jewison's "In the Heat of the Night", Poitier introduced the character of Virgil Tibbs, a Philadelphia police detective who is assigned against his will to help a racist sheriff solve a murder case in the deep South. Rod Steiger won an Oscar for his performance as a the sheriff but Poitier was not nominated for any of the three key roles he played in 1967. This probably had less to do with racial prejudices than the fact that he likely canceled himself out by splitting the votes of Academy members who wished to nominate him for different films.
Poitier found himself the unlikely target of criticism from activists and academics in the Black community who accused him of playing "Uncle Tom"-like roles in order to appeal to white audiences. Poitier bristled at the accusations and reminded his critics that he was carrying an unwanted burden. He also said that he had never- and would never- play a role that was demeaning to his race. Indeed, for a number of years, Poitier was the only bankable Black star in Hollywood. Football legend Jim Brown joined the ranks by the mid-1960s and many other actors would break down the barriers, but Poitier was largely on his own until audiences became more receptive to Black actors in leading roles.
Poitier continued to diversify his career by becoming a director, mostly of comedy films. He directed nine films including such hits as "Uptown Saturday Night", "Let's Do It Again" and "A Piece of the Action" in which he also co-starred with Bill Cosby, and "Stir Crazy", which teamed Gene Wilder and Richard Pryor. In later years, Poitier seemed to lose interest in starring in films. He occasionally appeared onscreen in largely unmemorable films. He rejected starring roles in "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Driving Miss Daisy". His self-imposed retirement didn't diminish his popularity or reputation. In 1974, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth. In 2002, he was awarded an honorary Oscar to commemorate his entire career and in 2009, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama. For more about his remarkable life and career, click here.
Bogdanovich directing Ben Gazzara in "Saint Jack" (1979).
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Noted director and film historian Peter Bogdanovich has passed away from natural causes at age 82. Bogdanovich grew up idolizing the legendary actors and directors of his youth and would later enter the film industry working for Roger Corman on the 1966 hit "The Wild Angels". Corman saw potential in him and allowed him to direct a "B" movie titled "Targets" in 1968, which Bogdanovich and his wife Polly wrote very quickly. The atmospheric film was widely praised and it provided a fictional interpretation of a notorious mass shooting in 1966 that had horrified the nation. Bogdanovich also managed to logically intermingle a parallel story relating to a once-legendary horror actor played by Boris Karloff in his last great role. Bogdanovich next gained acclaimed with his 1971 B&W drama "The Last Picture Show" which received international honors. He seemed to be on a non-stop juggernaut towards success, as more hits followed: "What's Up, Doc?" and "Paper Moon". However, after Bogdanovich began an affair with Cybill Shepherd, who had appeared in "The Last Picture Show", his personal life became increasingly chaotic. His marriage ended and his next film, "Daisy Miller" starring Shepherd was a notorious bomb. This was followed by another starring vehicle for Shepherd that paired her with Burt Reynolds, "At Long Last Love", a tribute to musicals of the 1930s. When that film proved to be an expensive failure, Bogdanovich's reputation as a "Golden Boy" was diminished.
Over the years, he was in the news, not because of his film achievements, but because of his love life. After he and Cybill Shepherd broke up (but stayed on amicable terms), Bogdanovich became obsessed with Playboy Playmate of the Year, Dorothy Stratten, who was married. On the evening she was going to tell her husband she was leaving him for Bogdanovich, he brutally murdered her in a jealous rage and then committed suicide. (Bob Fosse would later make a film about Stratton, "Star 80", that recounted her love affair with Bogdanovich.) Bogdanovich remained haunted by the tragedy for the rest of his life and would he would later marry Stratten's 20 year-old sister Louise. He was 49 at the time. The marriage didn't last but Bogdanovich continued to live with Louise and her mother.
Professionally, Bogdanovich would continue to make films occasionally. He received critical acclaim for the 1979 arthouse film "Saint Jack" starring Ben Gazzara but his much-anticipated 1981 comedy "They All Laughed" in which Dorothy Stratton had a major role, proved to be a boxoffice bomb when it was released shortly after her death. Bogdanovich didn't like the studio's marketing campaign for the movie and bought back the rights at a cost of most of his assets. He believed he could distribute the film himself but reviews were tepid and he could find few theaters that would play the movie. He rebounded and a modest boxoffice success in 1985 with "Mask" starring Cher.
In later years, Bogdanovich was often sought-out for his first-hand knowledge of old Hollywood. As a young man, he had the foresight to interview prominent actors and directors and used the original tapes to launch his own podcast. Bogdanovich had befriended his idol Orson Welles in the 1960s and Welles served as his adviser and mentor. However, Welles was often the victim of his own ego and excesses and fell out of favor in Hollywood. At one point, he was living in Bogdanovich's house as he tried to raise funds for his final film "The Other Side of the Wind". Welles worked on the project for many years but died before finishing it. Bogdanovich, with support from Netflix, finished the movie using Welles's own scripts and notes. Bogdanovich would also occasionally accept roles as an actor and proved be quite effective. He had a recurring role on "The Sopranos" and appeared in supporting roles in many feature films.
In 2021, he consented to participate in Turner Classic Movie's podcast "The Plot Thickens" and afforded a series of remarkably insightful and brutally honest interviews that didn't reflect well on the decisions he made as a much younger man. In the podcast, hosted by Ben Mankiewicz, Bogdanovich comes across as a man who is proud of his successes but regretful about many aspects of his personal life and how it adversely affected his career.
Sally Ann Howes, who played the female lead as Truly Scrumptious, in the 1968 screen version of "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang", has died at age 91, three months after the passing of her husband, literary agent Douglas Rae. Howes was also a major name in theater productions, having received her first break as an understudy for Julie Andrews in the 1958 Broadway production of "My Fair Lady". When the audience heard that Howes was replacing Andrews at a matinee performance, the ticket buyers were understandably devastated. But Howes took pride in the fact that she won over the audience with her spirited performance and called that afternoon "the best I ever had". In 1963, she was nominated for a Tony Award for her performance in "Brigadoon".
Howes was cast opposite Dick Van Dyke in "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" when James Bond producer Albert R. Broccoli decided to adapt Ian Fleming's children's novel for the big screen. The film was released between two Bond movies: ""You Only Live Twice" (1967) and "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" (1969). However, Broccoli produced "Chitty" alone, as his Bond producing partner Harry Saltzman was working on his own solo projects. Broccoli once told this writer that the challenges of bringing a major musical to the screen while simultaneously preparing for another Bond film proved to be daunting, which is why he decided to never produce a non-Bond movie again. "Chitty" was a big budget production and Broccoli had enlisted some top talent including production designer Ken Adam, who rose to fame on the early Bond movies. The effects in the film remain impressive today, especially when one considers they were achieved in the pre-CGI era. Initially, the film was a boxoffice disappointment. However, over the years, it has become regarded as a beloved children's classic, especially in England. It would later spawn a successful stage production mounted by Broccoli's daughter Barbara and his stepson Michael G. Wilson that would play in the West End and on Broadway. Sally Ann Howes was deemed to be integral to the film's legacy and undoubtedly "Chitty" fans worldwide will mourn her passing. For more, click here.
Melvin Van Peebles, the iconic African-American director of influential independent films, has died at age 89. Van Peebles, the father of director Mario Van Peebles, was at the forefront of the counterculture movement among filmmakers in the 1970s. He hit his stride with films such as "Watermelon Man" and"Sweet Sweetback's Baadasssss", an X-rated racially tinged satire in which he also starred. Van Peebles, along with Gordon Parks, made vital inroads in advancing the Black point-of-view in films. He was also a playwright and social activist who dedicated his life to the cause of racial justice. Ironically, Criterion has just released a boxed set of his films as a tribute to his contributions to cinema.
International screen icon Jean-Paul Belmondo has died at the age of 88. The French star was one of the major influences in terms of popularizing anti-heroes on screen. His somewhat shaggy, rough-hewn look was at odds with traditional screen leading men. Belmondo was not handsome in the traditional sense, nor did he specialize in playing erudite, sophisticated characters. He excelled in playing the common man who was often caught up in extraordinary situations. Belmondo had flirted with being a boxer in his youth before gravitating to acting at the precise time French cinema's "New Wave" was taking the world by storm, led by directors and actors who would revolutionize world cinema. After appearing in numerous French films in the late 1950s, he became a sensation with his leading role in director Jean-Luc Godard's 1960 crime classic "Breathless". There would be no looking back. In the decades to come, Belmondo would be honored with countless film awards and saw his popularity extend to English-language cinema. He was well-versed in convincingly playing dramatic roles as well as light comedy. Belmondo was a real-life daredevil who insisted on performing many of his own stunts, perhaps most elaborately demonstrated in his 1960s spy spoof "That Man From Rio" in which he displayed a jaw-dropping ability to play dangerous scenes himself in the interest of making the film more realistic. Belmondo's reputation as a ladies man cost him his first marriage, which dissolved after he began an affair with Ursula Andress, with whom he starred in another French spy spoof "Up to His Ears" (1965) (aka "Chinese Adventures in China"). Andress would divorce her husband John Derek for Belmondo and their relationship lasted for years. In 2001, Belmondo suffered a stroke that left him partially paralyzed but the affliction did not stop him from continuing to appear on screen.
