2000 Obituary Main Page| 2001 Obituary Main Page| 2002 Obituary Main Page| 2003 Obituary Main Page| 2004 Obituary Main Page| 2005 Obituary Main Page| 2006 Obituary Main Page| 2007 Obituary Main Page| 2008 Obituary Main Page| 2009 Obituary Main Page

Another year has passed. So to have many talented people in the industry. Take the time to look back and remember those who have moved on. Rejoice in their lives and contributions. We are the fortunate ones in that we can still enjoy their work that lives on. Prayers of comfort for those family members and friends who are dealing with the loss of those listed below in a more personal way.

GEORGE MACDONALD FRASER Died Jan. 2, 2008

Writer George MacDonald Fraser died at age 82. Mr. Fraser was the author of the popular Sir Harry Flashman series of books. His hero was a rogue and a scoundrel who always seemed to come out on top of every situation. The 11 "Flashman" books saw Sir Harry make his way through many historical events and into the hearts of readers worldwide. Only one of the "Flashman" books was turned into a film. Richard Lester directed "Royal Flash" which starred Malcolm McDowell as Sir Harry. Unfortunately the film did not capture the magic of the book. This was a shock as director Richard Lester and Mr. Fraser had collaborated on the classic "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" just prior to "Royal Flash." Mr. Fraser's scripts for the Dumas films resounded with the humor for which his "Flashman" books were known. Mr. Fraser's other screenwriting credits include "Crossed Swords," "Red Sonja," the James Bond film "Octopussy" and "The Return of the Musketeers." George MacDonald Fraser served his country in the Army during WWII. He was appointed OBE in 1999.

CLAUDE WHATHAM Died Jan. 4, 2008

British director Claude Whatham died at age 80. Mr. Whatham worked primarily in TV but did helm several feature films. Mr. Whatham directed the 1973 film "That'll Be the Day," which starred David Essex and Ringo Starr. Set in the late 1950s "That'll Be the Day" told the tale of a high school grad who tries to 'find himself.' David Essex plays Jim MacLaine, a man with dreams of becoming a rock star. Those dreams are fulfilled in the film's sequel "Stardust," which was directed by Michael Apted. Mr. Whatham was nominated for two BAFTAs for directing the TV shows "Cider With Rosie" and "A Voyage Round My Father." He received the Australian Film Institute's Best Director nomination for the 1981 crime film "Hoodwink."

EDWARD KLOSINSKI Died Jan. 5, 2008

Award-winning cinematographer Edward Klosinski died of lung cancer at age 65. Mr. Klosinski shot over 70 films. He lenses and also collaborated on the script of "Three Colors: White." Mr. Klosinski collaborated with director Andrzej Wajda on ten films including "The Promised Land," "Man of Iron" and "Man of Marble." Other credits include Lars Von Trier's "Europa." His work on "Europa" earned Mr. Klosinski the Best Cinematography award at the Sitges International Film Festival. He won the same award at the Berlin International Film Festival for the film "Gloomy Sunday."

JOHNNY GRANT Died Jan. 9, 2008

Johnny Grant, actor, TV host and the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood died of natural causes at age 84. Mr. Grant began his career as a radio broadcaster. As the Honorary Mayor of Hollywood, Mr. Grant presided over the unveiling of the stars on Hollywood's Walk of Fame. Johnny Grant appeared in the films "The Girl Can't Help It," "White Christmas," "The Great Man," "The Babe Ruth Story," "China Beach," "77 Sunset Strip" and "Hollywood Homicide." Mr. Grant was involved in numerous charities. He supported the US Armed Forces by taking part in dozens of USO shows.

MAILA NURMI Died Jan. 10, 2008

Actress and TV host Maila Nurmi died of natural causes at age 86. Ms. Nurmi hosted KABC's creature feature "The Vampira Show" in 1954. She played essentially the same character in Ed Wood's infamous sci-fi stinker "Plan 9 From Outer Space" except that she had no lines in the film. Ms. Nurmi appeared in a few films and TV shows during the late 1950s and early 1960s. Those credits include "Sex Kittens Go to College," "I Passed for White" and "Too Much, Too Soon." Ms. Nurmi appeared in a number of documentaries about herself and about director Ed Wood. Actress Lisa Marie portrayed Ms. Nurmi in Tim Buron's Oscar-winning film "Ed Wood." Ms. Nurmi was once married to the late "Dirty Harry" screenwriter Dean Reisner.

BRAD RENFRO Died Jan. 15, 2008

Actor Brad Renfro died of a heroin overdose at age 25. According to reports, Mr. Renfro had been out drinking and partying with 'friends' the night before. His friends were unable to wake him up this morning. Mr. Renfro had a history of drug abuse.

Would 'real friends' be out drinking and partying with a person struggling with drug addiction? Real Friends would help a brother to maintain sobriety.

