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As 2005 comes to an end I’d like to take time to remember some of the famous and not so famous people in the industry who passed on. All of these obits appear in the monthly columns. Some choices for the review are obvious while others are just folks whose work I enjoyed. To all of the family and friends I ask for prayers of comfort. This year, I have learned first hand the power of prayer. My daughter has continued on her road of recovery. To all of you who have bent a knee on her behalf I thank you.

FRANK KELLY FREAS Died Jan. 2, 2005

Illustrator Frank Kelly Freas died of natural causes at age 82. Kelly Freas was the man behind Mad Magazine’s mascot Alfred E, Newman. Though he didn’t invent the character, Mr. Freas refined him and him his own. Mr. Freas’s death brought back a flood of memories from my childhood. I thought of my long ago friend Dale Berryhill and his big brother Wayne. Wayne was the guy that introduced me to Mad Magazine. He also introduced me to the fact that all you needed was a camera to make movies. We spent hours filming army me and hot wheels car as we blew them up with firecrackers. Once Wayne tied a lawnmower body to the back of his bicycle and gave all the kids a thrill ride down a steep hill near our house. Being the klutz that I am, I was the kid that fell off and was skinned up from head to toe. Wayne came over to my house later with his camera. He wanted to film my cuts. The way he explained it to my mom was, that when I healed, he would film me being shot with a toy machine gun. My current wounds would fill in for the bullet holes later on. Needless to say, my Mom wasn’t to happy about his influence on me. Wayne was a lot like Alfred E. Newman. He didn’t worry about a thing. It’s funny how memories come back like that. I wanted to include Mr. Freas in this column when I first heard of his passing. His artwork has entertained me for most of my life. The problem was, I couldn’t find a single movie credit for Mr. Freas. Einsiders.com reader Tim Grover contacted me about Mr. Freas. Like me, he was a big fan. I explained my dilemma. This is the Hollywood Obituary column. I needed a movie connection. Mr. Grover and I decided to step up our research. I then remembered a terrible movie I saw back in 1980. "Up the Academy" was a comedy directed by Robert Downey Sr. The film was produced by Mad Magazine. Once they saw the final product, the disavowed the result and removed their name from the project. I went to see the film on the strength of a teaser trailer that included the image of Mr. Freas’s masterpiece: Alfred E. Newman. There were also movie posters that carried the "What, Me Worry" kid’s face. Of course those were all pulled. Menawhile, Mr. Grover responded with some research of his own. A picture of a werewolf drawn by Mr. Freas was featured in "Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban." Mr. Grover also pointed out a fact he found in a reference book which stated that Mr. Freas had drawn pre-production illustrations for the project that became "Star Trek: The Motion Picture." Next to Alfred E. Newman, Mr. Freas most widely circulated illustration is probably the cover of Queen’s album "News of the World." The illustration was a reprise of a cover Mr. Freas did for "Astounding Science Fiction" magazine in 1953. Thanks for the trip down memory lane Mr. Freas and thanks for adding color to our lives.

WILL EISNER Died Jan. 3, 2005

Comic book pioneer Will Eisner died of complications following heart by-pass surgery at age 87. Mr. Eisner’s career spanned seven decades. In the 1940s he created "The Spirit." In the 1970s he pioneered the graphic novel. His character "The Spirit" was translated to film in the 1963 film "Adventures of the Spirit" and the 1987 TV movie "The Spirit." Mr. Eisner appeared as himself in the documentaries "Comic Book Heroes Unmasked," "Comic Book Confidential" and "The Masters of Comic Book Art."

ERWIN HILLIER Died Jan. 10, 2005

Austrian cinematographer Erwin Hillier died at age 93. Mr. Hillier was one of the most influential cinematographers in the history of British film. He was one of a group of artists working on the early films of Powell and Pressburger productions who invigorated British film. Along with Alfred Hitchcock’s early work, the Powell/Pressburger team produced films that showed that the British film industry could consistently produce films that rivaled or even surpassed those made by their American cousins. Erwin Hillier’s first job was an assistant camera operator of Fritz Lang’s macabre 1931 masterpiece "M." The chilling story of a child murderer played by Peter Lorre is as powerful today as when first released. "M" is a complete film in every respect. The cinematography, direction and acting fuse to terrify and rivet the audience. Mr. Hillier moved to England and worked on the Powell and Pressburger films "The Silver Fleet," "I Know Where I’m Going" and "A Canterbury Tale." Mr. Hillier’s early Black and White photography is among the best in motion picture history. He was also quite good when working in Color. Among his more memorable film credits are "The Dam Busters," "The Long and the Short and the Tall," "Operation Crossbow," "The Quiller Memorandum," Ray Harryhausen’s cowboy and dinosaurs fantasy "The Valley of Gwangi," "The Shoes of the Fisherman" and "A Boy Ten Feet Tall." Mr. Hillier was nominated for a BAFTA for his work on "A Boy Ten Feet Tall."

VIRGINIA MAYO Died Jan.17, 2005

Screen star Virginia Mayo died of heart failure and pneumonia at age 84. Ms. Mayo was one of the biggest stars in the Warner Brother’s stable of actors during the 1940s and 50s. She appeared in over 70 films and TV shows during her lengthy career. Ms. Mayo starred opposite James Cagney in my all-time favorite film: Raoul Walsh’s "White Heat." The blond bombshell had much more than looks. She was also an accomplished actress who got better over time. In "White Heat," she played the wife of Cagney’s psychopathic Oedipus-conflicted gangster Cody Jarrett. Ms. Mayo turned in a great performance as a no-good moll. Of course, Cagney's performance overshadowed everyone else in the film, so you have to watch close to appreciate Ms. Mayo’s work. She rivialed Jane Greer as one of Film Noir’s all-time bad girls. Ms. Mayo also did a good turn as a bad girl in William Wyler’s 1946 classic "The Best Years of Our Lives." She played the two-timing wife of returning Army/Air Corp officer Dana Andrews. It is a small but vital role in Wyler’s three-hour ensemble piece. Ms. Mayo held her own against such stars as Fredric March, Myrna Loy, Teresa Wright, Hoagy Carmichael and Dana Andrews. The following year, Ms. Mayo made a big impression as Danny Kaye’s co-star in "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." She co-stared with Danny Kaye in five films including "A Song is Born." Ms. Mayo married actor Emmy-nominated Micheal O’Shea in 1947. The couple met on Ms. Mayo’s second film, the bio-pic "Jack London." Her future husband played the title role. The couple was married until Mr. O’Shea’s death in 1973. She never remarried. Virginia Mayo’s other credits include "The Girl From Jones Beach" opposite Ronald Reagan, "The Princess and the Pirate" opposite Bob Hope, "The West Point Story" also with James Cagney, "Captain Horatio Hornblower" opposite Gregory Peck and "Along the Great Divide" opposite Kirk Douglas. Ms. Mayo slowed her career down in the early 1960s. She appeared more on TV than in the movies, although she continued to appear in films until 1997. Ms. Mayo was adept at song, dance and drama. She appeared in a number of Western films. In 1988, she was awarded the Golden Boot Award for her lengthy career. Ms. Mayo had a successful life both on and off screen. To quote her "White Heat" co-star, I guess you could say she "Made it Ma! Top of the World!"

JOHNNY CARSON Died Jan. 23, 2005

TV legend Johnny Carson died of emphysema at age 79. Next to Lucille Ball, Johnny Carson was the most influential performer in the history of entertainment TV. Hey folks, this is my column and that’s my opinion! Johnny Carson ruled the world of late night TV for 30 years as host of NBC’s "The Tonight Show." Johnny Carson was an everyman. He came into our homes, made us laugh and exposed us to more entertainers than ever before. He was a star maker. Johnny Carson had a quality that made you welcome him into your home. Though he was a very private man, he appeared on TV as someone who would be glad to have a beer with you. Maybe it was his self-deprecating humor. The secret to Johnny’s success is that he made his guests look good. Though David Letterman comes close to capturing Carson’s secret quality, those who followed Carson vie for the spotlight with their guests. He knew what made entertaining TV. Johnny spared no expense with The Tonight Show Band. Carson’s third band leader, Doc Severinsen was an amazing jazz and pop musician. I always envied the studio audience who got to hear the band play during commercial breaks. Then there was Johnny’s sidekick Ed McMahon. Say what you will about the man, he was a perfect foil for Johnny Carson’s subtle humor. Ed’s intro "Heeeeere’s Johnny" entered the vernacular. Stanley Kubrick’s "The Shining" is proof. Johnny Carson exposed America to the big stars, the oddities, the wonders of nature (that includes Carol Wayne as well as the animals from the San Diego Zoo) and common folks with uncommon stories. Johnny Carson’s comedic timing was impeccable. He was also a pro at recovering from a joke that bombed. Mr. Carson’s death brings back memories of my father. I knew that I was growing up in the eyes of my dad when he began to let me stay up and watch Johnny Carson with him. Some of my earliest "Tonight Show" memories were of a young Joan Rivers joking about a padded bra that was so thick that she once fell over and bounced right back up, of Jimi Hendrix experiencing an equipment malfunction halfway through his song (Flip Wilson was the guest host that night), of the numerous and hilarious conversations with actors Burt Reynolds and Robert Blake. I remember being the class clown in fifth grade by doing my Art Fern imitation. We all have our memories. I grateful to him for mine.

PAUL PARTAIN Died Jan. 27, 2005

Actor Paul Partain died of cancer at age 58. Mr. Partain played one of the most annoying, yet memorable characters in film history. The character Franklin Hardesty may not grate on movie-goers nerves the way Jar Jar Binks does, but he sure came close. Paul Partain played the doomed, wheelchair bound Franklin Hardesty in Tobe Hooper’s classic 1974 horror film "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre." Despite the character’s whining, you still hate it when he finally meets the chainsaw-toting monster Leatherface in the woods. Mr. Partain was able to take this pathetic character and make him sympathetic. The claustrophobic film grows to a crescendo of terror that really gets going at the point that Partain’s character is killed. His death scene is terrifying as his character is the most vulnerable of all the victims. Tobe Hooper’s film traps the viewer in an unrelenting journey of terror. The movie builds slowly. Mr. Partain’s character is trapped in his chair from the outset. As things go wrong for Franklin, his sister and her friends, the movie-goer develops a kinship with Franklin. Suddenly our theater seat is as confining as Franklin’s wheelchair. We are trapped under Mr. Hooper’s masterful cinematic manipulation. Suddenly, we are thinking the thoughts Mr. Partain’s character has been voicing. We are not happy and wish we could leave. Too bad, too late. Paul Partain served his country in Vietnam. He made his film debut in Sidney Lumet’s "Loving Molly?" He worked with Peter Fonda twice. First in "Outlaw Blues" and then in the cult classic "Race With the Devil." Mr. Partain also had a supporting role in the William Devane/Tommie Lee Jones revenge thriller "Rolling Thunder." He returned in one of the "Chainsaw" sequels. Mr. Partain joined original "Chainsaw" actors Marilyn Burns and John Dugan in a cameo for "The Return of the Chainsaw Massacre." In numerous interviews, Paul Partain was revealed to be an intelligent, thoughtful and talented man. The world of horror films is sadder today for his passing.