Ed Asner, the seven-time Emmy winner who specialized in playing gruff-but-likable characters, has died at age 91. Asner, a Missouri native, served in the military in the 1950s before pursuing acting as a career. He broke into the profession in the late 1950s and appeared in scores of major television programs, generally cast in dramatic roles. He made his big screen debut in an uncredited role in the 1962 Elvis Presley movie "Kid Galahad" starring Elvis Presley. He went on to play a detective in "The Slender Thread" (1966), a nemesis of John Wayne in Howard Hawks' "El Dorado" (1966) and Robert Vaughn's shady C.I.A. boss in "The Venetian Affair" (1966). Asner's distinctive style led him to work almost non-stop between the feature film and television mediums. In 1970, his career skyrocketed when he was cast as Lou Grant, the grumpy boss of Mary Tyler Moore in her iconic TV sitcom. The show proved that Asner was as adept at playing comedy as he was drama. He won multiple Emmy awards for playing Grant and when the series eventually ended, he would win Emmys for playing the same character in the dramatic off-shoot program "Lou Grant". He also won Emmys for two highly-rated 1970s TV minis-series, "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Roots". Asner's career continued to thrive with a younger generation, as he acted in and provided voice-over performances in major hit films such as "Elf" and "Up". In his personal life, he served as president of the Screen Actors Guild and was a political activist for progressive causes.
Alex Cord immortalized by Norman Rockwell for the marketing campaign for the 1966 version of "Stagecoach".
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Actor Alex Cord has died at age 88 in Texas. Cord overcame a childhood battle with polio to become an active horseman who could perform impressive stunts. Those abilities, along with his rugged good looks and lanky build, helped him land jobs as an actor. He appeared in popular television series beginning in the early 1960s including "Ben Casey", "Laramie", "Naked City" and "Route 66" before transitioning to the big screen. He made his feature film debut in with an uncredited role in "The Chapman Report" in 1962 but it was in the all-star 1966 remake of John Ford's classic 1939 Western "Stagecoach" that Cord was cast in the star-making role of the Ringo Kid, a sympathetic outlaw on a trail of vengeance. The role had launched John Wayne's career to a new level and if Cord didn't enjoy the same meteoric rise, the film's success did enable him to work steadily throughout the rest of his career. Although there were a few underrated gems after "Stagecoach" (i.e. "The Last Grenade", "A Minute to Pray, a Second to Die", "The Brotherhood"), most of Cord's work on the big screen was in "B" movies. He fared much better on television, where he continued to be a regular presence in guest star roles on popular shows such as "Night Gallery", "Gunsmoke", "Mission: Impossible", "Police Story", "Police Woman", "The Love Boat", "Fantasy Island", "Murder, She Wrote" and "Walker, Texas Ranger". In 1984, he was cast as a dapper and mysterious spy who went by the name of Archangel opposite Ernest Borgnine and Jan-Michael Vincent in the action/adventure show "Airwolf". Although the series never became a major hit, it was popular enough to run for three seasons.
Richard Donner with Marlon Brando on the set of the 1978 blockbuster "Superman".
Director/producer Richard Donner has died at age 91. Donner honed his skills by directing episodes of such classic television shows as "Wanted Dead or Alive", "Perry Mason", "The Fugitive", "The Twilight Zone" and "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." before moving into feature films. Among his blockbuster hits: "The Omen", "Superman" , "The Goonies" and "Lethal Weapon". For more about his remarkable life and career, click here.
(For an exclusive interview with Richard Donner about the making of "Superman", see Cinema Retro issue #42).
Ned Beatty, who aspired to be a musical theater star before an unlikely transition into the movie business, has died at age 83. Beatty made his big screen debut in director John Boorman's 1972 wilderness survival classic "Deliverance" with a daring portrayal of an innocent man subjected to a brutal rape. It was a bold decision to take the part but it launched Beatty's career to international acclaim. He rarely had a leading role but enhanced every film he appeared in. His diverse body of work includes such films as "All the President's Men", "Superman", "1941" and "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean". Although appearing in the 1976 classic "Network" for little more than five minutes, he delivered a performance so powerful that it earned him a Best Supporting Actor nomination. Beatty formed a friendship with his "Deliverance" co-star Burt Reynolds and they made numerous films together including the boxoffice hits "White Lightning" and "Gator". He was equally convincing as a comic presence, good guy and villain. He later found success on television as one of the star of "Homicide: Life on the Streets". For more about his life and career, click here.
Actor Gavin MacLeod has passed away at age 90 following a lengthy illness. MacLeod entered the acting profession in the 1950s with small roles in films such as "I Want to Live!", "Pork Chop Hill" and "Operation Petticoat". He also appeared in many hit TV series of the era before landing a regular part as a member of "McHale's Navy". In 1971, he graduated to stardom with a key role in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show", which showcased his superb talents as a comedic actor. Major stardom followed later when he had the lead role in the long-running hit TV series "The Love Boat". His other feature films include "Kelly's Heroes" and "The Sand Pebbles". For more about his life and career, click here.
Charles Grodin, the actor and prolific writer who made droll comedy his trademark, has died at age 86. His first big break on the silver screen came with a dramatic role in Roman Polanski's 1968 classic "Rosemary's Baby", after Grodin failed to land the lead in "The Graduate". He shot to stardom in 1972 with his leading role in the comedy "The Heartbreak Kid" and from then on he became known for often playing charismatic cads. He also scored with memorable roles in the 1978 remake of "Heaven Can Wait" and opposite Robert De Niro in the 1988 crime comedy "Midnight Run". He also played the harried father in the "Beethoven" family comedies. One of his most impressive late career roles was in the little-seen and critically disparaged "An Imperfect Murder" in which he excelled in a brief appearance as a man trying to cope with the onset of dementia. Click here for more about his life and career.
Olympia Dukakis, who won a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her scene-stealing role in "Moonstruck" (1987), has passed away after a long illness. She was 89 years old. Dukakis blossomed relatively late in her career. She was 56 years-old when she appeared in "Moonstruck". The Oscar win boosted her career and she had a prominent role among the all-star female cast in the 1990 hit "Steel Magnolias". She later appeared in the three hit big screen "Look Who's Talking" comedies. Dukakis had gravitated from New York theater (where she had won an Obie for her off-Broadway work) and in 1962 made her TV debut in an episode of "Dr. Kildare". She later landed small roles in major films such as "John and Mary", "Made for Each Other" and "Death Wish". Over the course of her career, she would be nominated for BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe awards. Click here for more.
Actress Jessica Walter has died peacefully in her sleep at her home in New York City. She was 80 years old. Walter enjoyed a distinguished career that included an Emmy win and three other nominations. She made her big screen debut in "Lilith" in 1964 and two years later joined other female stars-in-making for director Sidney Lumet's "The Group". She went on to appear in "Grand Prix", Lumet's comedy "Bye, Bye Braverman" and opposite Charlton Heston in "Number One". However, her star-making role was as the female lead opposite Clint Eastwood in the 1971 thriller "Play Misty for Me", which marked Eastwood's debut as a director. In the film, Eastwood has what he believes is a one-night stand with Walter, who makes it clear she expects them to be in a traditional, monogamous relationship. When Eastwood spurns her, she unveils psychotic and murderous tendencies. Walter's performance was so powerful, it arguably merited an Oscar nomination.
Walter's big screen career never took off, although she did land a plum role in the hit 1984 comedy "The Flamingo Kid". However, she found great success in live theater and on television. She won an Emmy for the 1970s TV series "Amy Prentiss" and would be nominated three other times. In recent years, she played a key role in the popular sitcom "Arrested Development". She also served as 2nd National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild and also served on the Board of Directors. Click here for more.
George Segal with Ben Gazzara and Robert Vaughn during the filming of "The Bridge at Remagen" in 1968.