This pisses me off. Yes, it is sad, but it is also stupid. Those who forget the past are condemned to repeat it. Does the name River Phoenix ring a bell? Hey Britney! Are you listening? What about Anna, Anna, Anna, Anna Nicole? Gone, adios, sayonara, hasta la vista Baby! Live fast, die young, leave a good looking corpse. Believe me, it won't stay good looking for long after you are dead. Perhaps if Mr. Renfro had been an apt pupil of history, this unnecessary tragedy would not have happened. Drugs will kill you people! What a waste of talent. What a waste of a life.

Brad Renfro made his screen debut in John Grisham's "The Client." The film was shot in my home town. My late father's courtroom was used for many of the movie's major scenes. I remember my father getting a kick out of Brad Renfro. My dad told me that the young actor was just a sweet kid, void of any pretense. My dad liked to doodle as he sat on the bench during lulls in courtroom activity. He said that Brad asked him if he could sit behind the bench and how the kid got a thrill from being up there. Brad asked him a bunch of questions about what he did. Then Brad noticed a few of my dad's doodles. He laughed and asked if he could have them. My dad said sure. He wasn't an artist, it was just his way of killing time when things were slow. The next week, Brad came into the courtroom to film another scene. He had a piece of paper with him. He had tried his hand at drawing some silly pictures like my dad's. He gave them to my dad. Just a 11-year-old kid being a kid. I often thought of that story when I heard of Mr. Renfro's troubles with drugs and with the law. 13 years ago, he was a regular Tennessee kid being cast in a major motion picture. Now he is a dead actor with a troubled past and a lot of grieving friends and relatives. What a sad, sad shame.

In addition to his powerful debut performance in "The Client," Brad Renfro showed he had the chops to be a great actor in "Apt Pupil" and "Bully." Mr. Renfro starred in and was an associate producer of the disturbing true-crime film "Bully." He made you completely forget the tough but good kid in "The Client." In "Apt Pupil" Mr. Renfro brought Stephen King's dark tale of the seduction of the innocent by evil to life in a rich performance. He made 24 films during his short career. Other credits include "Ghost World," "Sleepers," "Tom & Huck" and the upcoming "The Informers." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends. May his troubled soul find peaceful rest with God.

ALLAN MELVIN Died Jan. 17, 2008

Character actor Allan Melvin died of cancer at age 84. Mr. Melvin was one of the most familiar faces on TV from the 1950s through the 1970s. Mr. Melvin played recurring roles on numerous TV shows. My fondest memories of his work were of his performances as Archie Bunker's friend Barney Hefner on "All in the Family." Other memorable TV roles include Cpl. Henshaw on "The Phil Silvers Show," as Sgt. Hacker on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and as Sam the butcher on "The Brady Bunch." Mr. Melvin was also a noted voice actor. He contributed live and voice performances to over 70 TV shows and films. His live action credits include "Route 66," "Perry Mason," "Lost in Space," "The Andy Griffith Show" and "With Six You Get Eggroll." Mr. Melvin provided the voice of "Magilla Gorilla." He voices Sgt. Snorkel in several "Beetle Baily" cartoons. Other voice credits include "The Smurfs," "Scooby Doo," "The Flintsones" and "Hong Kong Phooey." Mr. Melvin appeared on Broadway in "Stalag 17." The production ran for 472 performances in 1951 and 52.

LOIS NETTLETON Died Jan. 18, 2008

Tony and Emmy nominated actress Lois Nettleton died of lung cancer at age 80. Ms. Nettleton received three Emmy nominations for her work in "The Golden Girls," "In the Heat of the Night" and the TV movie dealing with McCarthyism "Fear on Trial." She won two Day Time Emmy Awards for "The American Woman: Profiles in Courage" and an episode of the religious series "Insight." Ms. Nettleton was nominated for a Tony Award and the Drama Desk Award for her work in the production of "They Knew What They Wanted." Ms. Nettleton appeared in nine Broadway productions including a revival of "A Streetcar Named Desire."

She appeared in over 120 films and TV shows during her career. Ms. Nettleton had a bit part in the classic "A Face in the Crowd." Her first real film role was a co-starring role in George Roy Hill's "A Period of Adjustment" opposite Tony Franciosa, Jane Fonda and Jim Hutton. Other feature film credits include "Come Fly With Me," "Mail Order Bride," "The Bamboo Saucer," "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys," "Dirty Dingus Magee," "The Honkers," "Echoes of a Summer," "Soggy Bottom, USA," "Deadly Blessing," "Butterfly," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas" and "The Feminine Touch."

Ms. Nettleton was a prolific TV actress. She was a regular on the short-lived series "The Accidental Family." She had recurring roles on the soap opera "General Hospital," "In the Heat of the Night" and "Crossing Jordon." Ms. Nettleton made guest appearances on multitudes of TV series. Genre fans remember her work in such shows as "Twilight Zone," "Night Gallery" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Lois Nettleton was married to author and humorist Jean Shepard during the early 1960s.