KAREN BACH Died Jan. 28, 2005

French adult film actress Karen Bach committed suicide at age 31. Ms. Bach took an overdose of pills after writing a suicide note for her parents. I used the word "actress" for a reason. Ms. Bach was the co-star of the controversial 2000 film "Baise Moi." The tale of two women who go on a murder spree is one of the most challenging films ever made. I wrote an extensive examination of the film for the Video Risks column. CLICK HERE to read it. "Baise Moi" was either hailed as a masterpiece or condemned as an indulgent exercise of excess. The two lead actresses both came from the world of adult film. Ms. Bach delivered a stunning performance as Nadine, a woman whose soul had been eroded by degradation. Her character only felt alive when killing or screwing strangers. "Baise Moi" was Ms. Bach’s final film. I don’t know why she took her own life. Ms. Bach chose a tough profession. In one film, she showed that she had the potential to rise above the work she usually did. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.

JIM CAPALDI Died Jan. 28, 2005

Rock drummer Jim Capaldi died of stomach cancer at age 60. What a month for the world of rock. Mr. Capaldi makes the third major rock star from the 1960s to die so far this year. Mr. Capaldi was one of the founders of the great British band "Traffic." Traffic was created by Capaldi, Steve Winwood, Dave Mason and Chris Wood! The band was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of Fame. Traffic appeared in the 60s teen comedy "Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush." They were also the subject of the 1972 concert documentary "Traffic Live at Santa Monica." Though the band broke up in the early 70s, the reunited in 1994 to appear at "Woodstock 94." The band also reunited to appear at the tribute concert for George Harrison one year after the former Beatle’s death. The concert was filmed as the TV documentary "Concert for George."

JOHN VERNON Died Feb. 1, 2005

Classically trained Canadian actor John Vernon died at age 72. Mr. Vernon underwent heart surgery last month and complications arose. Mr. Vernon appeared in or did voice work on over 200 films, TV shows and Video Games. He is probably best known for his performance as Dean Wormer in "National Lampoon’s Animal House." In that role, he delivered the immortal line "Fat, drunk, and stupid is no way to go through life, son." Mr. Vernon reprised the role in the short lived TV spin-off "Delta House."

Though Mr. Vernon may be best remembered for his work in a comedy, he was first and foremost a dramatic actor. He spent five years with The Stratford Festival in Canada. In Canada, Mr. Vernon is best remembered for his lead role in the TV series "Wojeck." Long before "CSI" of "Quincy," John Vernon played a forensic pathologist who solved crimes. Mr. Vernon was nominated for a Best Actor Gemini for his work in the Canadian TV mini-series "Two Men." The Gemini is Canada’s version of the Emmy Award in the US.

My first memory of John Vernon was as the Mayor in Don Siegel’s classic "Dirty Harry." Clint Eastwood’s character Harry Callahan was first introduced in a tart conversation with Vernon’s Mayor. Mr. Vernon fed Clint Eastwood a straight line that led to one of the funniest, albeit dark lines in any film.

Mayor: Callahan, I don’t want any more trouble like you had last year in the Filmore district. Understand. That’s my policy.

Callahan: Yeah, well when an adult male is chasing a female with the intent to commit rape, I shoot the bastard. That’s My policy.

Mayor: Intent? How did you establish thtat?

Callahan: When a naked man is chasing a woman through an alley with a butcher knife and a hard-on, I figure he isn’t out collecting for the Red Cross.

Mayor: (After Callahan leaves his office) I think he’s got a point.

John Vernon would work with Clint Eastwood five years later in the outstanding Western "The Outlaw Josey Wales." Vernon played one of his many villains in the post-Civil War epic. Vernon would also reteam with "Dirty Harry" director Don Siegel in the over-looked Walter Mathau crime caper "Charley Varrick" and "The Black Windmill."

John Vernon was blessed with a deep baritone voice. His vocal talents were used behind the scenes in several films and TV series. John Vernon received a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London. While in school, he was given the voice role of Big Brother in the original film version of "1984." During the 1960s he provided the voices of such cartoon superheros as "Iron Man," "Dr. Strange," "Dr. Doom," "Sub-Mariner" and "The Hulk." He also did voice work on the adult cartoon "Heavy Metal." Most of his work during the last ten years was voice work for cartoons and video games.

In addition to Don Siegel, John Vernon worked with some of the best directors of his day. He appeared in Alfred Hitchcock’s flawed thriller "Topaz." John Borman directed him in the superior original version of "Point Blank" opposite Lee Marvin. He also worked with George Cuckor (Justine), Abraham Polonsky (Tell Them Willie Boy is Here) and Andrew V. McLaglen (One More Train to Rob) among others.

Other notable film and TV credits include "Killer Klownes From Outer Space," "I’m Gonna Get You Sucka," "Airplane II," "The Blue and the Gray," "The Sacketts," "Brannigan," "Quincy," "Kung Fu," "ChiPs," "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza."

MAX SCHMELING Died Feb. 2, 2005

Famed German boxer Max Schmeling died at age 99. Mr. Schmeling was best known as the man who knocked out Joe Louis. Schmeling knocked out Louis in a 1936 fight. Two years later, Louis returned the favor during the first round of their rematch. Though Hitler tried to use Schmeling as a propaganda toll, Schmeling disavowed the Nazis. He actually risked his life hiding Jews from capture. Mr. Schmeling appeared in several films usually playing himself. He was married to actress Anny Ondra from 1933 until her death in 1987. Mr. Schmeling used his fight money to buy a Coca-Cola franchise in Germany. He remained a lifelong friend with Joe Louis and even paid for Mr. Louis’s funeral.

OSSIE DAVIS Died Feb. 4, 2005

"The Client" was filmed in my home town. Actor Ossie Davis played a judge in the film. His courtroom scenes were filmed in Division 1 of Shelby County General Sessions Court. That was the courtroom my late father Jim White, presided over for 18 years. My father was touched by the generosity of spirit that Mr. Davis showed him. He also earned my father’s admiration for his valiant acts in the war for Civil Rights. Dad cherished the photo at right, taken during filming of "The Client." When my dad introduced me to Mr. Davis, I was struck by how tall he was. Mr. Davis towered over my dad and me and I’m not a short person. That’s the way Ossie Davis was on screen. He usually towered over the material and the other performers he worked with. Award-winning actor/writer/director Ossie Davis was found dead in his hotel room in Miami at age 87.

Ossie Davis appeared in nearly 200 films, TV shows and documentaries. He was a long-time activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Mr. Davis and his wife actress Ruby Dee also proved that a Hollywood marriage can last. The couple wed in 1948! They worked together countless times in film, on stage and the small screen.

Mr. Davis’s career started in the late 1930s. After a time out during which her served as a medical technician in WWII, Mr. Davis returned to the stage. He was one of the pioneers who paved the way for hundreds of Black actors and actresses to break free from the Hollywood half-wit stereotype of Black people.

Not only was Ossie Davis one of the most accomplished actors of his time, he also wrote and directed. Mr. Davis wrote the play "Purlie Victorious." He adapted his play to Broadway as the musical "Purlie." He received a Best Musical Tony nomination for his writing. Mr. Davis was also nominated for a Tony for his acting in the Musical "Jamaica." Mr. Davis was nominated for three regular Emmy Awards for his work in "King," "Teacher, Teacher" and "Miss Ever’s Boys." He won a Daytime Emmy for the children’s special "Finding Buck McHenry."

Among Mr. Davis’s credits as a film director are two of the best films to come out of the Blaxploitation era. Davis wrote and directed the groundbreaking "Cotton Comes to Harlem." The film introduced Godfrey Cambridge and Raymond St. Jacques as police detectives Gravedigger Jones and Coffin Ed Johnson. The movie spawned one sequel. Mr. Davis also directed Paul Winfield in "Gordon’s War," a tale of a Vietnam vet who takes on drug dealers and pimps in his neighborhood. Both films were unjustly lumped under the Blackploitation umbrella. In fact, they were excellent movies that still hold up today.

One of Mr. Davis’s first films is a personal favorite of mine: "Fourteen Hours." He played a cab driver watching the drama unfold as Richard Basehart’s character threatens to jump to his death off of the ledge of a New York hotel. That movie was also Grace Kelly’s film debut. Mr. Davis worked with director Spike Lee on seven films including "Do the Right Thing," "Get on the Bus," "Jungle Fever" and "Malcolm X." Mr. Daivs also did fine work in several TV mini series including "Roots: The Next Generation" and "Stephen King’s The Stand."

Other film credits include "Bubba-Ho-Tep," "Grumpy Old Men," "Joe Versus the Volcano," "Harry and Son," "Let’s Do It Again," "The Hill" and "The Cardinal."

ARTHUR MILLER Died Feb. 10, 2005

"I’m not a dime a dozen! I am Willy Loman!" Playwright Arthur Miller captured the frustration of American life, the slow grind to the grave like no other American author. The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright died of heart failure at age 89. Arthur Miller’s "Death of a Salesman" is probably the greatest American play of the past century. Elia Kazan directed the original Broadway production in 1949. That play, along with Miller’s "The Crucible" won the Tony Award for Best Play. Mr. Miller won the very first Best Author Tony in 1947 for his play "All My Sons." He won his second writng Tony for "Death of a Salesman." In 1999, Mr. Miller was given a Special Lifetime Achievement Tony Award. On the personal side, Mr. Miller was the envy of every hot-blooded man in America during the 1950s when he had the pleasure of Marilyn Monroe in his matrimonial bed.

Miller’s play "All My Sons" was the first screen adaptation of his works. Edward G. Robinson starred as the industrialist with a deadly secret that is coming back to haunt him. Burt Lancaster starred as Robinson’s son who discovers his father’s tragic flaw. "All My Sons" was remade as a 1986 TV movie starring James Whitmore and Aiden Quinn as the father and son. There was also a Made for TV version of the play in Sweden in 1965. Swedish TV also remade the play in 1979.

"Death of a Salesman" has been translated to the big screen and TV thirteen times! The first film version in 1951 starred Fredrick March and Kevin McCarthy as Willy Lomen and his son Biff. The movie was nominated for five Oscars. There was an Argentine TV version in 1957. 1961 saw TV productions of the play in Swedish and Finland. Lee J. Cobb was nominated for an Emmy for his performance as Willy Loman in the 1966 US TV version of Miller’s play. Miller Won an Emmy for this version. Actor Rod Steiger played the part in the UK’s 1966 TV version. Miller’s play was produced on West German TV three times: in 1963, 1968 and 2001. West Germany co-produced with the US the 1985 TV version starring Dustin Hoffman and John Malkovich as Willy Loman and his son Biff. That version won three Emmy Awards and was nominated for a total of ten. A 1996 British TV version followed. In 2000, Brian Dennehy starred in yet another TV version. The year before, Mr. Dennehy won a Tony Award in the 50^th anniversary Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman."