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Actor George Segal has passed away at age 87. Segal became a rising young star in the 1960s and went on to enjoy success in both feature films and television. He made his big screen debut in "The Young Doctors" in 1961 and within a few years had appeared in "Ship of Fools" and his first starring role in "King Rat". The 1965 adaptation of James Clavell's novel found Segal as an American prisoner in a Japanese P.O.W. camp in WWII. He uses his guile and survival skills to not only stay alive but to thrive, much to disgust of British P.O.W.s who think his actions border on collaboration with the enemy. Segal's biggest break came the following year when he was cast in Mike Nichols' screen adaptation of Edward Albee's Broadway smash "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?". The film has only four main characters in it. Segal played the key role of Nick, a handsome young college professor who, along with his immature wife (Sandy Dennis), spend a fateful evening in the company of his colleague George (Richard Burton) and his vulgar wife Martha (Elizabeth Taylor). In the course of a seemingly endless evening, witty banter turns to heavy drinking, personal insults, illicit sex and the revelation of secrets about each person that leaves the two couples emotionally shattered. The film is regarded as a classic. Taylor won the Best Actress Oscar and Dennis won for Best Supporting Actress. Burton was nominated for Best Actor and Segal was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. Now a bankable leading man, Segal went on to star in an eclectic selection of films including the spy thriller "The Quiller Memorandum", "The St. Valentine's Day Massacre", "Bye, Bye Braverman", "No Way to Treat a Lady" and the cult comedy "Where's Poppa?". In 1969, Segal was filming the WWII movie "The Bridge at Remagen" in Czechoslovakia with Robert Vaughn and Ben Gazzara when the Soviet invasion occurred, leaving the stars and production company to fend for themselves to escape the country.
Segal's other prominent films include "The Owl and the Pussycat" (opposite Barbra Streisand), "Loving", "Blume in Love", "The Hot Rock", "A Touch of Class" , "Rollercoaster" , "Fun with Dick and Jane", "Look Who's Talking" and "The Cable Guy". In the 1997, he was cast in the hit sitcom "Just Shoot Me!". More recently, he he played the role of Albert "Pops" Solomon in the long-running TV series "The Goldbergs". Segal's final episode of the series is to broadcast in April.
For more about his life and career, click here. For tributes from his colleagues, click here.
We have been made aware that Norman J. Warren, best known for his series of gory
low-budget horror films in the 1970s, passed away on 11 March following a
lengthy illness. He was a regular on the film convention and festival
circuit and loved to meet fans to talk cinema. He was very approachable
and friendly, and this easy-going personality meant that everyone who
worked with him, no matter how low the budgets or tight the schedule,
always had nothing but praise.
His films Satan'sSlave, Prey, Terror and Inseminoid
were challenging, taboo-breaking films that always entertained and were
hugely successful around the world. He also made comedies and dramas
that were less well-known but equally idiosyncratic and memorable. He
was very supportive of this writer's attempts to compile a
career-spanning oral history book, which is now nearing completion and
should be published by the end of 2021.
Yaphet Kotto, the distinctive and distinguished actor, has passed away at age 81. Kotto was born in Harlem and began to study acting at age 16. He made his big screen debut in 1964 in the acclaimed race-themed drama "Nothing But a Man" opposite Ivan Dixon, a fellow African-American whose star would rise on the basis of the film. Kotto also appeared in "The Thomas Crown Affair" (1968) and was a regular presence in guest star roles on top TV series such as "Gunsmoke", "Daniel Boone", "Night Gallery", "The Big Valley", "Hawaii Five-0", "Mannix" and "The High Chapparal". He was nominated for an Emmy award for his performance as Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the 1976 TV production of "Raid on Entebbe". Kotto simultaneously kept landing good parts in major movies such as "5 Card Stud", "The Liberation of L.B. Jones" and "Across 110th Street". In 1973, he appeared in what is perhaps his most memorable role, opposite Roger Moore in the James Bond film "Live and Let Die". In it, he played the villain Dr. Kananga, who uses his Caribbean base of operations and the symbolism of voodoo to terrify the local population and gain control of an international drug smuggling operation. In 1979, Kotto played another prominent role in the classic science fiction film "Alien", appearing as a member of a doomed space flight crew that is being systematically killed by a monstrous being from another planet. Kotto's other films include "Report to the Commissioner", "Friday Foster", "Drum", "Midnight Run", "Brubaker", "The Star Chamber" and "The Running Man". In the 1990s, he was one of the stars of the long-running hit TV series "Homocide: Life on the Streets". For more about his life and career, click here.
Christopher Plummer, the world-acclaimed star of stage, screen and television, has passed away at age 91. Complications from a fall in his Connecticut home were cited as the cause of death. Plummer never had to make his way up the ranks on the big screen. He received prominent billing in his movie debut in Sidney Lumet's 1958 production of "Stage Struck"- and henceforth he would generally enjoy starring roles. Plummer moved with ease between films, stage and TV, earning critical plaudits along the way, as well as winning two Tony Awards and a late career Oscar for the film "Beginnings" in 2010. He was especially acclaimed for his work in Shakespearean productions in the U.S., England and Canada. Plummer, a native Canadian, became a legend by playing the male lead, Captain von Trapp, in the 1965 Oscar-winning film production of "The Sound of Music". Plummer was initially adamant that he wanted to sing the songs himself but ultimately conceded to having singer Bill Lee dub him in the final cut. Plummer professed to be overwhelmed by the magnitude of the movie's success and over the years made disparaging remarks about its sugary content. However, in later years, he seemed to warm to the film and participated in a reunion with the cast.
Plummer's many high profile film roles include "The Man Who Would Be King", "The Insider", "The Fall of the Roman Empire", "Night of the Generals", "Battle of Britain", "Waterloo", "Return of the Pink Panther", "The Silent Partner", "Somewhere in Time", "Murder by Decree", "Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country", "A Beautiful Mind", "The Last Station", "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" and the 2018 film "All the Money in the World", in which he was called in at the last minute to replace Kevin Spacey, whose footage had been excised. Plummer received an Oscar nomination for his performance. His last major film role was as an autocratic murder victim in the smash hit 2019 movie "Knives Out".
Actor Hal Holbrook, acclaimed star of stage, screen and feature films, has passed away at age 95. Holbrook rarely had the leading role in films but built a career as a reliable and beloved character actor. On stage, his one-man show about Mark Twain earned him a Tony Award and a subsequent Emmy for the television production. Holbrook's film career got a boost in 1968 in the popular film "Wild in the Streets" in which he played Kennedyesque presidential candidate who enlists the services of a popular rock star on his campaign tours. The plan goes awry when the musician inspires a worldwide, violent youth revolution. Holbrook's other feature films include "The Group", "The Fog", "Magnum Force", "Midway", "The Star Chamber", "The Firm", "Creepshow" and "Julia". Perhaps his most memorable role on the big screen was his unbilled cameos in "All the President's Men" in which he played the legendary anonymous leaker nicknamed "Deep Throat", who divulges top secret information that leads to the resignation of President Richard Nixon. Ironically, Holbrook initially refused the role because of its brevity but ended up playing the part as a favor to star Robert Redford. In 2007, he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his moving performance in "Into the Wild", thus becoming the oldest Oscar nominee in history. For more about his life and career, click here.
Actress Cicely Tyson has died at age 96. Ms. Tyson was a groundbreaking influence in both feature films and television, rising to fame and acclaim with her signature performance in "The Diary of Miss Jane Pittman", the 1974 television production that brought her two Emmy awards (Actress of the Year and Best Actress in a Drama). Ms. Tyson was also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar for the 1972 film "Sounder". Click here for more about her remarkable life and career.
Cloris Leachman, the seemingly invulnerable veteran of television and film, has died from natural causes at age 94. Leachman, a former Miss America contestant, gravitated to acting and launched a remarkable career that saw her win an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for the 1972 classic "The Last Picture Show" and enjoy an Emmy-winning legacy on television. Her comedic talents were the stuff of Hollywood legend and she memorably collaborated with Mel Brooks on two comedy classics, "Young Frankenstein" and "High Anxiety" in which she stole every scene she appeared in. She would also collaborate with Brooks on "The History of the World, Part 1". Click here for coverage of her remarkable life and career.
We regret to report that actor John Richardson has passed
away this week, just two weeks before what would have been his 87th
birthday.
John found fame in the 1960s via
films such as Mario Bava's Black Sunday and Hammer Film's remakes
of She and One Million Years B.C., wherein he co-starred alongside
many of the most beautiful actresses of the era, such as Ursula Andress,
Barbara Steele and Raquel Welch who famously bemoaned, on first being
introduced to John, that her new leading man was more beautiful than she
was!