JOHN STEWART Died Jan. 19, 2008

Composer John Stewart died of a massive stroke at age 68. In 1961 Mr. Stewart replaced Dave Guard as a member of "The Kingston Trio." He remained with the group until they disbanded in 1967. They recorded a dozen albums during Mr. Stewart's tenure with the group. Mr. Stewart composed the hit song "Daydream Believer" which was a massive hit for "The Monkees." Prior to being in "The Kingston Trio" Mr. Stewart had formed his own trio. One of his band mates was Gil Robbins, the father of actor Tim Robbins. In 1979 Mr. Stewart scored a #5 hit song with "Gold." The song featured Stevie Nicks on backing vocals. "Gold" was featured on the soundtrack of Edward Burns' comedy "The Groomsmen." His music was can be heard on the soundtracks of "The Monkees," "The Third Wish," "Now and Then," "Soggy Bottom USA" and "Hot Dog: The Movie." Mr. Stewart performed with "The Kingston Trio" on numerous TV shows and in the 1982 special "The Kingston Trio and Friends: Reunion."

SUZANNE PLESHETTE Died Jan. 19, 2008

Multi-Emmy nominated actress Suzanne Pleshette died of respiratory failure at age 70. I imagine I am just one of several million men around the world who had a movie crush on Suzanne Pleshette. My crush started when I was too young to even know what to do with girls. I first noticed the beautiful actress on the late show in the movies "Nevada Smith" and Hitchcock's "The Birds." I couldn't understand why Rod Taylor's character in "The Birds" preferred Tippi Hedren over Suzanne Pleshette. I still don't. My crush was further fueled by Ms. Pleshette's appearance on "The Tonight Show." She read Johnny Carson a poem she had written about lusting after a younger man with washboard abs. Mr. Carson, as were most men who heard her words, was moved in an animal way by the poem. I remember wishing I was a California surfer hanging out front the TV studio when I heard her speak.

Suzanne was not just beautiful, she was one of the most versatile and talented actresses to ever grace the screen. Drama, comedy..didn't matter. Ms Pleshette hit the mark right on target. Her performance as the frustrated school teacher in Alfred Hitchcock's "The Birds" contains subtleties that are worth studying in acting class. She showed so much burning below the surface in her supporting role that the viewer can catch something new upon each new screening. TV audiences will remember her best as Bob Newhart's wife Emily on "The Bob Newhart Show." She was the perfect 'straightman' for Newhart. It is a blessing that the series can be enjoyed on DVD all these years later. She reprised her role as Emily for the final episode of her former co-star's 1990 TV series "Newhart." The final episode had Bob Newhart waking up with Ms. Pleshette as if they wer still in the old TV series and him acting as if the new TV series was just a dream. A great moment in TV history.

Suzanne Pleshette was nominated four times for Emmy Awards. She also received two Golden Globe nominations. Ms. Pleshette's beauty was accented by one of the sexiest voices in film history. Along with Lauren Bacall and Kathleen Turner, Ms. Pleshette was blessed with a sexy, husky voice. Her vocal talents led to a number of voice roles in animated films and TV series.

Suzanne Pleshette's many film credits include the hilarious "It It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium," "The Geisha Boy," "Fate is the Hunter," "A Rage to Live," "The Power," "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?," "Support Your Local Gunfighter," "The Shaggy DA" and "Oh God, Book 2." Suzanne Pleshette appeared in nearly 130 films, TV shows and documentaries. She appeared on most of the notable TV shows from the 1950s to the present time. Her many TV credits range from "Have Gun, Will Travel" through "Will & Grace." Her voice credits include the English version of Miyazaki's Oscar winning "Spirited Away" and "The Lion King II." Ms. Pleshette performed several times on Broadway including in productions of "Compulsion" and "The Miracle Worker."

Suzanne Pleshette was the widow of actor Tom Poston. Her first marriage was to actor Troy Donahue. She was married to Texas oil man Tim Galligher for 32 years until his death in 2000.

RUSSELL LLOYD Died Jan. 21, 2008

Oscar-nominated film editor Russell Lloyd died at age 92. Mr. Lloyd was nominated for a Best Film Editing Oscar for John Huston's grand adventure film "The Man Who Would Be King." "The Man Who Would Be King" was the last of eleven films Mr. Lloyd edited for director John Huston. Mr. Lloyd began his collaboration with Huston on the 1956 film "Moby Dick." Their other collaborations include "Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison," "Sinful Davy," "Reflections in a Golden Eye," "The Kremlin Letter," "The MacKintosh Man" and "The Last Run."

The British film editor began his career working for famed studio head Alexander Korda. Mr. Lloyd worked as an assistant editor on such films as "Rembrandt" and the sci-fi film "Things to Come." Mr. Lloyd graduated from assistant editor on the 1937 film "The Squeaker." His early British films include the Vivian Leigh version of "Anna Karenina." He also directed second unit work on that film. The following year, Mr. Lloyd directed his only film "The Last Days of Dolwyn." He co-directed the movie with Emlyn Williams, who also wrote and starred in the film. He also did second unit work on Disney's 1950 masterpiece "Treasure Island." Russell Lloyd's many credits include "Absolute Beginners," Peter Sellers final film "The Fiendish Plot of Dr. Fu Manchu," the infamous "Caligula," the 1979 version of "The Lady Vanishes," "The Sea Shall Not Have Them" and "Star of India."