Miller’s other famous work was "The Crucible." The play was written at the height of the HUAC hearings. Miller’s tale of the Salem Witch Trials of the 1600s also dealt with the witch hunts lead by Wisconsin Senator Joseph McCarthy. The play was filmed four times. The first version was a German/French co-production starring Simone Signoret and Yves Montand. Ms. Signoret won a BAFTA for her work in the 1957 film. An American film version was not produced until 1967. George C.Scott and Colleen Dewhurst were both nominated for Emmy Award for their work. The TV movie also starred a bewitching Tuesday Weld. The Brits produced a TV version in 1980. The Oscar-nominated 1996 film version starred Winona Ryder, Daniel Day-Lewis and Joan Allen. Mr. Miller was nominated for both an Oscar and a BAFTA for his adaptation of his own play.

Mr. Miller’s most infamous film was "The Misfits." Written for wife Marilyn Monroe, the movie had a troubled production history. It was the final film of the King of Hollywood: Clark Gable. Gable died of a heart attack just a few weeks after shooting wrapped. Many contend that his death was brought on by the grueling stunts he performed as well as dealing with Ms. Monroe’s less than professional behavior on the set. Gossip and legend aside, "The Misfits" is still a good movie. Not a classic, but a very good movie. John Huston directed. The film also co-starred Montgomery Cliff, Thelma Ritter and Eli Wallach. Mr. Miller also did some uncredited work on his wife’s 1960 comedy "Let’s Make Love."

Miller and Monroe divorced in January 1961. In 1962, Mr. Miller wed photographer Inge Morath. They remained married until her death in 2002. The couple met on the set of "The Misfits." They had two children. One son was born with Down’s Syndrome. Miller put his son in an institution and never visited. His wife visited Daniel on a weekly basis. Their other child is actress Rebecca Miller, wife of actor Daniel Day-Lewis.

Mr. Miller adapted Kenrik Ibsen’s "An Enemy of the People" to the screen. It was turned into a Made for TV movie and later, a little-seen theatrical version starring Steve McQueen. I actually saw the Steve McQueen version in a fleabag motel in Barstow California when my car broke down for several days on the way to Disneyland.

Miller won his second Emmy for writing the excellent TV movie "Playing for Time." Vanessa Redgrave starred in the 1980 movie which told the true story of Fania Fenelon, a Jewish woman who survived Auschwitz by playing music for the Nazis.

BRIAN KELLY Died Feb. 12, 2004

Actor Brian Kelly died of pneumonia two days shy of his 74^th birthday. Baby Boomers fondly remember Brian Kelly as Porter Ricks, the caring and strong dad on the hit TV series "Flipper." For four years Mr. Kelly raised his sons Bud and Sandy and led them on numerous adventures with the lovable dolphin Flipper. Mr. Kelly also appeared in the feature film "Flipper’s New Adventures." Mr. Kelly appeared in a number of other films and TV series before his acting career was cut short by a motorcycle accident that left him partially paralyzed. Mr. Kelly was set to star in the film "The Love Machine" but was replaced by John Phillip Law following the motorcycle accident. Mr. Kelly turned to real estate but kept his fingers in Hollywood. He was one of the executive producers of Ridley Scott’s sci-fi classic "Blade Runner." Mr. Kelly was once married to 60s actress Laura Devon. His nephew is the Tony nominated actor Brian d’Arcy James. Mr. Kelly served his country in the Marines during the Korean War.

DAN O’HERLIHY Died Feb. 18, 2005

Oscar-nominated, Irish-born actor Dan O’Herlihy died of an undisclosed illness at age 85. Mr. O’Herlihy was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for playing the title role in Luis Bunuel’s "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." Last December I took the wife and lids with me to Atlanta to visit my daughter in the hospital. Thanks to modern technology we can watch DVDs in the care. The first movie we watched during the drive was the VCI release of "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." I never saw this version growing up. It is a spectacular film with a wonderful performance by Mr. O’Herlihy. This was also director Bunuel’s first English language film. Mr. O’Herlihy had some tough competition for the Oscar that year. He lost to Marlon Brando in "On the Water Front." Horror fans may remember Mr. O’Herliky as the demonic CEO in the flawed but worthwhile "Halloween 3: Season of the Witch." The film has nothing to do with Michael Myers. That may be why it is an object of scorn to others. Had the film been titled something else, it might have developed a greater fan base. In the film Mr. O’Herlihy plays a Halloween mask manufacturer with plans to destroy our children. It is a dark movie worth seeing.

Among Mr. O’Herlihy’s over 150 film and TV credits are a number of true classics. He played McDuff in Orson Welles 1948 version of "MacBeth." He worked with Bette Davis in "The Virgin Queen." Mr. OP’Herlihy gave a fine supporting performance in the 50s melodrama "Imitation of Life." In 1964 he appeared in one of the best thrillers ever made. "Fail-Safe" tells basically the same story as Kubrick’s "Dr. Strangelove." "Fail-Safe" is however a very serious film. It still packs a wallop today.

Among Mr. O’Herlihy’s other notable credits are "Robo Cop" and "Robo Cop 2," the excellent TV mini series "QBVII," "100 Rifles," "Twin Peaks," as FDR in "MacArthur," "The Last Starfighter" and as Joe Kennedy in "The Rat Pack."

ULI DERICKSON Died Feb. 18, 2005

Flight attendant/heroine Uli Derickson died of cancer at age 60. Ms. Derickson was on board T.W.A. Flight 847 on June 14, 1985 when two gunmen hijacked the plane. The terrorist shot US Navy diver Robert Stetham and dumped his body on the tarmac in Beruit. During the remainder of the ordeal, Ms. Derickson risked her life to prevent further bloodshed. Her heroic intervention led to the release of the remaining hostages unharmed. Ms. Derickson’s heroics became the subject of a made for TV movie starring Lindsay Wagner. "The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story" received five Emmy nominations including one for director Paul Wendkos.

SANDRA DEE Died Feb. 20, 2005

Golden Globe winning actress Sandra Dee died of kidney disease. Some sources state that Ms. Dee was born in 1942 while others claim it was 1944. Ms. Dee was either 60 or 62 years old. Sandra Dee enjoyed a meteoric rise as a teen idol during the late 1950s. She was one of the top ten box-office draws during her heyday. Girls wanted to look like her and boys wanted to date her. Sandra Dee personified the wholesome girl-next-door in such films as "Gidget," "Tammy and the Doctor," "A Summer Place," "The Reluctant Debutante" and "Tammy Tell Me True." Occasionally she received roles that showed her range. She held her own opposite Lana Turner and Dan O’Herlihy in the Oscar nominated melodrama "Imitation of Life." Peter Ustinov cast her as Juliet in his Cold-War/comedy update of the Shakespeare play, which Ustinov called "Romanoff and Juliet." Despite her virginal screen image, Sandra Dee was a normal woman. She married actor/singer Bobby Darin. The couple appeared together in three films: "Come September," "If a Man Answers" and "That Funny Feeling." The marriage lasted a little over six years. Following her divorce, Universal Studios dropped her from her contract. Good girls don’t get divorces! What a hypocritical double standard. Especially in Hollywood! Sandra Dee continued to work sporadically, but her time on the top ended with her divorce. In 1970 she starred with Dean Stockwell in a so-so adaptation of H.P. Lovecraft’s "The Dunwich Horror." During the 1970s Ms. Dee appeared in a couple of entertaining Made for TV movies. In "The Daughters of Joshua Cabe" Buddy Ebsen plays a mountain man who hires a hooker and two thieves to pose as his daughters in order to get around some homestead law. It was nice to see Ms. Dee play against type. Karen Valentine and Lesley Ann Warren played the other so-called daughters. The following year Ms. Dee appeared in the first film about the Apollo 13 disaster: "Houston We’ve Got a Problem." She also appeared in the pilot film for the TV series "Fantasy Island." Ms. Dee won a Golden Globe as Most Promising Newcomer in 1958. She gained exposure to a new generation through the Broadway play and film "Grease" because of the song "Look at Me, I'm Sandra Dee."

We all have a movie that touches us, or which draws us back to a special time in our life. A reader in San Francisco named Janet shared her memories of watching Ms. Dee act in the film "Portrait in Black." I thank her for letting me share it with you:

Anyway, no one mentions it, but Sandra Dee was in a movie called "Portrait in Black" which was filmed here in San Francisco in 1960. I am especially fond of this movie because I was a 12-year old Sandra Dee fan when I saw it being filmed near my elementary school in Pacific Heights. Miss Dee was of course wonderful and my friends and I got a kick out of watching take after take of her trying to park a little sports car in front of the mansion where the movie was being filmed.

The film also stars Lana Turner, Anthony Quinn, Anna May Won, Lloyd Nolan, and John Saxon. It has some fine San Francisco scenery from the period, which brings back many memories of my fair city when I was growing up, much as "Vertigo" does for me.

HUNTER S. THOMPSON Died Feb. 20, 2005

Gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson pulled his latest and last act as a wildman by shooting himself in the head. He was 67 years old. Dr. Thompson was the father of "Gonzo Journalism." His work focused on him as much as whatever subject he was observing. His best know work was the classic "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas." He also wrote the excellent look at the famed California biker organization "Hells Angels." Actor Bill Murray played Dr. Thompson in the 1980 misfire "Where the Buffalo Roam." Thompson was an executive consultant on that film. His best known book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas" was filmed in 1998 and starred Johnny Depp. Dr. Thompson co-wrote the pilot film for the TV series "Nash Bridges" with his neighbor Don Johnson. He was the inspiration of Garry Trudeau’s "Doonsebury" character Duke. Dr. Thompson’s antics were too numerous and detailed to try and summarize in this small space. Read "Fear and Loathing." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

SIMONE SIMON Died Feb. 23, 2005

French actress Simone Simon died at age 94. The sexy actress was best known for her starring role in producer Val Lewton’s original "Cat People." Ms. Simon played the sexually frigid woman who feared she was turning into a panther. "Cat People" is among the best films of producer Lewton. Though great directors like Robert Wise and Jacques Tourneur actually directed Lewton’s films, the producer got top billing. His moody atmospheric films proved that true terror could be achieved through suggestion. Simone Simon was the most provocative leading lady Lewton ever featured. Ms. Simon made a cameo in the not quit as good sequel "The Curse of the Cat People."

Simone Simon was discovered at a sidewalk café in France. A chance meeting with director Viktor Tourjansky led to her being cast in his 1931 film "The Unknown Singer." Ms. Simon appeared in 15 films in Europe before coming to America. For two years she worked in American films, but did not achieve any real success. She played opposite Jimmy Stewart in "Seventh Heaven" and in five other films. Ms. Simon returned to France and starred in Jean Renoir’s "The Human Beast." She quickly reestablished her place as an European star. That success was short lived as German tanks overran Paris.