John's role in One Million Years B.C. (1966), Ray Harryhausen's prehistoric
animated cult classic, led to a long relationship with his co-star Martine
Beswick and a move to Hollywood, where he landed roles in big budget
Hollywood productions such as Vincente Minnelli's On A Clear Day You Can See
Forever with Barbra Streisand.
Not a fan of Hollywood, John began
working in his beloved Italy, starring in low-budget thrillers such as Torso
and Eyeball, which he was surprised to find had a larger following
than some of his more mainstream features. Some of these films he hadn't seen since
he made them and which I had the pleasure of finding and giving them to him to
watch. John famously used to ask for the car he drove in these films to be
included in his fee and he also informed me that he once bought a vehicle that took his fancy from Steve McQueen.
Cars may have been a passion but his
first real love- bar his partner Helen- was photography. We were introduced via
a mutual friend, and from this, our shared passion for film and photography led
to the interview that subsequently appeared in Cinema Retro (Vol. 15: issues 45
and 46). John discussed his life both in front of and behind the camera, his first career-spanning interview since retiring from the film world, as he
preferred to remain out of the limelight and to spend most of his days walking
and taking photographs.
John may have battled dinosaurs and vampires
on screen but the current real-life horror of Covid took from us one of the true
gentlemen of cinema whose love for life was obvious through the twinkle in his
famously blue eyes. The eternal flame that John entered in She is true
in a way; for as long as the amazing genre films in which he starred continue
to flicker on screen, John will always be with us.
John’s partner Helen thought it would
be fitting that this announcement came via Cinema Retro and myself, as I'd
become very close to John after our interview, catching up with each other most
weeks via the phone. In his usual down-to-earth way, he initially said "no
one would be interested in hearing my stories". They were- and John was
shocked to learn that they had been nominated in last year's Rondo Awards. His
experiences pertained to a golden age when stars really were just that. Now, another
real star is shining in the heavens.
John's time as a movie star led to
several iconic roles on screen but it was his work as a photographer that he
was most passionate about and through this he has left us with many more iconic
images that he took from behind a lens.
John M. Richardson January 19th 1934-
January 5th 2020.
UPDATE: The absurd victimization of Tanya Roberts continues. After it was announced she had passed away, her representative retracted that remark. We published that news yesterday. Now comes word from TMZ that her doctor has indeed confirmed her death. Click here for update.
Earlier:
Actress Tanya Roberts has passed away at age 65 from unspecified causes. She had been hospitalized on December 24 after collapsing at her home in California. The cause of death has not been announced but her representative said it was not due to Covid-19. Roberts, a former model, transcended into acting in the 1970s. She landed her most prominent big screen role as the female lead of Stacey Sutton, a geologist, in the 1985 James Bond film "A View to a Kill" opposite Roger Moore in his final appearance as 007. She went on to enjoy popularity in the final season of "Charlie's Angels", replacing actress Shelly Hack who had left the series. She also found success in more recent years in the sitcom "That '70's Show". For more, click here.
British actress Barbara Shelley has passed away from Covid-19 related ailments. She was 88 years-old. Shelley became popular with horror movie fans in the 1960s when she became one of the resident leading ladies at the legendary Hammer Films where she made several movies with another studio legend, Christopher Lee. Among Shelley's Hammer films were "The Camp on Blood Island" (a rare non-horror entry), "The Gorgon", "Dracula: Prince of Darkness", "Rasputin: The Mad Monk" and "Quatermass and the Pit". Shelley played the lead female role in the 1960 MGM cult classic "Village of the Damned" opposite George Sanders. She also played a recurring character in the 1984 "Doctor Who" television series. She appeared in other iconic British television shows including "Blake's 7", "The Avengers", "EastEnders", "Danger Man", "The Saint" "Man in a Suitcase" and "The Two Ronnies" as well as international favorites including "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and "Route 66". For more, click here.
Peter Lamont interviewed by Gareth Owen at a celebration of his career at Pinewood Studios, 2016. (Photo: Mark Mawston).
We at Cinema Retro mourn the passing of our good friend Peter Lamont, the legendary Production Designer of many James Bond films as well as "Titanic", for which he received the Academy Award. CR columnist and author Gareth Owen reflects on Peter's life and career.
By Gareth Owen
British Oscar winning(and four-time nominee) Production Designer
Peter Lamont passed away on December 18th aged 91 after suffering
complications from pneumonia.
Having seen his name on the silver screen
throughout my formative years on films such as The Seven Percent Solution,
Sleuth, Fiddler On The Roof, and of course pretty much every James Bond
film, I first met Peter in 1990 at Pinewood Studios and was immediately struck
by his friendliness, charm and modesty. I bumped into him on the lot many times
in following years, and no matter how busy or pressured he was Peter always
made time to have a little chat, and to enthuse about his latest film and some
of the challenges he’d overcome.
Living nearby, in the mid 1940s, Peter
started his career at Pinewood Studios as a runner and after breaking for two
years for National Service in the Royal Air Force, he returned to Pinewood as a
junior draughtsman on films such as Captain Boycott (1950), The
Browning Version (1951), Hotel Sahara (1951), The Importance of
Being Earnest (1952) and The Seekers (1954). His talent, easy-going
demeanour and ability to keep a cool head in a crisis endeared him to many of
the days leading Production Designers of the day including Alex Vetchinsky and
Maurice Carter.
He then came on to the radar of Ken Adam who,
in 1964, asked Peter to join the art department of Goldfinger to help
recreate Fort Knox on the Pinewood backlot.
"I drew it all up and made a
model," he recalled, "and I remember [director] Guy Hamilton and
[producers] Cubby [Broccoli] and Harry [Saltzman] came up and they looked at it
and said, 'Well, let's get an estimate of how much it's going to cost.' And I
almost fell through the roof because the estimate was for £56,000 … I thought,
'Oh God, I'm going to get fired for this.' But nobody turned a hair."
Peter stayed with the Bond family until his
retirement in 2006 and graduated to Set Dresser, Assistant Art Director, Art
Director and – in 1981 – Production Designer, which was a position he kept
through Casino Royale (2006). Though he did actually miss one Bond
assignment (Tomorrow Never Dies in 197) due to being “on a sinking shipâ€
– namely, James Cameron’s Titanic (1997); a film which finally brought
him a much deserved Oscar win. His other nominations were for Fiddler on the
Roof (1971), The Spy Who Loved Me (1977) and Aliens (1986).
Peter was a great ambassador for the Bond
films and whilst his retirement probably came one film too early, he always
spoke with great pride about his association with the series and regularly
attended our Bondstars gatherings at Pinewood where he eagerly chatted with
fans and entertained everyone with stories of his adventures. I developed a closer
friendship with Peter often joining him and some of his art department
colleagues on a Thursday lunchtime at the White Horse pub near the studios for
a lunch, or his favourite Italian restaurant just around the corner from his
home in Farnham Common. They were always jolly affairs and conversation around
the table included anything from what was on TV the day before, the latest
advances in technology and science, to memories of far flung locations many
decades earlier – Peter’s recall and memory for detail was always astounding.
Lamont with Cinema Retro Lifetime Achievement Award, presented to him at Pinewood Studios in 2016. (L to R: Cinema Retro publishers Lee Pfeiffer, Dave Worrall and contributing writer Matthew Field.) (Photo: Mark Mawston.)
Having sadly lost his wife Ann six years ago,
Peter was surrounded by his family, son Neil and daughter Madeline with their
children and was very proud to have two great-grandchildren. He was also a
great friend to, and of, many.
Upon hearing of Peter’s death, Eon
Productions issued a press release:
"Peter Lamont was a much beloved member
of the Bond family and a giant in the industry, inextricably linked with the
design and aesthetic of James Bond since Goldfinger. He became Production
Designer on For Your Eyes Only (1981) working on 18 of the 25 films
including nine as Production Designer. He was a true success story proving that
with talent and hard work you will achieve your dreams.
Our hearts go out to his family and all those
who worked with him over many years. He will be very sorely missed."
Among Peter’s other notable films outside of
007 were: This Sporting Life (1963), The Ipcress File (1965), Chitty
Chitty Bang Bang (1968), The Boys From Brazil (1978), and True
Lies (1994).
Though never mentioned publicly, Peter did
sometimes feel his contribution to the film industry was overshadowed by his
frequent collaborator Ken Adam - but rest assured, his legacy is a rich and
unique one in itself and will continue through his children and grandchildren
who have followed in his footsteps.