HEATH LEDGER Died Jan. 22, 2008

Yet another promising young actor has died of a drug overdose. Oscar-nominated Australian actor Heath Ledger was found dead in a New York City apartment. The 28-year-old actor leaves behind a two-year-old daughter. Autopsy results showed that Mr. Ledger died of a combination of six or seven different prescription drugs. Mr. Ledger was nominated for a Best Actor Oscar for his work in Ang Lee's "Brokeback Mountain."

Heath Ledger began his acting career in his native Australia. He appeared in several movies and was a regular on a couple of TV series including "Home and Away." His early film credits include "Paws" and "Black Rock." Mr. Ledger's first US film was "10 Things I Hate About You" opposite Julia Stiles.

Heath Ledger's break through film was "The Patriot." He played Mel Gibson's son in the 2000 epic. The following year Mr. Ledger cemented his reputation as a fine actor in the Oscar-winning "Monster's Ball." His performance as Billy Bob Thorton's troubled son should have earned him an Oscar nomination. His character's on-screen suicide in that film was as shocking to me as a viewer as the news of his death is today. That same year Mr. Ledger shored up his younger fan base with the silly but very successful "A Knight's Tale."

His next few films were not as successful. However "The Four Feathers," "Ned Kelly" and "The Order" did not sink Heath Ledger's acting career. 2005 would turn out to be a very good year professionally. He appeared in four films that year. While "Casanova," "The Lords of Dogtown" and "The Brothers Grimm" did little more than confirm his status as a Movie Star, his work in "Brokeback Mountain" proved beyond all doubt that the acting talent he showed in "The Patriot" and "Monster's Ball" was no fluke. Ang Lee's landmark film was a daring piece of acting in an uptight world. Mr. Ledger not only received an Oscar nomination for his work, but he won the Best Actor Award from the New York Film Critics Circle and the Australian Film Institute. He was also nominated for BAFTA, SAG, Independent Spirit and Golden Globe acting awards for the film. Mr. Ledger followed up this success with roles in "Candy" and "I'm Not There." The photo at top right was taken by EI's Jonathan Hickman at the Toronto Film Festival as Mr. Ledger fielded questions about Neil Armfield's "Candy." In "I'm Not There" Heath Ledger was one of six actors to portray singer Bob Dylan during different phases of his career. Heath Ledger had wrapped shooting on the up-coming "Batman" movie "The Dark Knight." He played the villain The Joker. He was currently filming Terry Gilliam's "The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus." It is not known at this time how his death will affect that film's production.

Heath Ledger was the father of two-year-old daughter Matilda. Matilda's mother is Mr. Ledger's "Brokeback Mountain" costar Michelle Williams. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

CHRISTIAN BRANDO Died Jan. 26, 2008

Christian Brando, the son of actor Marlon Brando and actress Anna Kashfi died of pneumonia at age 49. Mr. Brando lead a troubled life and is better known for killing his sister Cheyenne Brando's boyfriend Dag Drollet, than for any of his film work. Brando received a 10-year-sentence when he pled guilty to manslaughter for the fatal shooting of his mentally ill sister's boyfriend. Brando who was abusing drugs at the time, took the schizophrenic accusations of his half-sister Cheyenne of physical abuse by Dag Drollet and confronted Drollet with a gun. While Brando claimed Drollet grabbed the gun and it went off, the forensic pathologist stated the Drollet was shot in the back of the head. Cheyenne was whisked away to a mental hospital in Tahiti preventing LA County prosecutors from building a Murder 1 case against Brando. The state had to settle for a manslaughter conviction. Brando did five years in jail. His sister Cheyenne hung herself in 1995. Christian Brando appeared in a few films including "I Love You, Alice B. Toklas."

MANUEL PADILLA JR. Died Jan. 29, 2008

Actor Manuel Padilla Jr. died unexpectedly at age 51. Mr. Padilla had spent the past weekend meeting fans at the Grand National Roadster Show in Pomona, California. The cause of death ahs yet to be released. I spoke by phone with John Furrer, president of Cruisin' the Boulevard, Inc. Mr. Furrer's organization is a non-profit which promotes Petaluma, California's connection with the filming of the classic film "American Graffiti." Mr. Furrer had spoken to Mr. Padilla's parents confirming the bad news. Mr. Furrer stated that "Manny was truly nice person. He went out of his way to talk with fans. I will miss him dearly."

Maybe I'm being presumptuous with you as I am a huge fan of George Lucas' "American Graffiti." Actor Manuel Padilla played Carlos, one of the Pharoahs gang in the classic film. In a film full of memorable dialogue, Mr. Padilla's tagline was "You tell'em Wolfman! He's my man. When I graduate, I'm gonna be a Wolfman." Of course fans know this already. Mr. Padilla reprised his role in the sequel "More American Graffiti." (Mr. Padilla is pictured in the center, in front of Richard Dreyfus.)