Back in the US, Ms. Simon appeared in her two best films. Ms. Simon garnered critical praise as the Devil’s seductress in "The Devil and Daniel Webster." Ms. Simon turns in an amazingly erotic performance, made all the more remarkable considering the constraints of the Production Code. Ms. Simon followed "The Devil and Daniel Webster" with "Cat People." Unfortunately Ms. Simon was never given another role in US films that utilized her talents. After appearing in several b-movies, Ms. Simon returned once more to France. She appeared in Max Ophuls’ Oscar-nominated and BAFTA winning "La Ronde." She retired in 1956 except for a cameo in the 1973 film "The Woman in Blue."

TERESA WRIGHT Died Mar. 6, 2005

Oscar-winning actress Teresa Wright died of a heart attack at age 86. Teresa Wright was the only actor to be nominated for Oscars for their first three films. She is also only one of nine actors to be nominated in both the Best Acting and Supporting Acting Oscar categories in the same year. Though she appeared in less than 50 films, many of them were classics. Teresa Wright’s screen persona epitomized the girl you wanted to take home to meet you mom. That may sound corny, but she was what the girl-next-door was before Hugh Hefner redefined them. Ms. Wright’s first husband was Oscar-nominated screenwriter Niven Busch (Duel in the Sun). Her second husband was the multi Oscar-nominated playwright Robert Anderson (I Never Sang for My Father).

After being discovered on Broadway by Samuel Goldwyn, she was brought to Hollywood amid much hoopla. Goldwyn saw Ms. Wright in the Broadway production of Thorton Wilder’s "Our Town." Ms. Wright held her own against such talents as Bette Davis and Herbert Marshall in William Wyler’s "The Little Foxes." She was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in her 1941 film debut. The following year she played Lou Gehrig’s wife in "Pride of the Yankees." That film earned her a Best Actress Oscar nomination. That same year she co-starred in the ultimate tearjerker "Mrs. Miniver." She won the Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her work.

My personal favorites came later. Alfred Hitchcock cast her perfectly in his masterpiece "Shadow of a Doubt." Ms. Wright played the small-town girl who begins to suspect that her favorite uncle Charlie is a notorious serial killer. Ms. Wright once again shone among a stellar ensemble cast that included Joseph Cotton, Hume Cronyn, Macdonald Carey and Wallace Ford. Her best work came in William Wyler’s American classic "The Best Years of Our Lives." If there is any doubt that Ms. Wright was an actress of limited range, this is the film to watch. Ms. Wright played the daughter of a rich banker who finds herself falling in love with a married man. Again, she was part of a great ensemble cast that included Fredric March, Myna Loy, Dana Andrews, Harold Russell, Virginia Mayo and Hoagy Carmichael.

After ten years in Hollywood, Teresa Wright ran afoul of the Studio System. She was bad-mouthed for not being a toadie to the moguls. She suffered financially, but continued to work. In later years she spent more time on stage than in front of the cameras. She starred opposite Marlon Brando in his film debut "The Men." Brando played a man wheelchair bound due to a wound suffered in the Korean War. I always remember his line in which he says that Ms. Wright’s character "makes me feel like a bug." She appeared in a number of feature films during the 1950s before retreating to the stage. Her film appearances after 1960 were limited mostly to a number of Made for TV films.

I remember Teresa Wright in the creepy ABC TV movie "Crawlspace." She co-starred with Arthur Kennedy as an elderly couple who discover a strange young man living in the crawlspace of their home. They adopt the kid to try and help him. It was one of the great little films put out by ABC in the early 1970s as part of their "ABC Tuesday and Wednesday Movie of the Week." "The Elevator" was another TV movie in this series that was a standout. It involved an all-star cast trapped in an elevator with an armed robber. I know an obituary is not the place to say this, but I wish someone would put out those old ABC movies in a boxed set of DVDs! Another great TV movie featuring Ms. Wright was CBS's "Bill: On His Own." The film was a sequel to "Bill." Mickey Rooney played Bill Sackter, a mentally retarded adult learning to live on his own. Soap Opera fans enjoyed Ms. Wright’s brief stint as Grace Cummings during the 1986 season of "The Guiding Light."

Ms. Wright was also a prolific guest star on various TV shows. She appeared in over 60 shows during her career. She was nominated for two Emmy Awards. The first was for her performance as Annie Sullivan in the "Playhouse 90" version of "The Miracle Worker." Patricia McCormack of "The Bad Seed" fame played Helen Keller opposite Ms. Wright. Ms. Wright was also nominated for an Emmy Award for her guest appearance on the TV series "Dolphin Cove." Other guest starring credits include "The Ford Television Theater," Sid Caesar’s "Your Show of Shows," "Climax!," "Studio 57," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Bonanza," "Picket Fences" and "Murder She Wrote."

Ms. Wright did come back to features occasionally. In 1969 Ms. Wright played Michael Douglas’s mother in his debut film "Hail, Hero!" Like Marlon Brando’s debut, Michael Douglas’s debut dealt with a man returning home from war: this time the Vietnam War. In 1980 Ms. Wright appeared in the romantic cult-classic "Somewhere in Time." Leonard Nimoy cast Ms. Wright in his 1988 film "The Good Mother." Ms. Wright’s final film was shot in my hometown. She played Matt Damon’s landlord in Francis Ford Coppola’s film version of John Grisham’s "The Rainmaker."

DEBRA HILL Died Mar. 7, 2005

Horror movie fans will most probably think of Michael Myers whenever the town of Haddonfield is mentioned. The psychopathic monster is as much a part of the fictional movie geography as Jason is of the fictional Camp Crystal Lake. The movie town of Haddonfield was the name of "Halloween" co-writer and producer Debra Hill’s hometown. Debra Hill rose from her roots in Haddonfield New Jersey to become on of the most successful female producers in Hollywood. Today Debra Hill lost her 13-month battle with cancer. She was 54 years old. Prayers of comfort for her family and friends.

Horror movie fans are loyal. They invariably look for a new talent, a name that guarantee’s quality thrills and chills. I’m one such fan. "Halloween" was a movie phenomenon. Like millions of other genre fans in the 1970s, I was wowed by John Carpenter’s work. I made a point of going to see whatever he did. I also noticed that there was someone else involved with John Carpenter, a co-writer and a producer, someone who shared his vision and believed in his work. That person was Debra Hill. Carpenter and Hill wrote "Halloween" in two weeks. Ms. Hill provided the insight into small-town America and into teenage girls. Carpenter provided the scares.

I guess Debra Hill’s career reminds me of that old TV commercial for Smith-Barney in which John Houseman said "Smith-Barney: They make money the old-fashioned way. They EARN it!" Debra Hill’s rise was like that. She earned her way to the top with hard work that started as a script supervisor on B-movie director Larry Buchanan’s 1976 sexploitation bio-pic "Goodbye, Norma Jean." Ms. Hill worked on two films during that bicentennial year. The other film was a first time effort by John Carpenter. "Assault on Precinct 13" showed what a talented director could do with a very low budget. The film still packs a punch today. Ms. Hill was both the script supervisor and assistant editor in the indie classic. That film marked the beginning of the collaboration with Mr. Carpenter that continued to this day. That is not to say that Ms. Hill was strictly the woman who co-wrote and produced the films of John Carpenter. While that in itself guarantees Ms. Hill a respected spot in Hollywood history, Debra Hill achieved much more in her short life.

In addition to her association with John Carpenter, Debra Hill produced a number of successful films. Her first non-Carpenter production was David Cronenberg’s wonderful adaptation of Stephen king’s "The Dead Zone." Other production credits include Terry Gilliam’s "The Fisher King," Chris Columbus’s "Adventures in Babysitting" and "Heartbreak Hotel," "Big Top Pee Wee" and "Crazy in Alabama." Ms. Hill also produced a string of Made for TV and cable TV films.

As I said before, I’m a horror movie fan. I will always be indebted to Ms. Hill for her partnership with John Carpenter. Ms. Hill wrote and produced "Halloween," "Halloween II," "The Fog" and one I’ll forgive her for "Escape from L.A." The characters she created in "Halloween" were used in five sequels including the upcoming "Halloween 9." Her script for "The Fog" is being remade with director Rupert Wainwright at the helm. Ms. Hill also produced Carpenter’s "Escape from New York." She and Mr. Carpenter co-produced the in name only sequel "Halloween 3: Season of the Witch." This overlooked little gem suffers from having the "Halloween" title. Michael Myers was nowhere to be found. Instead, the movie was an occult thriller involving a demonic toy manufacturer played by the late Dan O’Herlihy who is bent on destroying our children with some very creepy Halloween masks. The film was one of Ms. Hill’s less successful films, but it is worthy of rediscovery.

JOHN BOX Died Mar. 7, 2005

Multi Oscar and BAFTA winning production designer/art director John Box died of vascular disease at age 85. John Box helped some of the greatest directors of all time achieve their vision. In some cases, Mr. Box’s vision exceeded the talent of the directors he worked with. Mr. Box was nominated for six Oscars, winning four and was nominated for six BAFTAs, winning three. Just looking over Mr. Box’s will conjure up memorable and monumental scenes from some of the best films ever made.

Mr. Box won Oscars for David Lean’s films "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Dr. Zhivago." Those two films alone would make one worthy of a place in film history. I could go on and on about the memorable images and sets. However, Mr. Box’s career didn’t end there. He also won Oscars for Carol Reed’s 1968 Best Picture Oscar winner "Oliver" and Franklin J. Schaffner’s "Nicholas and Alexandra." Mr. Box was also nominated for Oscars for Lean’s "A Passage to India" and George Cukor’s "Travels With My Aunt." His three BAFTA wins were for "A Man for All Seasons," Norman Jewison’s original version of "Rollerball" and the Robert Redford/Mia Farrow version of "The Great Gatsby." He was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1999 London Critic’s Circle Film Awards.

Last year I reviewed the Fox Studio Classic DVD release of "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness." The true story of a missionary to china who saved over a hundred children during WWII was a visually stunning film. I was stunned to discover that the movie was filmed in Wales! Mr. Box’s art direction on that film was amazing. I intend to watch it again and see if I can tell that it was not filmed in the orient.

Among Mr. Box’s other credits are William Friedkin’s remake of "The Wages of Fear": "Sorcerer." While the remake doesn’t come close to the original film’s power, Mr. Box’s jungle design work is excellent. He also created the great sets in Michael Mann’s excellent and dark horror film "The Keep." Other credits include "The Cockleshell Heroes," "Our Man in Havana," "The World of Suzi Wong," the 1994 version of "Black Beauty" and "First Knight."

Mr. Box served his country in the Royal Armored Corp during WWII, rising to the rank of Colonel at age 25!