British actor David Prowse has died at age 85. Prowse was originally a bodybuilder before he turned to acting. His sizable physique and imposing presence gained him many bit roles, mostly in British films, beginning with an amusing "blink-and-you'll-miss-him" cameo as Frankenstein's monster opposite David Niven in 1967 spoof version of "Casino Royale". He would later appear in a small role in Stanley Kubrick's "A Clockwork Orange". His most notable role was that of Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy. The role allowed Prowse to capitalize on his fame for decades, as he was a popular fixture at fan conventions and autograph shows around the world. However, he ran afoul of LucasFilm when he publicly griped about having had his voice for Darth Vader replaced by that of James Earl Jones. Prowse also implied he had been cheated out of royalties on the films due to "Hollywood accounting". LucasFilm, which owned the series prior to Disney's acquisition of the franchise, banned Prowse from appearing at official "Star Wars" events. Despite this, Prowse continued to attend non-official "Star Wars"-themed shows and events where he was a big draw for fans and autograph collectors.
Prowse's other film appearances include "The Horror of Frankenstein", "Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell" and "Jabberwocky". Prowse would say his greatest career achievement was having been awarded an MBE for his popular persona as Green Cross Code Man, a superhero who appeared in British TV adverts in 1975 to promote road safety to children.
Sir Sean Connery has passed away at age 90. One of the few remaining genuine legends of the film industry, Connery's passing will seem surrealistic to his legions of international fans, as he somehow seemed immortal. Connery overcame a humble upbringing in Edinburgh, Scotland to emerge as a cinematic icon. As young man, he entered the Royal Navy but his stint was short-lived, as he was released from service due to health issues. He later dabbled in weight lifting and was Scotland's candidate in the Mr. Universe contest. Connery drifted into acting quite by chance after someone suggested he audition for a chorus role in a London stage production of "South Pacific". He got the part and the acting bug got the better of him and he became determined to make it his profession. Connery secured bit roles in low-budget British films without making much of an impact, though one of the films, "Hell Drivers" managed to assemble a remarkable cast that included two other future stars who would make their marks by playing secret agents, Patrick McGoohan and David McCallum. Connery seemed poised for stardom when was signed under contract by 20th Century Fox. However, what was to be his first major film, Another Time, Another Place opposite Lana Turner, flopped.
Fox saw no potential in the young actor but two enterprising producers, Albert R. ("Cubby") Broccoli and Harry Saltzman did. The pair had recently formed Eon Productions for the express purpose of bringing Ian Fleming's James Bond novels to the big screen, having secured funding from United Artists' head of production David V. Picker, who was a fan of the books. The producers considered many young actors for the pivotal role of 007, knowing that securing the right man would be essential for ensuring sequels to their first production, Dr. No. There have been countless variations of how Broccoli and Saltzman agreed to hire Sean Connery, who had enough hubris to refuse to film a formal screen test. However, Broccoli once told this writer that it was his wife Dana who suggested Connery, having seen him in the 1959 Disney film Darby O'Gill and the Little People. Connery suitably impressed the producers and Dr.No was brought to the screen in 1962 (it premiered in America the following year.) While the film wasn't a blockbuster, it was considered to be a sizable hit and, most importantly, Connery truly "clicked" with critics and audiences. The following film, From Russia with Love was released in 1963 to great acclaim and much higher boxoffice grosses on a worldwide basis. The films pushed the envelope in terms of sex and violence and Bond rapidly became male role model for the Playboy magazine era. Broccoli and Saltzman wisely decided to make each successive film more expensive and grander in terms of production values. With the 1964 release of Goldfinger, the fan movement had evolved into worldwide Bondmania. Connery had attributed much of his success in the role of 007 to Terence Young, the dapper director of the first two films, who took the 'rough-around-the-edges' young Scot to a level of refinement, teaching him how to dress, eat and drink properly.
Despite the Bond films bringing Connery wealth, acclaim and fame, there was already the seeds of trouble in Paradise. He could perceive that the Bond films would have a much longer history than anyone initially anticipated. Consequently, he became afraid of being typecast. He sought other roles in high profile films. In the 1964 thriller, Woman of Straw, he gave a strong performance as a manipulative womanizer and schemer. Although the film is a gem, it flopped on its release. Connery had high hopes for working with Alfred Hitchcock as the male lead in Marnie the same year. Hitchcock had been riding high with a wave of acclaimed, high profile films but to Connery's disappointment, Marnie was a critical and boxoffice failure. By the time Connery went into production on the fourth Bond film, Thunderball, he was feuding with the producers, who, in turn, were feuding with each other. The unexpected popularity of the Bond franchise had put enormous pressure on everyone. Connery, an intensely private man, found himself the reluctant idol of millions around the globe. His marriage to actress Diane Cilento was suffering as a consequence. Prior to the release of Thunderball in 1965, Connery won acclaim for his lead role in The Hill, an intense prison drama that teamed him with director Sidney Lumet for the first time. The movie was widely praised but sank at the boxoffice. Connery became frustrated that fans only wanted to see him as Bond, a theory proven by the blockbuster grosses for Thunderball. Connery's attempt at a madcap comedy, A Fine Madness, also flopped in 1966, the year he was going into production on the fifth Bond movie You Only Live Twice. Filmed in Japan under enormous logistical pressures, Connery had made it known he was fed up with playing 007. Although contractually obligated to star in the next film, On Her Majesty's Secret Service, the producers released Connery from the movie and hired novice actor George Lazenby to play Bond.
Eager to reshape his image, Connery teamed with producer Euan Lloyd for the European Western Shalako, which boasted an international high profile cast. While not a flop, the movie also didn't indicate that there was a major acceptance of Connery in a non-Bond role. The Russian/Italian co-production of The Red Tent in which Connery played doomed Norwegian Arctic explorer Roald Amundsen, was a boxoffice disaster. He had high hopes for director Martin Ritt's The Molly Maguires, but that failed commercially, too. Perhaps for this reason, Connery agreed to return to the role of James Bond one more time in Diamonds are Forever. After George Lazenby had quit the series after only one film, producers and United Artists had signed American actor John Gavin for the role of Bond. However, David Picker wanted to ensure the stability of the lucrative series and offered Connery the highest salary ever paid to an actor: $1.25 million plus a percentage of the gross. Connery agreed with the promise of using the windfall to establish a charity in his native Scotland. Ironically, Connery's latest non-Bond film, The Anderson Tapes, proved to be a critical and commercial success even as he was filming his return to the role of 007. Predictably, Diamonds Are Forever was a smash hit, despite the fact that a weak script had left some diehard fans somewhat disappointed. After all, Connery was back and the world press rejoiced. Nevertheless, Connery resisted offers to appear as Bond again in Live and Let Die and Roger Moore inherited the role, finding equal success over a twelve year period.
Some of Connery's post-Bond films fared well, despite the high profile failure of director John Boorman's sci-fi film Zardoz and The Offence, a grim police drama in which Connery gave an Oscar-caliber performance. However, the movie, which reunited him with Sidney Lumet, was barely released theatrically and played briefly in only a handful of venues. Connery finally began to earn praise from critics for his performances in films such as The Man Who Would Be King, The Wind and the Lion, Murder on the Orient Express, The Great Train Robbery and Robin and Marian. By this point in his personal life, he and Diane Cilento had divorced. Connery would then marry the artist Michelene Roquebrune in 1975. They remained married until his death. Professionally, many of his films still failed at the boxoffice, though by this point he was enjoying status as an icon of international cinema. In 1983, he returned to the role of James Bond in Never Say Never Again, a loose remake of Thunderball that was produced outside of the Eon franchise films. The movie was a financial success and earned good reviews, though Bond purists widely consider it to have fallen short of its potential.
In 1988, Connery was awarded the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his impressive performance as an aging Irish cop on the trail of Al Capone in The Untouchables. Even as he aged, he was regarded as a sex symbol. Upon being told that he had been voted "The Sexiest Man Alive", Connery characteristically quipped that there weren't many sexy dead men. In 1989, he co-starred with Harrison Ford in the blockbuster Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, directed by Steven Spielberg. Connery would later say it was one of his most enjoyable experiences as an actor. The following year, he scored another hit with The Hunt for Red October, a Cold War thriller that benefited from the recent collapse of the Soviet Union. However, it wouldn't be until 1996 when he starred in another blockbuster release with the prison adventure film The Rock. His 1999 crime caper Entrapment was also a major hit but Connery was publicly griping that the filmmaking process and the quality of scripts presented to him were becoming matters of concern. After the ill-fated super hero movie The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen in 2003, he announced he was retiring from acting. Despite overtures from the industry, Connery refused all offers, including another Indiana Jones film.