In addition to his role in "American Graffiti," Mr. Padilla was also well known as a child actor for his role as Jai in the 1960s TV series "Tarzan." He also appeared in the movies "Tarzan and the Great River" and "Tarzan and the Valley of Gold." Ron Ely (pictured with Mr. Padilla at right) played Tarzan on the TV series while actor Mike Henry starred in the two films. Manuel Padilla's final film was Brian De Palma's "Scarface." He appeared in over 30 films and TV shows. Other notable credits include "The Great White Hope," "A Man Called Horse," Joseph Wambaugh's "Police Story" and "Happy Days."

BARRY MORSE Died Feb. 2, 2008

Prolific character actor Barry Morse died at age 89. The British turned Canadian actor was best known for his role as Lt. Girard on the TV series "The Fugitive." Every week for four season, the determined detective tracked down Dr. Richard Kimball (David Jansen) for the murder of his wife. Of course, he was after the wrong man. Mr. Mrose turned down a cameo appearance in the feature film version of the TV show. Tommy Lee Jones played the role in the film version.

Barry Morse appeared in over 120 films and TV shows during his career. He had several thousand acting roles when you take his stage and radio work into account. He played prime minister Menachem Begin in the TV movie "Sadat." Mr. Morse played two different historical figures in the excellent miniseries "The Winds of War" and "War and Remembrance." He played Joseph Kennedy, patriarch of the political family in "Hoover vs. the Kennedys: The Second Civil War."

Horror and sci-fi fans remember Mr. Morse for a whole host of performances in movies and TV shows. He had a regular role on the series "Space 1999." He was part of a great ensemble cast in the Amicus omnibus horror film "Asylum." I saw "Asylum" on my first double date! Mr. Morse had a nice supporting role in the creepy ghost story "The Changeling." Other genre credits include "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Outer Limits," "The Invaders," "The Shape of Things to Come," "The Martian Chronicles," "Ray Bradbury Theater" and "Dracula: The Series."

Mr. Morse's non-genre credits include "Naked City," "Wagon Train," "The Untouchables," "The Defenders," "Justine," "Puzzle of a Downfall Child," "Truman at Potsdam" the excellent Chris Sarandon version of "A Tale of Two Cities" and "Anne of Green Gables: The Continuing Story."

CHARLES FAWCETT Died Feb. 3, 2008

Actor and freedom fighter Charles Fawcett died at age 92. Charles Fawcett lived the kind of life a Hollywood screenwriter could only dream of creating. Mr. Fawcett appeared over 60 films during his lengthy career, but that is the least interesting thing about his full, adventure laden life. I first heard of Mr. Fawcett while listening to either Sean Hannity or Michael Savage on the radio. Whoever it was told the tale of a very interesting gentleman who spent his life trying to help those being victimized by tyrants. What an amazing life. Charles Fawcett fought against tyranny during WWII, in the Greek Civil War, the Hungarian uprising against Russia, the Belgian Congo and during the Soviet/Afghan war. During most of these battles, Mr. Fawcett was suffering from TB. He rescued British POWs from the Nazis. He married a number of Jewish women in order to get them Visas to escape to America. He flew for the RAF! Mr. Fawcett flew rescue mission to Hungary and the Belgian Congo to free refugees. Mr. Fawcett was the man who filmed Russian atrocities against the Afghans which lead to US funding of the freedom fighters who eventually defeated the Soviet war machine. Someone should make a movie about the amazing Charles Fawcett.

As for his film career, Charles Fawcett worked mainly in Europe. He appeared in numerous B-Movies throughout the years. Mr. Fawcett is known to horror movie fans for his role in "I, Vampiri." The 1957 film kicked off the revival of gothic horror films in Europe during the late 1950s. "I, Vampiri" predated both of Hammer Film's better known entries in the cycle "The Horror of Dracula" and "The Curse of Frankenstein." Mr. Fawcett's other credits include "Barabbas," "The 300 Spartans," "The Secret of Dr. Mabuse" and "Uncle Tom's Cabin."

ROBERT DOQUI Died Feb. 9, 2008

Prolific character actor Robert DoQui died at age 74. Mr. DoQui appeared in over 110 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. Action movie fans will remember him best as the no-nonsense police Sgt. Reed in the "Robo Cop" films. Mr. Doqui was adept at playing heroes, villains and comedic roles. Robert Altman cast him in three of his best films. Mr. DoQui played the bartender who rescues the talentless character played by Gwen Welles from humiliation in the classic film "Nashville." The following year Altman cast Mr. DoQui in "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson." His final film with Robert Altman was 1993's "Short Cuts."