JOHN DELOREAN Died Mar. 19, 2005

Auto designer John DeLorean died of complications following a stroke at age 80. Mr. DeLorean developed the gull-winged sports car that bore his name. The venture was a failure due to a complicated series of events. Documentary filmmaker D.A. Pennebaker co-directed the 1981 documentary "DeLorean," which chronicled the rise and fall of the maverick carmaker. "Car Crash: The DeLorean Story" was a TV documentary on the same subject. Mr. DeLorean’s greatest gift to the movies was his famed car. The DeLorean was the car used as a time machine in the "Back to the Future" films.

PAUL HENNING Died Mar. 25, 2005

Oscar and Emmy nominated writer/producer Paul Henning died of natural causes at age 93. Paul Henning created the classic TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies." During the early 60s my father enforced a 7 PM bedtime for my older brother, sister and myself. The only exception was on Tuesday night when we could stay up to 7:30 in order to watch "The Beverly Hillbillies." Mr. Henning also wrote the memorable theme song. "Come and listen to my story about a man named Jed…" Tonight I’ve watched the news as Terri Schiavo is slowly starved to death while an abundance of evidence is shown that cast doubt on the motives of her guardian. I wonder how this nation has come to this point. I guess one could argue that the beginning of the end of a United States and the division of the country into the Red and the Blue states could be tracked back to 1971. That year the president of CBS made a decision. Despite the fact that Paul Henning’s TV series "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Green Acres" were still Top 10 shows, the network canceled them both. CBS decided that the home-spun humor and family friendly entertainment that was the hallmark of Paul Henning’s TV series was a thing of the past. It was time for "All in the Family," "M*A*S*H" and other more politically charged shows to break into the airwaves. That was also the year that "Mayberry" was wiped off the TV map. Maybe I’m making a stretch here, but I don’t think that Ms. Schiavo would be judicially executed in those days.

Paul Henning went to law school on the advice of Harry S. Truman, but turned to the entertainment industry instead of the practice of law. Paul Henning began his career as a writer for the radio show "Fibber McGee and Molly." He went from radio to film and TV. He was nominated for an Oscar for his script of the Doris Day/Rock Hudson film "Lover Come Back." Mr. Henning always seemed to put rural and urban America in comedic conflict and the rural world won out. He wrote for such shows as "The Real McCoys," "The Andy Griffith Show" and others. In addition to creating "The Beverly Hillbillies" he also created "Petticoat Junction," "Green Acres," "The Bob Cummings Show," "Bearcats" and "The Dennis Day Show." Mr. Cummings also co-wrote the Steve Martin/Michael Caine comedy "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels." Mr. Henning was nominated for Emmy Awards for his TV series "The Bob Cummings Show" and "The Beverly Hillbillies." The Writer’s Guild gave Mr. Henning an honorary Silver Laurel Award for his contribution to TV.

JOHNNIE COCHRAN Died Mar. 29, 2005

Renowned attorney Johnnie Cochran died of a brain tumor at age 67. Mr. Cochran gained worldwide fame for his successful defense of ex-NFL running back O.J. Simpson for the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman. Though critics can point to a poor prosecution by the State of California and a lack of courtroom control by Judge Ito, there is no denying that Mr. Cochran’s work on the lengthy trial was nothing less than brilliant. He prevented the State of California from giving The Juice the juice. He led the legal dream team during the yearlong trial. His phrase "If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit" became the stuff of legend. If he didn’t know before, it’s safe to assume that Mr. Cochran now knows whether or not his golf-playing client was really guilty. He appeared in the documentary "The Trial of O.J. Simpson." Johnnie Cochran built his reputation in California long before the Simpson trial. He was a fierce litigator and champion for the rights of those brutalized by rouge elements of the LAPD. Mr. Cochran had recently opened an office in my hometown of Memphis, though that office specialized in medical malpractice suits. I was a bit disappointed, as I practice solely in criminal court and would have loved to watch him work. Mr. Cochran appeared as himself in a number of films and TV shows including Spike Lee’s "Bamboozled," "Showtime," "Arli$$," "Pete Rose on Trial," "The Hughleys," "Saturday Night Live" and "JAG." Of course, his most famous TV appearance was on that ultimate reality TV show "The State of California vs. Orenthal James Simpson."

HIDEAKI SEKIGUCHI Died Mar. 31, 2005

Japanese punk rocker Hideaki Sekiguchi died of a heart attack at age 38. Mr. Sekiguchi was better known as Billy Wolf, or Bass Wolf of the Japanese punk rock band "Guitar Wolf." I first became aware of Guitar Wolf through Memphis filmmaker J. Michael McCarthy. The gonzo director put them in his B-movie classic "The Sore Losers." McCarthy’s film deals with hot-rod Mayans from outer space you come to earth to kill hippies. Guitar Wolf is one of the reasons the movie is so cool. Of course, the petite, blond naked angel helps too! Guitar Wolf released nine albums during their 12-year career. The Tokyo band adopted my hometown as their spiritual Mecca. They played numerous gigs in Memphis including one just nine days before Mr. Sekiguchi died. Maybe the Memphis connection had something to do with Billy Wolf sharing a birthday with Elvis. The band’s first release on vinyl was recorded on Memphis label Goner Records. Mr. Sekiguchi starred with the rest of Guitar Wolf in the Japanese Rock Zombie film "Wild Zero."

POPE JOHN PAUL II Died Apr. 2, 2005

Pope John Paul II died at age 84 after a lengthy illness. Born Karol Wojyla, he became the first non-Italian Pope in over 400 years. During his 27 years as pontiff Pope John Paul II became one of the most respected spiritual leaders in history. His strength in speaking out for the poor and oppressed, the fact he asked the Jewish people for forgiveness for the sins of the Catholic Church against them and his part in breaking down the iron curtain brought him the admiration and respect of peoples of all faiths and political ideologies. Pope John Paul II also stood fast to the tenets of the Christian faith, choosing to serve and honor God no matter whether it upset those who would rewrite the Bible. When he was shot three times by an assassin in 1981, Pope John Paul II visited him in jail and forgave him.

Prior to becoming a priest in 1946, having studied at a clandestine seminary in Nazi occupied Poland, Karol Wojyla was a stage actor and playwright. He was also an accomplished athlete. Two of Pope John Paul II’s plays were turned into films. Burt Lancaster starred in the 1988 film version of "The Jeweler’s Shop." His play "Our God’s Brother" was filmed in Poland in 1997. The Pope’s life was the subject of two Made for TV movies: "Pope John Paul II" with Albert Finney in the title role and "From a Far Country." The Pope was also the subject of a number of documentaries including "The Millenial Pope: John Paul II."

Though I am not a Catholic, I have always admired Pope John Paul II’s defense of the Christian faith against those who would try and dilute Christ’s teachings. He was a man of principle and compassion. I pray that his successor is cut from the same cloth.

SAUL BELLOW Died Apr. 5, 2005

Nobel prize-winning writer Saul Bellow died at age 89 after a lengthy illness. In 1976 Mr. Bellow won both the Nobel Prize and the Pulitzer Prize. He was the first writer to win the National Book Award three times. His Novel "Seize the Day" was turned into a feature film starring Robin Williams. He wrote the script for the 1967 Yugoslavian TV drama "Izvlacenje." He appeared as himself in the Woody Allen film "Zelig" and in the Israeli documentary "In Search of Identity."

DEBRALEE SCOTT Died Apr. 5, 2005

Actress Debralee Scott died three days after her 52^nd birthday. Ms. Scott had lapsed into a coma for three days last week. When the doctors could not uncover the reason for her collapse, Ms. Scott was sent home. Though Ms. Scott was best known for her role as "Hotzi Totzi" in the hit TV series "Welcome Back Kotter," she had memorable roles in a several films. My first memory of her was as the naked corpse in "Dirty Harry." I first saw the movie when I was young enough to be awed by a glimpse of flesh. Ms. Scott played the young woman who was kidnapped by the film’s serial killer badguy. It was Ms. Scott’s character that led Clint Eastwood’s Harry Callahan to torture the killer in order to find her whereabouts. Ms. Scott is glimpsed as she is pulled dead from a culvert. It’s funny what sticks in your mind when you are 13 years old. Other memorable cameos include her role as one of Harrison Ford’s girlfriends in "American Graffiti." She was the girl who exclaimed to Paul LeMat’s John Milner "Ain’t he neat!" as the hod-rod racers faced off early in the film. Other credits the disaster movie "Earthquake," "The Reincarnation of Peter Proud," the TV series "Angie" and two of the "Police Academy" films. Perhaps her most memorable role was as Cathy Schumway on the TV series "Mary Harman, Mary Hartman" and its spin-off "Forever Fernwood." In the spin-off series her character found herself in lust with her own father, played by Tab Hunter. Tab Hunter replaced Phil Burns in the role. Plastic surgery was the explanation for the drastic change in her father’s appearance. This storyline was just one of many that caused both series to be show late at night in many markets. Ms. Scott was engaged to New York port authority officer J.D. Levi. Officer Levi was killed in the collapse of the World Trade Center on 9/11.

PRINCE RAINIER GRIMALDI III Died Apr. 6, 2005

Prince Rainier III of Monaco, Europe’s longest reigning monarch died of heart, lung and kidney illness at age 81. Rainier had ruled the tiny nation of Monaco for nearly 56 years. His family has ruled Monaco since 1297. Prince Rainier was the widower of American movie star Grace Kelly. The Pennsylvania beauty who won the heart of Rainier. Who could blame him! In 1956, after appearing in eleven films, the blonde beauty retired from the movies and married the prince. Princess Grace was killed in a tragic automobile accident in 1982. She was killed on the same winding road made famous during her car chase with Cary Grant in Alfred Hitchcock’s "To Catch a Thief." Prince Rainier appeared as himself in a number of documentaries and was the subject of an "A&E Biography."

JAIME FERNANDEZ Died Apr. 16, 2005

Award-winning Mexican actor Jaime Fernandez died of a heart attack at age 67. Jaime Fernandez was the younger brother of actor/director Emilio Fernandez: General Mapache in Sam Peckinpah’s "The Wild Bunch." The two brothers worked together in eight films. Jaime Fernandez appeared in nearly 200 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. In addition to his work in front of the camera, Mr. Fernandez was the General Secretary of Mexico’s actor’s union for 11 years. International audiences may know Mr. Fernandez best for the role of Friday in Luis Bunuel’s "The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe." While his co-star Daniel O’Herlihy was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his work in the film, Mr. Fernandez won the Best Supporting Actor Silver Ariel, Mexico’s equivilent of the Oscar. He won three Silver Ariel Awards during his career. He appeared with Charles Bronson and Anthony Quinn in "The Guns of San Sebastian." He had a small part in the Glenn Ford Western "The Day of the Evil Gun."