In his post-retirement years, Connery kept a low public profile, rarely appearing at events or granting interviews. This led to rumors that he was ill or even at death's door. However, in 2010, his brother Neil told this writer that people simply didn't understand that Connery was enjoying a laid-back retirement lifestyle, having traveled and worked so extensively for decades. Politically, Connery remained steadfastly nationalistic in terms of Scottish independence and would occasionally March in the Tartan Day parade in New York City, attired in a kilt.
Sir Sean Connery's legacy was not only as an icon of international cinema, but also as a man of dignity and honor who made it to the top without compromising his principles. He had lived to see many of his films become regarded as classics and he enjoyed the respect of his peers as well as audiences around the world. Not bad for a Scottish lad who started out driving lorries and polishing coffins.
Dame Diana Rigg, one of Britain's most esteemed actresses, has died from cancer at age 82. In the course of her career, Rigg conquered the mediums of stage, screen and television. She studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and received praise for her work in classic theater. Perhaps improbably, she became a pop culture icon when she replaced Honor Blackman on the iconic British TV series "The Avengers" in the 1960s. When Blackman left the show to star as Pussy Galore in the 1964 James Bond film "Goldfinger", Rigg introduced the character of Emma Peel, playing opposite Patrick Macnee's John Steed. She became the most notable early female action star on television, practicing martial arts and often attired in provocative leather outfits. In 1969, Rigg followed in Honor Blackman's footsteps by appearing as the female lead in a James Bond film, "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" opposite George Lazenby's 007. The film, considered one of the best of the series, cast Rigg as a countess who marries James Bond, only to be murdered on their wedding day. The movie was notable for its realistic and downbeat ending. Rigg's other feature films include "The Hospital", "The Great Muppet Caper", "Evil Under the Sun" and "Theatre of Blood", a comedic horror film in which she and Vincent Price were memorably co-starred. She thrived on television over the decades, gaining numerous Emmy and BAFTA nominations and winning an Emmy in 1997 for her performance as the evil Mrs. Danvers in "Rebecca". She also won acclaim for her role in the TV production of "Mother Love" opposite David McCallum in 1989. Rigg found late career success on television with an Emmy-nominated role in "Game of Thrones". In theater, she often concentrated on the classics, packing houses on Broadway and the West End. She won a Tony Award in 1994 for her starring role in "Medea".
Movie fans worldwide are reeling over the shocking news that actor Chadwick Boseman has died from colon cancer at age 43. Boseman had been battling the disease since 2016 but few outside of his family and inner circle knew this. Somehow, Boseman was able to continue his acting career while simultaneously undergoing strenuous and complex treatments for cancer. Boseman became a seminal figure in the modern film business with the success of "Black Panther", which became one of the top-grossing films of all time and dispelled the notion in Hollywood that audiences wouldn't flock to see action movie blockbusters with a black leading actor. However, Boseman's accolades also derived from his portrayals of real-life African-American legends including Jackie Robinson, Thurgood Marshall and James Brown. Click here for more.
Alan Parker photographed by another legend, Terry O'Neill, in this press still for "Angel Heart" (1987).
Sir Alan Parker has died at age 76. The esteemed British filmmaker was known for making highly diverse, acclaimed films. He had received two Oscar nominations for Best Director, the first for "Midnight Express" and the other for "Mississippi Burning". Parker made his feature film directorial debut in 1975 with "Bugsy Malone", an offbeat and inspired send up of old gangster movies starring a cast comprised of child actors including Jodie Foster. His other films include "Fame", "The Commitments", "Pink Floyd- The Wall", "Shoot the Moon", "Angela's Ashes", "Evita", "Angel Heart" and "Birdy". Parker had not directed a film since "The Life of David Gale" in 2003. As news of his death broke, tributes were paid by his peers in the entertainment industry including Andrew Webber, David Putnam and Barbara Broccoli.
Actor John Saxon, who specialized in playing celluloid tough guys, has died from pneumonia at age 83. Saxon grew up on the (then) mean streets of his native Brooklyn and became a model at age 17. He segued into feature films and television, winning acclaim for his performances. Saxon had the ability to use his charisma and good looks to portray both heroes and villains on screen, and did both convincingly. Major stardom never materialized for him but he had a long career as a popular supporting actor. Among his more notable films: "The Reluctant Debutante", "War Hunt", "The Electric Horseman", "The Unforgiven", "Joe Kidd", the original "Nightmare on Elm Street" and two sequels, "From Dusk Till Dawn", "Black Christmas", "Wrong is Right", "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" and "Battle Beyond the Stars". One of his most popular films was "Enter the Dragon", the final movie of Bruce Lee. Saxon also starred in numerous action film in Italian cinema. For his performance opposite Marlon Brando in the 1966 Western "The Appaloosa", he received a Golden Globe nomination. That year, he won a Golden Globe as "Most Promising Newcomer" even though he had been making films for almost a decade. He also had recurring roles in two popular TV series, "Dynasty" and "Falcon Crest". For more, click here.
Actress and two-time Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland has died in Paris from natural causes at age 104. Ms. de Havilland was one of the last remaining symbols of Hollywood's Golden Age and the last living star of the 1939 classic "Gone With the Wind". Ms. De Havilland was a role model for women's rights in show business, having courageously stood up to studio bosses, beginning with Warner Brothers in the 1940s and extending to her recent legal action against the FX cable network for what she felt was an inaccurate and unfavorable portrayal of her in their TV movie "Feud: Bette and Joan", which depicted the antagonistic relationship between Bette Davis and Joan Crawford. She won her first Best Actress Oscar for the 1946 film "To Each His Own". She also won for the 1949 production of "The Heiress". She was also nominated the prior year for "The Snake Pit". De Havilland and her sister, fellow Oscar winner Joan Fontaine, had engaged in a lifelong feud that became the stuff of Hollywood legend. They were rarely on speaking terms, although De Havilland did say they had mended their relationship shortly before Fontaine's death in 2013 at age 96. De Havilland starred with some of the most legendary leading men in Hollywood history, including Errol Flynn and Clark Gable.
Perhaps her most beloved character was that of Melanie, the tender, forgiving wife of Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), the man who Scarlett O'Hara (Vivien Leigh) openly craves despite being married to Rhett Butler (Clark Gable). The self-centered Scarlett resents and envies Melanie, even when the latter passes away because she enjoys the respect of family and friends in a way Scarlett never will. Some De Havilland's other memorable films include "The Adventures of Robin Hood", "The Charge of the Light Brigade", "Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte", "My Cousin Rachel", "They Died with Their Boots On" and "Lady in a Cage". De Havilland resided for many years in Paris, rarely granting interviews and almost never courting the press. Her dignified private life only added to her stature as a Hollywood legend. For more, click here.
Ennio Morricone, the Oscar-winning and prolific film composer, has died in Rome at age 91 from complications resulting from a fall that had left him with a fractured hip. In the course of his career, Morricone rose from composing music for little-seen Italian films to becoming an icon of the movie industry. He worked virtually non-stop, turning out a head-spinning number of film scores. However, it was his collaborations with director Sergio Leone that brought him to international attention. When United Artists head of production David V. Picker saw Leone's A Fistful of Dollars and For a Few Dollars More, both of which had been sensations at the European boxoffice, he purchased the distribution rights for the movies for English language territories. He also agreed to finance the third and final film in the series, The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. The films proved to be sensations worldwide and audiences responded enthusiastically to Morricone's quirky scores. His music for The Good, the Bad and the Ugly remains one of the most iconic main film themes ever composed, rivaled only, perhaps, by the James Bond Theme. Morricone's work was highly original, and for the Italian westerns often included full choirs singing intentionally unintelligible words. Ironically, in the United States, Morricone's main theme for "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" became a major hit on the radio, but it was a cover version performed by Hugo Montenegro and his orchestra. Even after the success of the Leone Western trilogy, Morricone continued to compose scores for low-grade Italian films. One of the most amusing was "O.K. Connery", the title song for the 1967 James Bond spoof "Operation Kid Brother" which starred Sean Connery's brother Neil. The film (currently streaming on Amazon Prime) was dreadful but you might find yourself humming Morricone's catchy opening song. Morricone teamed again with Sergio Leone for another western masterpiece "Once Upon a Time in the West", as his star rose internationally and he became increasingly revered by film enthusiasts worldwide.