Robert DoQui's many film credits include the Blaxploitation classic "Coffy." He played the pimp King George opposite Pam Grier in the title role. In 1966 master director Billy Wilder cast Mr. DoQui in the comedy "The Fortune Cookie." One of his first film roles was in a supporting part in Norman Jewison's "The Cincinnati Kid." He replaced Felton Perry as Obra in the sequel "Walking Tall Part 2." Mr. DoQui had a supporting role in "The Man" which dealt with the first Black president of the USA. If he had lived until next fall there would have been an excellent chance of Mr. DoQui seeing that even happen in real life!

Other film and TV credits include "The Practice," "ER," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "NYPD Blue," "Picket Fences," "The Court-Martial of Jackie Robinson," "Miracle Mile," "Cloak & Dagger," "Hill Street Blues," "Knots Landing," "The White Shadow," "Guyana: Crime of the Century," "Centennial," "How the West Was Won," "Maude," "The Rockford Files," "The Jeffersons," "The Streets of San Francisco," "Sanford and Son," "Happy Days," "Banacek," "Longstreet," "Mission: Impossible," "Ironside," "The Name of the Game," "The Devil's 8," "Up Tight!," "The High Chaparral," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "The Mod Squad," "Get Smart," "Tarzan," "Daktari," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Fugitive," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion" and "The Outer Limits."

ROY SCHEIDER Died Feb. 10, 2008

Oscar-nominated actor Roy Scheider died of complications from a staph infection at age 75. Mr. Scheider suffered from the blood plasma cell cancer multiple Myeloma for the past few years. Roy Scheider was nominated twice for acting Oscars. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in the true-crime action film "The French Connection." Mr. Scheider played Gene Hackman's partner Sgt. Buddy Russo in the 1971 Best Picture Oscar-winning film. Mr. Scheider reprised his role as Buddy Russo in Philip D'Antoni's gritty 1973 cop drama "The Seven Ups." Mr. Scheider was nominated for the Best Actor Oscar in Bob Fosse's autobiographical "All That Jazz." Roy Scheider may be best remembered for playing Chief Brody in Steven Speilberg's blockbuster "Jaws." Roy Scheider gave up the Robert DeNiro role in "The Deer Hunter" to reprise his role as Chief Brody in the clunker "Jaws 2."

Roy Scheider appeared in nearly 90 films and TV shows during his career. He appeared in a dozen or so TV shows and films during the 1960s. He also appeared in Broadway in "Tartuffe" during the 1960s. It wasn't until the 1970s that Roy Scheider broke through and became a major film star. His first major notices came playing Jane Fonda's pimp in "Klute." That role was followed by his Oscar-nominated role in William Friedkin's "The French Connection." He followed these two hit films with the French crime drama "The Outside Man," "The Seven Ups" and "Shelia Levene is Dead and Living in New York." In 1975 "Jaws" changed the way movies were made and marketed. It also cemented Roy Scheider's place on the A-List. His follow-up film was as Dustin Hoffman's CIA agent brother in "Marathon Man." Roy Scheider reteamed with William Freidkin starring in "Sorcerer." The underrated action movie was an excellent remake of the French classic "The Wages of Fear." Unfortunately, the film bombed at the box-office. Roy Scheider ended the 1970s with a second Oscar nomination in "All That Jazz." Mr. Scheider also received BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations for his portrayal of the death and sex-obsessed Broadway choreographer.

Roy Scheider made his second and final Broadway appearance during the 1980s starring in the 1980 production "Betrayal." His biggest box-office hit of the 1980s was John Badham's "Blue Thunder." He also starred in the sci-fi sequel "2010: The Year We Make Contact." Other memorable films from the 1980s include "Still of the Night" and "52 Pick-Up." Roy Scheider continued to co-star in major films during the early 1990s. He appeared in "The Fourth War," "The Russia House," "Naked Lunch" and "Romeo is Bleeding." Following this period, Roy Scheider appeared mainly in TV shows and B-movies. He did have occasional supporting roles in major films such as "The Peacekeeper" and "The Rainmaker." Mr. Scheider starred in the sci-fi TV series "Sea Quest DSV." He had a recurring role on the TV series "Third Watch." Roy Scheider had finished work on the upcoming films "Dark Honeymoon" and "Iron Cross."

DAVID GROH Died Feb. 12, 2008

Actor David Groh died of kidney cancer at age 68. Mr. Groh was best known for his role as Valerie Harper's boyfriend Joe on the hit TV series "Rhoda." Mr. Groh appeared in over 75 films and TV shows. Soap Opera fans remember Mr. Groh for his role as D.L. Brock on "General Hospital." Though best known for his role in the comedy "Rhoda" he was often cast as the heavy. Mr. Groh's many credits include "Two-Minute Warning," "Victory at Entebbe," "Police Story," "Fantasy Island," "L.A. Law," "Get Shorty," "The X Files" and "Baywatch."