RUTH HUSSEY Died Apr. 19, 2005

Oscar nominated actress Ruth Hussey died at age 93. She had been in the hospital for a short time following an attack of apendicitis. Ms. Hussey was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her performances as the spunky photographer in George Cuckor’s classic screwball comedy "The Philadelphia Story." Ms. Hussey acted in support of Katherine Hepburn, Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant. She held her own among these movie giants. Ms Hussey appeared in nearly 80 films and TV shows. Ms. Hussey was also a prolific actress on stage and radio. She appeared on numerous episodes of the "Family Theater" radio show which emphasized family prayer. The radio show featured many of the best known actors from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Ms. Hussey appeared in such classic films as George Cuckor’s "The Women," "Madame X," "Northwest Passage" and "The Great Gatsby." She appeared in three of my old movie favorites. She co-starred with Ray Milland in the creepy romantic ghost story "The Uninvited." Ms. Hussey also appeared in "Judge Hardy’s Children" and "Another Thin Man." Ms. Hussey holds a dear place in the hearts on any fan of Andy Hardy and Nick & Nora Charles. Other film credits include "Blackmail," "Tennessee Johnson," "Maise," "Susan and God," "The Lady Wants Mink" and "Stars and Stripes Forever." Ms. Hussey was the mother of Oscar winning filmmaker John Longenecker. She did voice over work on his 1971 Oscar winning Live Action Short Subject "The Resurrection of Bronco Billy."

GEORGE P. COSMATOS Died Apr. 19, 2005

Action film director George P. Cosmatos died of lung cancer at age 64. Mr. Cosmatos was best known "Rambo: First Blood Part II." Mr. Cosmatos also put A-list actor Kevin Costner to shame when his film "Tombstone" outshone and outgrossed Costner’s high-brow film on the same subject "Wyatt Earp." The Italian born director was assistant director on Otto Preminger’s "Exodus" and well as on the Oscar-winning "Zorba the Greek." He wrote and directed the all-star thriller "The Cassandra Crossing." During the production of that film, the director was almost killed in a helicopter crash. Comantos and "Rambo" star Sylvester Stallone reteamed for the brutal and forgettable "Cobra." He then directed "Leviathan," an underwater variation of "Alien." His final film was the 1997 Charlie Sheen vehicle "Shadow Conspiracy."

SIR JOHN MILLS Died Apr. 23, 2005

One of the greats of the British stage and screen has died. Sir, John Mills, patriarch of the famed acting family died at age 97 after a short illness. John Mills won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for David Lean’s 1970 romantic epic "Ryan’s Daughter." John Mills is the father of actors Juliet Mills, Hayley Mills and writer/producer Jonathan Mills. Mr. Mills appeared in nearly 150 films and TV shows during a film career that began in 1932 and continued until his death!

Mr. Mills body of work included something for all ages. John Mills starred in great family films, sophisticated adult dramas, rousing war films and a number of epics. My first exposure to his work was Disney’s "The Parent Trap," which starred his daughter Hayley. Like most men my age, I grew up with a childhood crush on his daughter Hayley Mills. He appeared seven films with his daughter including "Africa-Texas Style!," "The Truth About Spring" and "The Family Way." Other great family films starring John Mills include "Swiss Family Robinson" and "Around the World in 80 Days."

Next to the horror film genre, War movies are among my favorites. John Mills appeared in many great war films. They include "Zulu Dawn," "King Rat," "Operation Crossbow," "The Valiant," "Dunkirk," "I Was Monty’s Double," "Above Us the Waves," "We Dive at Dawn," "The Colditz Story" and "In Which We Serve." He also appeared in the anti-war musical comedy "Oh! What a Lovely War." "Oh! What a Lovely War" was directed by Sir. Richard Attenborough. John Mills also appeared . Richard Attenborough’s directorial biopics "Young Winston" and "Gandhi."

It is hard to do service to a career like that of John Mills in such limited space. His credits speak for themselves. Other memorable films include "Goodbye, Mr. Chips," "Great Expectations," "Scott of the Antarctic," "War and Peace," "The Wrong Box," "Oklahoma Crude," "Lady Caroline Lamb" and "Hamlet."

Two years ago I had the pleasure of interviewing John Mills daughter Juliet Mills. She spoke of her father fondly. Despite losing most of his vision in the 1990s, she said that he was still very sharp. "He’s remarkable. He’s 95 now and he’s still going strong. He has all his faculties. He still regales you with stories and jokes. He’s wonderful." It is nice to know that he was able to enjoy his life until the very end.

MARIA SCHELL Died Apr. 26, 2005

Award-winning Austrian actress maria Schell died of pneumonia at age 79. Ms. Schell had been admitted to a hospital for her illness two weeks ago. She remained in critical condition. Maria Schell was the first major German star to emerge during the post WWII era. Ms. Schell enjoyed popularity on an international level. She was the sister of Oscar-winning actor Maximilian Schell. Ms. Schell appeared in over 100 films and TV shows during her lengthy career. Ms. Schell won eight Bambi Awards (including seven consecutive wins!) for her acting and also received a Lifetime Achievement Bambi in 2002. Her work was also recognized with two BAFTA nominations and awards at numerous film festivals including Cannes. Ms. Schell played a strong supporting role in "The Mark." Her co-star Stuart Whitman was nominated for an Oscar that year. His competition was Ms. Schell’s brother Maximilian. Her brother won for his role as the defense attorney in "Judgment at Nuremberg." Ms. Schell’s other film credits include "Superman," "The Odessa File," "Voyage of the Damned," Jesus Franco’s "Night of the Blood Monster" and "99 Women," the remake of "Cimarron" with Glenn Ford and "The Magic Box."

MASON ADAMS Died Apr. 26, 2005

Emmy-nominated character actor Mason Adams died of natural causes at age 86. Mr. Adams worked in radio, TV, film and on the stage. How you know him may depend on what generation you come from. Mr. Adams was on the popular radio serial "Pepper Young’s Family," in which he played the title role. He continued working in radio during the 1970s when "The CBS Radio Mystery Theater" thrived with stories of the macabre. That was my first exposure to Mr. Adams. When he appeared in the popular 1977 TV series "Lou Grant," I was able to put a face with the voice. Mr. Adams was nominated for three Emmy awards for playing the editor of the Los Angeles Tribune in Ed Asner’s spin-off from "The Mary Tyler Moore Show." Mr. Adams character in "Lou Grant" was typical of the kind he usually played: wise, kind and gentle. That is why it was such a delight to see him play the evil Col. Mason in the thriller "F/X." Like most badguys, Mason Adams’ character in "F/X" got a deliciously clever comeupance reminiscent to Peter Graves death in Billy Wilder’s "Stalag 17." Others may remember Mason Adams as the voice on the ubiquitous Smuckers TV commercials. "With a name like Smuckers, it has to be good." Mason Adams other credits include "Omen III: The Final Conflict," "Toy Soldiers," the remake of "Not of This Earth," "Houseguest," "Murder, She Wrote" and "Oz."

ROBERT J. SCHIFFER Died Apr. 26, 2005

Legendary make-up man Bob Schiffer died of a massive stroke at age 88. Mr. Schiffer worked on nearly 200 hundred film and TV shows during his 70-year career. He worked at RKP, MGM and for over 30 years was the makeup supervisor for Disney Studios. He was a personal favorite of a number of movie stars including Rita Hayworth, Clark Gable, Marlene Dietrich, Ginger Rogers, Fred Astaire and Burt Lancaster. Mr. Schiffer is credited with creating the 1940’s look of deep red lips and thin eyebrows. Just take another look at Rita Hayworth in "Gilda" to see what I mean. During WWII, Mr. Schiffer was recruited by the government to do makeup for covert operations. He also was involved on the Bay of Pigs to make certain people look Cuban. At the Second Annual Hollywood Makeup Artist and Hair Stylist Guild Awards in 2001, Mr. Schiffer received the Guild's George Westmore Lifetime Achievement Award. Mr. Schiffer’s credits speak for themselves. "Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend," "Splash," "Something Wicked This Way Comes," "Tron," "Pete's Dragon," "Bedknobs and Broomsticks," "The Gypsy Moths," "The Professionals," "Cat Ballou," "Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte," "My Fair Lady," "Cleopatra," "What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?," "Birdman of Alcatraz," "The Music Man," "Judgment at Nuremberg," the original "Ocean's Eleven," "Elmer Gantry," "Gigi," "Run Silent Run Deep," "The Amazing Colossal Man," "Pal Joey," "3:10 to Yuma," "Sweet Smell of Success," "Around the World in Eighty Days," "Picnic," "Mister Roberts," "Marty," "The Caine Mutiny," "From Here to Eternity," "Death of a Salesman," "An American in Paris," "All the King's Men," "Knock on Any Door," "The Lady from Shanghai," "Gilda," "The Magnificent Ambersons," "Here Comes Mr. Jordan," "Boom Town," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame," "The Wizard of Oz," "Boys Town," "Captains Courageous," "The Good Earth," "After the Thin Man," "The Charge of the Light Brigade," "The Great Ziegfeld," "A Night at the Opera," "Mutiny on the Bounty," "The Last Days of Pompeii," "She," "The Informer" and "Horse Feathers." Wow! What a list. There are plenty more where those came from!

HERB SARGENT Died May 6, 2005

Multi Emmy and WGA winning writer Herb Sargent died at age 81. For twenty years, Herb Sargent wrote for the hit TV series "Saturday Night Live." He was nominated for 16 Emmy Awards, winning six. He also won six WGAs! Mr. Sargent lead the Writer’s Guild as president for 14 years. Other credits include "The Steve Allen Show," "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson," "Bye Bye Braveman," "The Dennis Miller Show" among others. Mr. Sargent served his country in the Pacific in the US Army Air Corp during WWII. He was the brother of screenwriter Alvin Sargent.

JOE GRANT Died May 6, 2005

Disney writer/animator/character designer/producer/director Joe Grant died 11 days before his 97^th birthday. Mr. Grant was one cornerstones of the success of Walt Disney Studio in the 1930s and 40s. He was the story supervisor on the classics "Fantasia" and "Dumbo." Mr. Grant designed characters for such classics as "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves," "Pinocchio," "Mr. Toad," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp," and the list goes on. Mr. Grant left Disney to start his own company. After a successful second career, he returned to Disney in the 80s and worked on "Pocahontas," "Alladin," "The Lion King," "Mulan," "Lorenzo" and "Fantasia 2000." In 1985 Mr. Grant received the Winsor McCay Award. It is one of the highest awards given to animators. The award is named after Winsor McCay, the creator of "Little Nemo." In 2001, the Los Angeles Film Critic’s Association bestowed a lifetime achievement award to Mr. Grant for his lasting contributions to the art of animation from the 1930s to infinity and beyond.

MARTHA MONTGOMERY Died May 9, 2005

Former actress and matriarch of one of Hollywood’s most musical families Martha Montgomery died of natural causes at age 84. Ms. Montgomery was the widow of Oscar-winning composer Alfred Newman. Newman died in 1970 and she remarried in 1998. She was also the mother of Oscar-nominated composers David and Thomas Newman, noted musician Maria Newman and the aunt of Oscar-winning composer Randy Newman. Ms. Montgomery was one of the Goldwyn Girls. She appeared in a dozen films during the late 30s and 1940s. Her film appearances include "Words and Music," "A Song is Born" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty." Ms. Montgomery retired from acting after marrying composer Newman.