Over the course of decades, Morricone retained his status as a workaholic composer. In 2006, he received an honorary Oscar for his lifetime achievements. It was presented to him, appropriately enough, by Clint Eastwood, star of the Leone "Dollars" trilogy. Morricone continued to compose non-film scores that were acclaimed in their own right and often performed by him in live concerts that were always hot ticket events. However, it was the movies that cemented his legendary status. He had been nominated for numerous Oscars before winning in for his score for Quentin Tarantino's 2015 film "The Hateful Eight". His influence continues today. "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly" theme is currently heard in a TV commercial, as is his magnificent composition from that film, "The Ecstasy of Gold", which is the signature theme for Modelo beer commercials.
For more about Morricone's career, click here to read obituary by Jon Burlingame of Variety.
When famed
producer and former gangster character actor Sheldon Leonard saw the failed television
sitcom pilot “Head of the Family,†which was based on Carl Reiner’s experience
as a writer and performer for Sid Caesar’s “Your Show of Shows†and “Caesar’s
Hourâ€, he immediately saw its brilliance and potential. He said to creator and star Carl Reiner, who
would become his producing partner, in his distinctive tough guy voice, “We’ll
get a better actor to play you.â€That
actor became the lead in the show whose name became the new title. “The Dick Van Dyke Showâ€, now a classic
sitcom, with Carl as writer, producer, show runner, and co-star, has become a
touchstone for everything that followed and is one of Carl’s many masterpieces.
He also launched the career of the
legendary Mary Tyler Moore.
Outside of “The
Dick Van Dyke Showâ€, there was no better actor to play Carl Reiner than Carl
Reiner.For decades, he was a performer,
comedian, writer, director, host, friend and mentor to many, including
myself.Everything he did was done with
excellence, hard work, and style.He
never phoned it in.Anytime you saw him,
he was smart, witty, warm, engaging and playing his A-plus game.
I got to meet Carl
through my work with Sid Caesar. He was always available, helpful and
insightful.At every one of the many
dinner parties held during the last two years of Sid Caesar’s life, Carl would
grab me by the arm and pull me over to a corner of the room, sit down with me
and say, “Catch me up on what’s going on in your life.â€He was eager to offer advice and insight as
both teacher and friend. He loved that I
taught about him in college classes.He
would have appreciated the emails I got just today from former students
commiserating with me over his passing, but more importantly, thanking me for
introducing them to Carl Reiner’s genius.
At one dinner
party, he walked in the front door with Mel Brooks, his lifelong best friend
and partner in comedy, holding a souvenir mug he had recently received from the
Broadway show “Old Jews Telling Jokes.â€After
dinner, he passed the mug around, with the proviso that anyone who held the mug
had to tell an old Jewish joke.From Mel
Brooks, to Dick Van Dyke, Monty Hall, Renee Taylor, Joe Bologna, Estelle
Harris, Richard Lewis, and Jeff Ross, everyone told a joke.It was a glorious and rare evening.
When Sid passed,
his daughter Karen asked me if I wanted any of his personal possessions as a
remembrance.I immediately chose the
mug.To me, it was a priceless symbol
of how to bring people together in a creative, joyful way. It has become one my prized possessions
because it represents Carl’s greatest gift and a character quality for everyone
to aspire to.
Over the years,
Carl would reach out to me if he needed a film clip, or had a quick comedy history
question.Voicemails would start with, “Eddy,
I don’t know if you remember me, but this is Carl Reiner.â€I would call him back and say, “Carl, I think
about you almost every day, and I just saw you two weeks ago.How could I not remember you?â€His grounding was a lesson on how to comport
yourself in life, with dignity and humility.
He was a
consummate professional who still got nervous before every show.That anxiety is what made him amazing almost
80 years later. I had the privilege of producing
and moderating The Sid Caesar Tribute at The Paley Center in 2014, with Carl,
Mel, and Billy Crystal (I can’t think of any other instance where Billy Crystal
would be third on a list).
When Carl arrived
to The Green Room, I walked over to him and helped him take off his
raincoat.I always admired and complimented
him on his consummate sartorial style.I said, “thank you for being here.â€
He replied
nervously, “We’ll see!â€
And we did
see.He went out onstage and killed, as
usual. As most performers shrank with age, he continued to grow and thrive.During the show I asked him, “What is it
about your process that allows you to read a whole stage and not just figure
out what you need to do, but how to make everybody play better?â€
“Well, you know,â€
he answered, “I found out late in life that what I really am is an emcee, a
master of ceremonies.I love nothing
more than to tell people, ‘Go look at this, go look at that and introduce
people to new people and things.Here's
Billy Crystal. He'll come out and get millions of laughs. But I introduced him.
I'm not kidding.And I'm a good emcee because of that, because
I really appreciate what's out there. That's the whole trick. What was the
question?â€
He was the rising
and indefatigable tide that lifted all creative boats.From Sid Caesar to Dick Van Dyke, to Steve
Martin, he made everyone he played with play better.And with Mel Brooks, his creative soul-mate, their
2000-Year-Old Man and related work became the Rosetta Stone for comedy.Their timing, combined with underlying
affection and trust made them incomparable and irresistible, both on stage and
off.
Eddy Friedfeld, Carl Reiner and Fran Zigman. (That's Mel Brooks on the phone). (Photo: Karen Caesar.)
There
is a scene from the brilliant Showtime series “Billions†where Axe and Wags are
waxing poetically about mortality. “Dying in your thirties or forties?â€
“Tragic.†“Fifties?†“Such a shame.†“Sixties?†“Too soon.†“Seventies?†“A
good run.†“Eighties?†“A life well lived.†“Nineties?†“Hell of a ride!â€
Carl,
at 98 you had a hell of a ride, but for my money you still left the party way
too early. You touched a lot of people and you leave behind not only a
legendary body of work, but also a lot of people who love you, respect you, and
continue to be inspired by and learn from you. So that, as we say in show
business, or any other business, is a good run. Rest well, my friend.
Cinema Retro Contributor Eddy Friedfeld
teaches comedy and film history at Yale and NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts.
Carl Reiner has passed away at age 98. The New York native who served in WWII and then went on to become a comedy icon, had a varied career and many achievements that were often behind the cameras. He gained fame as a member of Sid Caesar's ensemble on his legendary 1950s TV series "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour". Reiner was usually happy to play the straight man in skits that help revolutionize the world of comedy. With his good friend Mel Brooks, who wrote for Caesar's shows, he created the concept of the 2,000 Year-Old Man, which found Reiner interviewing the elderly Jewish guy, played by Brooks. The concept started informally when the duo would improvise acts at social gatherings, but when they finally released the 2,000 Year-Old Man as a comedy album, it sold over a million copies and institutionalized Jewish humor for a generation of American comedians. In the 1960s, Reiner turned the concept for a failed TV sitcom in which he starred into a major hit as "The Dick Van Dyke Show". The series made Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore beloved TV icons. The show ran from 1961 to 1966 and was still a top-ratings earner when Van Dyke chose to quit in order to pursue a career in feature films.
Reiner began to find success as a movie director, a career he began in 1967 with his semi-autobiographical film "Enter Laughing". His 1969 film "The Comic" about the rise and fall of an obnoxious silent screen icon starred Dick Van Dyke. The ambitious film has built a cult following but was a flop upon its release because of its downbeat premise. His 1970 comedy "Where's Poppa?" was controversial because of its cynical content but "Oh, God!" starring George Burns was a major hit, as was "The Jerk", a concept of producer David V. Picker's that launched Steve Martin's career as a leading man.
Reiner had a rare leading man role in a feature film with the smash hit "The Russians are Coming! The Russians are Coming!" in 1966 but, in general, he was satisfied playing supporting roles in movies and TV programs. He played key roles in the "Oceans Eleven" films starring George Clooney, which were derived from the original 1960 Rat Pack classic.
Reiner, the father of acclaimed actor and director Rob Reiner, was married for 65 years to his wife Estelle Lebost, who passed away in 2008. He remained close friends with fellow comedy icons Mel Brooks and Norman Lear.
Jerry Stiller in a promotional photo for "The King of Queens".