KON ICHIKAWA Died Feb. 13, 2008

Japanese master director Kon Ichikawa died of pneumonia at age 92. Mr. Ichikawa was regarded by many to be the greatest Japanese director next to Akira Kurosawa. Mr. Ichikawa directed the 1956 film "The Burma Harp," which was nominated for the Best Foreign Film Oscar in 1957. Mr. Ichikawa was nominated for dozens of awards around the world for his work. His films "Kagi" and "Ototo" won awards at Cannes. Mr. Ichikawa won two BAFTAs for his documentary "Tokyo Olympiad." Mr. Ichikawa was nominated for seven Best Director Awards by the Awards of the Japanese Academy. Kon Ichikawa directed nearly 90 films during a career that began in the 1940s. He produced Akira Kurosawa's Oscar-nominated film "Dodes'ka-den." Mr. Kurosawa wrote Mr. Ichikawa's 2000 film "Dora-heita."

PERRY LOPEZ Died Feb. 14, 2008

Actor Perry Lopez died of lung cancer at age 78. Mr. Lopez was best remembered for his role as Lt. Escobar in Roman Polanski's Oscar-winner "Chinatown." Lt. Escobar was the friend and former colleague of Jack Nicholson's Jake Gittes. Mr. Lopez repised his role in the sequel "The Two Jakes." However his character was now Captain Escobar. Perry Lopez made his film debut as a doomed Brazilian native in the Universal monster movie "Creature from the Black Lagoon." Another early role was in the classic "Mister Roberts." Other film credits include the John Wayne Western "McLintock!," "Bandolero!" with Raquel Welch, Clint Eastwood's WWII action/comedy "Kelly's Heroes," "Flaming Star" with Elvis Presley, "Omar Khayyam," "Taras Bulba," "I Died a Thousand Times" and the Charles Bronson films "Kinjite: Forbidden Subjects" and "Death Wish 4."

Mr. Lopez appeared in many, many TV series. He often appeared in Western series. His TV credits include "Hart to Hart," "The Fall Guy," "Charlie's Angels," "The Mod Squad," "Mannix," "The Wild Wild West," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Judd for the Defense," "Tarzan," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ," "Star Trek," "The Time Tunnel," "Mission: Impossible," "The F.B.I. ," "The Virginian," "Wagon Train," "Bonanza," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "The Rebel," "The Rifleman," "Zorro" and "Alfred Hitchcock Presents."

DAVID WATKIN Died Feb. 19, 2008

Oscar-winning cinematographer David Watkin died at age 82. Mr. Watkin won the Oscar for his work on Sidney Pollack's "Out of Africa." Mr. Watkin's work was also honored with nine BAFTA nominations (1 win), three BSC awards (1 win plus a lifetime achievement award) and three awards from the Los Angeles and New York Film Critics. David Watkin was a pioneer of bouncing light technique. Mr. Watkin would set up a shot by reflect lighting off of a white surface onto his subject. David Watkin worked numerous times with such noted directors as Richard Lester, Ken Russell and Tony Richardson.

Mr. Watkin shot eight films for director Richard Lester. Among them the Beatles' second film "Help!." He also shot Lester's classic 1970s films "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers." There other collaborations were "The Knack…and How To Get It," "The Bed Sitting Room," "How I Won the War," "Cuba" and "Robin and Marian." Director Tony Richardson called on Mr. Watkin for six films. They include "The Hotel New Hampshire," "Joseph Andrews," "A Delicate Balance" and "Mahogany." Mr. Watkin shot two of Ken Russell's films: "The Boy Friend" and "The Devils."

I never understood why Mr. Watkin was not nominated for an Oscar for his stunning photography on "Chariots of Fire." His use of slow motion during the incredible race and training sequences created some of the most memorable visuals of any film of the 1980s. Another film which remains burned into the viewer's pyche is Peter Brook's disturbing "Marat/Sade." Mr. Watkin created some of the most shocking visuals of any film of the 1960s. Horror movie fans remember the luscious images he captured of Natasha Kinski in "To the Devil a Daughter." Though Mr. Watkin didn't film the entire movie, he did shoot the title sequence to the James Bond classic "Goldfinger."

His many other notable credits include the miniseries "Jesus of Nazareth," "Yentl," "Return to Oz," "White Nights," "Moonstruck," Mel Gibson's version of "Hamlet," "Memphis Belle," "Used People," "This Boy's Life," "Bopha!," Franco Zeffirelli's version of "Jane Eyre" and the remake of "Gloria."

Mr. Watkin wrote two volumes of his autobiography: "Why is There Only One Word For Thesaurus?" and "Was Clara Schumann a Fag Hag?" Mr. Watkin served his country in the British Army during WWII. Mr. Watkin was openly Gay and is survived by his civil partner Nick Hand.