PHIL KELLISON Died May 13, 2005

Visual effects whiz and stop-motion animator Phil Kellison has passed away. Mr. Kellison was one of the work-horses in the field of stop-motion animation. While many people know the names of Willis O’Brien, Ray Harryhausen and Jim Danforth, there have been many others who did not receive screen credit, but who none-the-less made a large contribution to many well-known stop-motion animation films and TV shows. Phil Kellison is one of those unsung giants. He worked in Hollywood for 35 years. While animation fans will recognize the many films he worked on, Mr. Kellison may be best known for his TV commercial creations. The Pillsbury Doughboy, The Jolly Green Giant, Speedy Alka Seltzer and Mrs. Butterworth to name a few. Mr. Kellison ran the animation department at Cascade. The company developed and created numerous memorable visual effects for TV commercials. Mr. Kellison was a mentor and guru to a number of other animators including Jim Danforth and Denis Muren. He was also the supervisor of Coast Productions visual effects department. Mr. Kellison built some of the miniatures for Willis O’Brien’s "The Giant Behemoth." He supervised the process photography for Howard Anderson on Jim Danforth’s "Jack the Giant Killer." Mr. Kellison was one of the original animators on George Pal’s "Puppetoons" along with Ray Harryhausen, Wah Ming Chang, Willis O'Brien and others. At one time, Mr. Kellison owned the original armature of "King Kong." He presented it as a present to Disney animator Bob Burns of "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea" fame. Other films on which Mr. Kellison worked include "Dinosaurus," "Airplane II," "Deal of the Century" and "Discovery Bay."

JUNE LANG Died May 16, 2005

Actress June Lang died a little more than a week past her 90^th birthday. Ms. Lang had a successful career in the late 1930s and early 40s. Ms. Lang worked her way up from ingenue to leading lady. However, her personal life got in the way of her film career. Ms. Lang married her second husband in 1939. His name was Johnny Roselli. I knew of Johnny Roselli long before I ever knew who June Lang was. In August of 1976 a 55-gallon drum was found floating in the ocean of Miami. In the drum was the dismembered and decomposing body of mobster Johnny Roselli. Rumors continued for years after the Roselli murder that he was killed because he was one of the guys who hit JFK. Anyway, I mention all of this because June Lang’s marriage to Johnny Roselli caused studio execs at 20^th Century Fox to cancel her contract. Ms. Lang continued to make movies for folks like Republic and Hal Roach until 1947 when she retired. Ms. Lang’s many film credits include "Chandu the Magician" with Bela Lugosi, "Bonnie Scotland" with Laurel and Hardy, "Captain January" with Shirley Temple and Buddy Ebsen, "Wee Willie Winkie" also with Shirley Temple and as herself in the morale building WWII film "Stage Door Canteen."

FRANK GORSHIN Died May 17, 2005

Frank Gorshin never failed to make me laugh. For me, Frank Gorshin was the real reason to watch the campy TV series "Batman." His Riddler is one the most memorable characters in TV history. Jim Carrey’s manic take on the frenzied badguy paled in comparison to Frank Gorshin’s Emmy nominated take on Batman’s arch foe. I remember sitting in a motel room in Nashville with my five younger brothers and sisters watching the original "Where the Boys Are" on the CBS late movie. The scene in which Frank Gorshin falls into a large aquarium and mugs for the camera as he swims drunkenly around had all of us busting a gut in laughter. I remember seeing him do stand up and song and dance on a variety of TV talk shows during the 1960s. The man was a natural funnyman. It is with great regret that I was unable to see Mr. Gorshin last month in Memphis where he performed his one-man tribute to George Burns: "Say Goodnight, Gracie." Frank Gorshin died of pneumonia at age 71. In addition to his Emmy nomination for "Batman," Mr. Gorshin received a second nomination for a guest appearance during the last season of the original "Star Trek." Frank Gorshin appeared in over 150 films and TV shows during a career that began when he was 17 years old. Another one of my fond childhood memories is of the cheesy 1950s sci-fi film "Invasion of the Saucer Men." Frank Gorshin provided the comic relief. Thanks for the laughs and memories.

STEPHEN ELLIOT Died May 20, 2005

Tony Award nominated actor Stephen Elliot died of congestive heart failure at age 86. Mr. Elliot had successful careers on Broadway, in film and TV. He was nominated for a Tony for his work in the 1967 production of "Marat/Sade." I remember Mr. Elliot beast as the amoral murderer J.J. Cord in the 1981 cult classic "Cutter and Bone." Mr. Elliot was the epitome of evil arrogance in the final scene with John Heard and Jeff Bridges. Mr. Elliot was also memorable in another 1981 film "Arthur." He appeared in nearly 120 films and TV shows. Newer audience may remember him best for his recurring role as a judge on "Chicago Hope." Among Mr. Elliot’s many credits are "Beverly Hills Cop," "Young Joe, The Forgotten Kennedy," "Death Wish," "Pueblo," "The Hospital," "As the World Turns," "Hotel," "St. Elsewhere," "Falcon Crest" and Shelly Duvall’s "Faerie Tale Theater."

JD CANNON Died May 20, 2005

I know it is an exaggeration but I think character actor JD Cannon appeared in every movie and TV show made during the 60s and 70s. In truth, his list of credits is not quite that extensive, but he was one of the more memorable character actors working during that era. Actor JD Cannon died at home at age 83. Among his 120 film and TV credits were several memorable roles. He played Chief of Detectives Peter Clifford on the long-running hit TV series "McCloud" opposite Dennis Weaver. In the classic TV series "The Fugitive," Mr. Cannon played the cowardly neighbor of Dr. Richard Kimball who finally cleared Kimball of his wife’s murder in the high rated final two episodes of the series. He was also part of the fine ensemble of actors playing supporting roles as prisoners in the classic film "Cool Hand Luke." Other credits include "Beyond Witch Mountain," "Death Wish II," "Scorpio," "Law & Order," "Murder, She Wrote," "Alias Smith and Jones," "The F.B.I.," "Gunsmoke," "The Invaders," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "12 O’clock High," "Rawhide," "The Wild, Wild West," "Combat!," "The Untouchables" and "Wagon Train." Mt. Cannon served his country as a member of the US Army during WWII.

HOWARD MORRIS Died May 21, 2005

"It’s me! It’s Me! It’s Ernest T!" Though he appeared in over 150 films and TV shows and also directed a number of films and TV episodes, Howard Morris was best known for appearing a hand-full of episodes of "The Andy Griffith Show." I was shocked to discover that Morris’s rock-throwing town crazy Ernest T. Bass appeared in so few episodes during the show’s eight year run. Howard Morris died at age 85. Mr. Morris did it all. He wrote, directed, produced and acted. He started his career working with Sid Caesar in the classic TV series "Your Show of Shows." He later performed and wrote for Caesar’s follow-up series "Caesar’s Hour."

Howard Morris appeared in several Mel Brooks films: "High Anxiety," "Life Sucks" and "History of the World: Part I." He also had a funny bit part in "Splash." Other live action acting credits include "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Twilight Zone," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Trapper John," "Baywatch," "The Nutty Professor" and "The Munster’s Revenge." Howard Morris was a gifted voice actor. He played Gopher in several "Winnie the Pooh" cartoons. Likewise, he was the voice of Jughead in "Archie," the voice of "Atom Ant," the voice of "Beetle Bailey" and many, many others.

Mr. Morris was also a gifted director of comedies. His directing credits include the feature films "Who’s Minding the Mint?," "With Six You Get Eggroll" and Jackie Gleason’s "Don’t Drink the Water." Mr. Howard did most of his directorial work on TV. He directed the pilot episode of "Get Smart," 14 episodes of "Hogan’s Heroes," "Gomer Pyle," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Love American Style" and "One Day at a Time."

THURL RAVENSCROFT Died May 22, 2005

Renowned voice actor Thurl Ravenscroft died of prostate cancer at age 91. He was the voice of Tony the Tiger in the long running series of Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes commercials. Tony the Tiger was just one of many animated characters voiced to life by Mr. Ravenscroft. He sang "You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," in the TV classic "How the Grinch Stole Christmas." He had a long assoociation with Walt Disney. Both his singing and talking voices were used in "Dumbo," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Sleeping Beauty," "One Hundred and One Dalmations," "Mary Poppins," "Cinderella," "Lady and the Tramp," "The Sword in the Stone," "The Aristocats" and "The Jungle Book." He also was the Master of Ceremonies at a number of Disneyland events including the 1955 opening day. Other credits include "The Brave Little Toaster" and its two sequels, "The Music Man," "It Happened at the World’s Fair," "The Cat in the Hat," "Horton Hears a Who," "Snoopy Come Home," "The Hobbit" and "Superior Duck." Mr. Ravenscroft served his country during WWII.

ISMAIL MERCHANT Died May 25, 2005

Oscar-nominated producer/director Ismail Merchant died at age 68 after a lengthy illness. Mr. Merchant and business partner James Ivory were the core of one of the most successful film companies in history. Merchant Ivory Productions. Although Mr. Merchant occasionally directed, he was usually the man who produced while James Ivory directed. Ismail Merchant produced films garnered a multitude of awards and nominations. His films received an impressive ten Oscars and another twenty Oscar nominations and eight BAFTAs with another thirtysix BAFTA nominations! Mr. Merchant was personally nominated for four Best Picture Oscars and four Best Picture BAFTAs, winning two BAFTAs. Whether making a period piece or contemporary drama, an Ismail Merchant film could be counted on for great acting, impeccable production design and costumes, stunning cinematography and of course, great direction by James Ivory. My first exposure to their work was the Fatty Arbuckle inspired "The Wild Party" with Raquel Welch and James Coco. It is one of their lesser films, but the seeds of things to come where already apparent in the 1975 film. Among Mr. Merchant’s many films are "The Europeans," "Jane Austen in Manhattan," "Quartet," "The Bostonians," "A Room with a View," "Maurice," "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge," "The Ballad of the Sad Café," "Howards End," "The Remains of the Day," "Jefferson in Paris" and "Le Divorce."

EDDIE ALBERT Died May 26, 2005

Oscar nominated actor Eddie Albert died of pneumonia at age 99. It didn’t matter if he was cast as the leading man, as a comedic foil, a dislikable coward or the badguy, Eddie Albert could do it all. He received two nominations as Best Supporting Actor for his work in "Roman Holiday" and "The Heartbreak Kid." Mr. Albert was also nominated for two Golden Globes and a BAFTA. He appeared in over 250 films and TV shows during a career that spanned seven decades. Mr. Albert actually appeared on the very first US TV broadcast. He appeared in an experimental TV broadcast in 1936 in which NBC and RCA applied for broadcasts licenses in New York.