(Photo: CBS/Sony)
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Jerry Stiller, who rose to fame in the 1960s by teaming with his wife Anne Meara as a comedy act, has died at age 92. The father of actor Ben Stiller, Jerry went on to a successful acting career himself, becoming an iconic presence on such television series as "Seinfeld" and "The King of Queens". Both he and his wife Anne always aspired to acting careers but found their initial success in standup comedy, although Stiller appeared in dramatic roles on many television programs beginning in the late 1950s. Anne was a tall and of Irish heritage and Catholic while Jerry was short and Jewish. Their first major break came in 1961 when Ed Sullivan featured them on his show. They were an immediate sensation and would be invited back over the years for return appearances. Audiences loved their shtick which revolved around the ways men and women get on each other's nerves. They always worked "clean" and their observations resonated with everyday people who could identify with them. Ultimately, both Stiller and Meara would develop separate, successful acting careers. Stiller got his first credited role in a feature film in 1974 with a supporting part in "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three". Many more film roles would follow. However, it was in the role of Frank Constanza on the TV series "Seinfeld" that he became immortalized in pop culture. The character was high strung, manic and possessed a hair-trigger temper, generally directed at his son George (Jason Alexander) or his long-suffering wife Estelle (Estelle Harris). Despite the show's long run, Stiller only appeared in 30 episodes but his presence was always welcomed by fans. His most memorable episode involved his character's devotion to the fictional holiday he created, "Festivus", which was an alternative to Christmas and Hanukkah. "Festivus for the rest of us!" was his mantra and the logo can be found on the T shirts of fans even today. Following "Seinfeld", Stiller found great success playing a regular role in the CBS sitcom "The King of Queens" over a nine year period.
Jerry Stiller never went out of style. He continued to work even after Anne's death in 2015, occasionally teaming with his son Ben, with whom he appeared in the two "Zoolander" films.
Dennehy in the 2018 screen version of "The Seagull" from Sony Classics.
Brian Dennehy, the popular and acclaimed actor of stage, screen and television, has passed away from natural causes at age 81. Dennehy was born in Connecticut and continued to reside there until his death. Dennehy had a rather late entry into an acting career. He first appeared on screen in 1977 in "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" in a bit part. Later that year, he made an impression as a hulking football player in the comedy "Semi-Tough". His considerable physical presence often found him playing tough guy roles, though he was equally adept at playing light comedy. He was constantly in demand, mostly as a character actor, but he occasionally found acclaim in leading roles. He won multiple Tony awards for playing Willy Loman in two Broadway runs of Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman". He was also nominated for five Emmy awards. Among Dennehy's other prominent feature films were "Cocoon", "First Blood", "Silverado", "Tommy Boy", "10" and "Presumed Innocent". He also appeared in a wealth of popular television shows. For more, click here.
Honor Blackman, who rose to fame as one of the first female action stars in both film and television, has passed away at age 94. Ms. Blackman started in British films in the late 1940s. Her rise to fame came when she first appeared as Cathy Gale opposite Patrick MacNee in the iconic British TV series "The Avengers". The show was a major hit and Blackman's character was a novelty for the era, in that she could hold her own against larger-than-life villains, often employing judo. Her success in the series led to her being offered the female lead of Pussy Galore in the third James Bond film, "Goldfinger" starring Sean Connery. In order to play the role, Blackman had to leave "The Avengers" after her second and final season. Diana Rigg took over the female lead and also soared to stardom on the show. Coincidentally, Rigg, too, would become a Bond star opposite George Lazenby in "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".
(Capitalizing on her judo abilities, Blackman authored a book on self-defense.)
Honor Blackman was multi-talented and found great success in films, television and on the stage. Although she was primarily known for the role of the sensual tough girl Pussy Galore, she enjoyed a long career in her native Britain, where she remained popular throughout the decades. On a personal note, we at Cinema Retro were honored to have spent time with her over the years. We first met her when we interviewed her for MGM's documentary "The Making of 'Goldfinger'" in 1995 and we would occasionally find ourselves in her company while in London. She remained vibrant, beautiful and always possessed a very saucy sense of humor. We join film fans everywhere in mourning her passing.
Kenny Rogers, who overcame a hardscrabble upbringing to become a country music legend, has died at age 81. Rogers was a prolific talent. Inspired by seeing Ray Charles in concert, he decided to become a singer and was part of the New Christy Minstrels folk group in the early 1960s. Rogers then became part of the counter-culture revolution in music later in the decade. Many people probably don't realize that he was the lead vocal on the First Edition's `1967 hard rock, psychedelic hit "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)". He later found his niche in country western music and during the 1970s and 1980s became one of the most successful singers of the era, with tens of millions of albums sold. Rogers' iconic ballad "The Gambler" became massively popular and spurred a successful, if short-lived acting career in the 1980s based on a series of TV movies inspired by the song. Rogers' popularity didn't extend to the big screen, however. His 1982 feature film "Six Pack" was a family comedy that proved to be only moderately successful at the boxoffice. Music was his bread and butter and Rogers had the ability to cross over into audiences that generally rejected country and western music, making him one of the most celebrated singers of his time. For more, click here.
Whitman co-starred with John Wayne in the hit 1961 film "The Comancheros".
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Stuart Whitman, the popular leading man of feature films and television, has passed away from natural causes at age 92. Whitman generally showed a tough guy persona in films, and although he usually played a hero, he could also occasionally impress as a villain, as well. Among his more memorable films was "The Mark", a 1961 production that earned him a Best Actor Oscar nomination as a child molester who is trying desperately to redeem himself. Other key movies include "The Comancheros" in which he co-starred with John Wayne, "The Longest Day", "Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines", "Rio Conchos", "Murder, Inc." and "Ten North Frederick". In 1965, Whitman scored as a killer in the desert adventure film "Sands of the Kalahari". From that point on, however, he was increasingly consigned to roles in "B" movies. However, he did have the leading role in the 1967 TV Western series "Cimmarron Strip". As his film roles declined in quality, Whitman made guest appearances on many top TV series. For more, click here.
Max Von Sydow, the internationally acclaimed Swedish leading man who found fame in the films of Ingmar Bergman, has died at age 90. Von Sydow's most famous role may have been the knight who plays a game of chess with Death in an iconic scene from Bergman's 1958 classic "The Seventh Seal", but he also enjoyed broad international appeal. His other iconic role was as Father Merrin, the aging titular character in director William Friedkin's sensational 1973 film version of William Peter Blatty's bestseller, "The Exorcist". Von Sydow was already a major star in European cinema when he was cast in his first leading role in a Hollywood film, director George Stevens' 1965 religious epic "The Greatest Story Ever Told" in which he was cast as Jesus Christ. The film proved to be a major boxoffice flop but Von Sydow personally enjoyed good reviews for his dignified performance. From that point on, he would be a regular presence in English language cinema as well as European films. He won acclaim in a supporting performance as a dreary, humorless intellectual in Woody Allen's "Hannah and Her Sisters". Von Sydow's career extended until the present day and he won a new generation of fans through his appearances in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" in 2015 and in episodes of "Game of Thrones". For more about his life and career, click here.
(Robert Conrad (R) with Ross Martin in "The Wild, Wild West".
BY LEE PFEIFFER
Actor Robert Conrad has died at age 84. Conrad's got his first big break with a key role in the 1950s hit TV series "Hawaiian Eye". But it was in the 1960s that he soared to fame in "The Wild, Wild West", one of the more enduring TV series inspired by the James Bond phenomenon. Set in the late 1800s, Conrad and co-star Ross Martin played government agents James West and Artemus Gordon, who employed Victorian-age super gadgets to thwart nefarious megalomaniacs. The show's tongue-in-cheek approach to plots relied heavily on the comedic byplay between Conrad and Martin. The series lasted four seasons and the actors returned in TV movies based on the show many years later. In 1999, the series inspired the poorly-received big screen adaptation starring Will Smith and Kevin Kline. Conrad excelled at stunt work and one of the show's trademarks was his ability to do many of the more dangerous action scenes without a stuntman. He was ultimately afforded the honor of being inducted into the Stuntmen's Hall of Fame. After the series left the air, Conrad remained a regular presence on television, often guest-starring on popular series. In 1976, he scored another hit by starring in the WWII series "Black Sheep Squadron". In 1978, he won praise for his performance in the epic TV mini-series "Centennial". Although Conrad was primarily associated with television, he occasionally appeared in feature films such as "Young Dillinger", "Palm Springs Weekend", "Murf the Surf", "Jingle All the Way" and "Wrong is Right".
The great Kirk Douglas has died at age 103. Not only did
Douglas have a stellar Hollywood career as an actor, receiving three Oscar
nominations, he also produced some important films. During a period in
Hollywood when studios were still afraid to use blacklisted writers,
Douglas defied the ban and put Dalton Trumbo's name at the top of the credits
for Spartacus, along with his own and director Stanley Kubrick.
That took guts.
Douglas and Stanley Kubrick also made the very
fine anti-war film Paths of Glory (1957. Here is a clip from that
film: Douglas's character, Colonel Dax, commanding officer, 701st Infantry
Regiment (WW1), an attorney by profession, is desperately trying to save
the lives of three of his men who have been unjustly accused of
cowardice and will face a firing squad if convicted.
Kirk Douglas was much more than just a tough guy; he was
a fine actor, a talented producer, and a man of principle. We'll not see
his likes again.