Eddie Albert is probably best known for his role as Oliver Wendell Douglas in the hit TV show "Green Acres." Albert played a New York lawyer with a yen for the rural life. He drags his high maintenance wife played by Eva Gabor to Hooterville. The show ran for six years. Albert was the perfect foil for the antics of Ms. Gabor and the various country bumpkins who populated the series. My favorite of Mr. Albert’s TV series was "Switch," which costarred Robert Wagner.

He turned in three of his most memorable badguy roles under the eye of director Robert Aldrich. In the 1956 WWII film "Attack," you loved to hate Albert as the cowardly CO of a platoon that is killed in action due to his marred leadership. In Aldrich’s hit film "The Longest Yard" Albert played sadistic prison warden Hazen, a man bent on capturing a football championship for his team of prison guards. The next year he reteamed with Aldrich and "The Longest Yard" co-star Burt Reynolds in the misfire police drama "Hustle." Albert’s performance as the villain is one of the few interesting things in the film. He also showed his talent at playing insufferable people in the John Wayne cop drama "McQ."

Eddie Albert made his film debut in the 1938 film "Brother Rat." Two years later he appeared in the sequel "Brother Rat and a Baby." Among Mr. Albert’s notable film credits are "Oklahoma!," "The Teahouse of the August Moon," "The Sun Also Rises," "The Longest Day" and "Captain Newman M.D."

Though Mr. Albert occasionally played coward, he was in fact a real-life war hero. Mr. Albert served his country in the US Navy during WWII. He was awarded the Bronze Star for a series of 26 rescue missions during the bloody Battle of Tarawa. Mr. Albert risked his own life and rescued 70 US Marines. Mr. Albert was the widower of actress Margo, who died in 1985. He was also the father of actor Edward Albert and the father-in-law of actress Katherine Woodville. Mr. Albert was also an active environmentalist.

LUCY RICHARDSON Died Jun. 1, 2005

Emmy-winning art director Lucy Richardson died at age 47 after a two-year battle with breast cancer. Though Ms. Richardson was a talented art director whose work was nominated for numerous awards, her childhood friendship with Julian Lennon led to more unusual fame. Julian drew a picture of his friend in crayons. He put stars above her. When his father asked him what the picture was he responded "It’s Lucy in the sky with diamonds." While most of the world speculated that John Lennon’s song "Lucy In the Sky With Diamonds" was code for LSD, the truth was that the oldest Beatle was writing a song for his son, based on a picture the boy drew. That footnote aside, Ms. Richarson was a very innovative art director. Don’t believe me, go see the innovative film "Spider"…or John Sayles "The Secret of Roan Inish"…or "Restoration." Ms. Richardson won an Emmy Award for her work on "The Young Indian Jones Chronicles." She shared in the Art Director Guild’s the Excellence in Production Design Award for "Chocolat." Two years earlier, the Guild nominated her for the same award for her work on "Elizabeth." Ms. Richardson worked as a draftsperson on a number of films including "Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace."

CHLOE JONES Died Jun. 4, 2005

Adult film star Chloe Jones died of liver failure while awaiting a transplant at age 29. Born Melinda Dee Jones, she appeared in both Playboy and Penthouse Magazines as well as a number of adult films. Ms. Jones had a history of medical problems including epilepsy, kidney and liver illness. It is not known for sure if the massive amounts of prescription medicines she had to take played a part in her rapid decline in health. In addition to her work in the adult film industry, Ms. Jones appeared on such mainstream TV shows as "Baywatch," "Edenquest," "Diagnosis Murder" and "Full Frontal Comedy."

LORNA THAYER Died June 4, 2005

I guess an actor is lucky if they appear in a classic movie scene. We all have our favorites; a scene that is quoted endlessly or shown as a highlight during tributes to a particular actor. I remember watching Ms. Thayer’s most famous scene being shown on the 1971 Oscar telecast. Bob Rafelson’s "Five Easy Pieces" was up for four Oscars that year including Best Picture. The clip shown during the Oscar telecast involved Jack Nicholson’s character Bobby trying to order some plain wheat toast. The thing is, toast isn’t on the menu and the waitress, played by Thayer could care less whether Bobby gets what he wants.

Bobby: I'd like a plain omellette, no potatoes, tomatoes instead, a cup of coffee, and wheat toast.

Waitress: (She points to the menu) No substitutions.

Bobby: What do you mean? You don't have any tomatoes?

Waitress: Only what's on the menu. You can have a number two - a plain omelette. It comes with cottage fries and rolls.

Bobby: Yeah, I know what it comes with. But it's not what I want.

Waitress: Well, I'll come back when you make up your mind.

Bobby: Wait a minute. I have made up my mind. I'd like a plain omelet, no potatoes on the plate, a cup of coffee, and a side order of wheat toast.

Waitress: I'm sorry, we don't have any side orders of toast...an English muffin or a coffee roll.

Bobby: What do you mean you don't make side orders of toast? You make sandwiches, don't you?

Waitress: Would you like to talk to the manager?

Bobby: ...You've got bread and a toaster of some kind?

Waitress: I don't make the rules.

Bobby: OK, I'll make it as easy for you as I can. I'd like an omelet, plain, and a chicken salad sandwich on wheat toast, no mayonnaise, no butter, no lettuce. And a cup of coffee.

Waitress: A number two, chicken sal san, hold the butter, the lettuce and the mayonnaise. And a cup of coffee. Anything else?

Bobby: Yeah. Now all you have to do is hold the chicken, bring me the toast, give me a check for the chicken salad sandwich, and you haven't broken any rules.

Waitress (spitefully): You want me to hold the chicken, huh?

Bobby: I want you to hold it between your knees.

Waitress (turning and telling him to look at the sign that says, "No Substitutions"): Do you see that sign, sir? Yes, you'll all have to leave. I'm not taking any more of your smartness and sarcasm.

Bobby: You see this sign? (He sweeps all the water glasses and menus off the table)

Actress Lorna Thayer died at age 86. She appeared in over 60 films and TV shows during her career, as well as acting on stage. Her film credits also include "The Lusty Men," "The Beast With a Million Eyes," "I Want to Live!," "The Traveling Executioner," "The Andromeda Strain," "Cisco Pike," "Skyjacked," "Revenge of the Cheerleaders" and the Al Pacino/Michele Pfeiffer version of "Frankie and Johnny."

DANA ELCAR Died Jun. 6, 2005

You know the face, if not the name. Dana Elcar died of complications from pneumonia at age 77. Veteran character actor Dana Elcar appeared in over 200 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. Older Baby Boomers remember him for appearing in almost every TV series produced in the 1960s and 70s. Younger audiences probably remember Mr. Elcar best for his role on the hit TV series "MacGyver." A testament to Mr. Elcar’s talent and dedication to his craft was the fact that he went blind from glaucoma in 1989, four years into the series seven-year run. Mr. Elcar continued to act. He was part of the cast until the series ended. He also continued to act on stage. In addition to his work on "MacGyver," Mr. Elcar was a regular cast member on the TV series "Baretta," "Baa Baa Black Sheep," "Dark Shadows," "The Edge of Night" and "The Guiding Light." Dana Elcar was often cast in roles of authority such as policemen or military officers. He also proved himself adept at villainy in rare badguy roles. His list of feature film credits includes "Fail Safe," "The Boston Strangler," "Soldier Blue," Michael Douglas’s debut film "Adam at 6 A.M.," "Zigzag," "The Great Northfield Minnesota Raid," "The Sting," "Report to the Commissioner," "Baby Blue Marine," "W.C. Fields and Me," "2010" and "All of Me." His TV guest roles are too numerous to list. Look at the face. Chances are you will remember seeing him in several shows.

ANNE BANCROFT Died Jun. 7, 2005

Multi-award-winning actress Anne Bancroft died of cancer at age 73. Ms. Bancroft had been married to director Mel Brooks for forty years. The striking actress had the range to play any genre. Anne Brancroft was adept at drama or comedy. She could be sexy or cold, demanding or gentle. She was one of the finest actresses of her generation. Ms. Bancrofts work was honored by numerous organizations. For her acting she was nominated for 5 Oscars (1 win), 7 BAFTAs (3 wins), 7 Emmys (2 wins), back-to-back Tony wins, 8 Golden Globes (2 wins), a win at Cannes, 2 National Board of Review Awards and 2 SAG awards among others!

Anne Bancroft appeared in over 100 films and TV shows. She began her Hollywood career as a supporting player during the 1950s. It wasn’t until the 1960s that she moved from the ranks of supporting actress to leading lady. She made her debut in the Marilyn Monroe thriller "Don’t Bother to Knock." For the rest of the 1950s, she did supporting work in B-movies and the occasional epic like "Demetrius and the Gladiators." She focused on Broadway during the later part of the 1950s. Her efforts resulted in back-to-back Best Actress Tony Awards for the plays "Two For the Seesaw" and "The Miracle Worker." She reprised her role as Anne Sullivan in the film version of "The Miracle Worker." She added an Oscar to her trophy cabinet for the 1962 film.

The 1960s were Ms. Bancroft’s most productive years from a professional viewpoint. Her next film: "The Pumpkin Eater" garnered her a second Oscar nomination as well as wins at Cannes, the BAFTAs and the Golden Globes! A personal favorite of mine was her next film: Sidney Pollack’s debut feature film "The Slender Thread." She starred opposite Sidney Portier as a suicidal woman who calls a crisis hotline. Though the stars don’t appear on screen together, they still generate tension as the caller and the man trying to help. She went from the feature film directorial debut of one great director to the final feature film of an American legend. John Ford’s "7 Women" cast Ms. Bancroft a doctor working at a Christian mission in China. EI’s Jon Ted Wynne’s insightful review of "7 Women" can found in our Video Risk archive. It was Ms. Bancroft’s next film for which she is best remembered.

Mike Nichols’ "The Graduate" stands along side "Bonnie and Clyde" and "The Wild Bunch" as one of the most groundbreaking films in Hollywood history. Those three films were the final nails in the coffin of the old production code. "The Graduate" dealt with seduction and adultery in ways that no film outside of Europe dared to do before. Anne Bancroft’s name became synonymous with that of her character Mrs. Robinson. She received her third Oscar nomination and a permanent place in American pop culture.

Anne Bancroft acted in over 40 films following "The Graduate." She received two more Oscar nominations. Even though she always turned in a fine performance, the quality of the roles offered her was not as consistently fine as those she was given during the 1960s. Her final Oscar nominations came for her work in "The Turning Point" and "Agnes of God." Among her other memorable credits are "Young Winston," "Jesus of Nazareth," "Garbo Talks," "’Night Mother," "84 Charing Cross Road," "Point of No Return" and "Antz." Ms. Bancroft’s lone directorial turn was the Dom Deluise comedy "Fatso."

Anne Bancroft and Mel Brooks proved that Hollywood marriages can last. The couple was married in 1964. Though I never had the pleasure of meeting either one of them, it is clear from all the empirical eviden