ROBIN MOORE Died Feb. 22, 2008

Author, adventurer and patriot Robin Moore died at age 82. Mr. Moore was diagnosed with cancer in 2005. Robin Moore (real name Robert Moore Jr.) was the son of the co-founder of the Sheraton Hotel Chain. He turned his back on the hotel business to live a full life of adventure. Under the pen name Robin Moore, he published a number of successful novels. Mr. Moore co-wrote the true-crime book "The French Connection." The book was turned into the Oscar-winning film of the same name. Robin Moore loved the military. He served as a nose-gunner in the US Army Air Corps during WWII and saw combat over the skies of Europe. During the 1960s, Mr. Moore trained with the US Army Special Forces and went to Vietnam with them as an observer. The best-selling novel "The Green Berets" was the result. That book was also turned into a major motion picture starring John Wayne. Mr. Moore also collaborated with Green Beret Sgt. Barry Sadler on the hit record "The Ballad of the Green Berets." Robin Moore collaborated with famed prostitute and Madam Xavier Hollander on her biography "The Happy Hooker." Lynn Redgrave starred in the film version of Moore's book. Mr. Moore co-wrote the script for the Sun Myung Moon produced war film "Inchon." Mr. Moore remained active to the end of his life. In 2001 he was given escort into Afghanistan by US Special Forces to research his book "The Hunt for Bin Laden." Like actor Charles Fawcett, who died earlier this month, Robin Moore's adventure filled life would make a great movie. Thanks for your service to our country and thanks for the many books you left behind for us to enjoy.

BUDDY MILES Died Feb. 26, 2008

Legendary drummer Buddy Miles died at age 60. Mr. Miles had been in poor health for some time. Buddy Miles was one of the greatest R&B drummers of all time. He played with Jimi Hendrix's "Band of Gypsies," Mike Bloomfield's "Electric Flag" and Carlos Santana. Mr. Miles scored a huge hit with the song "Them Changes." Jimi Hendrix, Buddy Miles and bassist Billy Cox formed "Band of Gypsies" after "The Jimi Hendrix Experience" disbanded. The group appeared in the documentary "Band of Gypsies: Live at the Filmore East." Mr. Miles also appeared in the 190 documentary "A Film About Jimi Hendrix." He appeared in the TV documentary "33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee." If you look quick you can spot Buddy Miles talking with Gary Busey as they board the tour bus in the Oscar-nominated "The Buddy Holly Story."

WILLIAM F. BUCKLEY Died Feb. 27, 2008

Conservative author William F. Buckley died of emphysema at age 82. Mr. Buckley was probably the greatest conservative thinker of his age. Mr. Buckley carried the argument for conservative ideals to any and all who cared to debate. His grasp of the English language was finely honed and developed to a degree to which we all should aspire to achieve. Among the many films and documentaries featuring Mr. Buckley are "Rowen & Martin's Laugh-In," "Hugh Hefner: Once Upon a Time," "The Life and Times of Allen Ginsberg" and "The Odyssey of John Dos Passos."

MIKE SMITH Died Feb. 28, 2008

Mike Smith, the lead singer of the British rock band "The Dave Clark 5" died of pneumonia at age 64. Mr. Smith was hospitalized for most of the time following a 2003 fall which paralyzed him from the waist down. Mr. Smith was recently allowed to return home where he passed away. "The Dave Clark 5" was part of the British Invasion which changed the face of Rock and Roll during the early 1960s. I was lucky enough to have older brothers and sisters in the early 1960s. I remember sneaking into their rooms while they were off to school and playing their 45rpm records. Two bands other than the Beatles caught my ear: "The Animals" and "The Dave Clark 5." I loved the music of "The Dave Clark 5" and spent lots of time trying to impress the neighborhood girls by singing their hits. Ah, the life of a pre-school Romeo. "The Dave Clark 5" scored hit after hit during the early and mid-1960s. Such songs as "Glad All Over," "Bits and Pieces," "Because," "Do You Love Me," "Catch Us If You Can," "I Like It Like That" and made "The Dave Clark 5" the biggest threat to the Beatles dominance of the billboard charts. Mike Smith played keyboards and was the lead singer. The band appeared a record 15-times on "The Ed Sullivan Show." The band starred in the 1965 film "Catch Us If You Can." John Boorman made his feature film directorial debut with the "Hard Day's Night" knock-off. A year earlier "The Dave Clark 5" played a song during a musical cameo in the film "Get Yourself a College Girl." Mr. Smith died on the eve of the band's induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. This is an honor that should have been granted years ago, even before the 2006 death of the band's saxophone player Denis Payton. Mr. Smith is at the top right of the picture.

JEFF HEALEY Died Mar. 2, 2008

Blind guitar legend Jeff Healey died of cancer at age 41. Mr. Healey lost his sight to cancer when he was an infant. He began playing guitar at age 3 and became one of the world's foremost guitar virtuosos. Jeff Healey played rock, blues, jazz and classical guitar styles. He was about to release his first new blues/rock album in nearly a decade. For those who don't remember the late 1980s or early 1990s, YouTube is full of classic clips of Jeff Healey destroying the competition. I highly recommend checking out the video of Mr. Healey and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan tearing up the song "Look at Little Sister." One of my guilty pleasures is the Patrick Swayze B-movie "Road House." Jeff Healey provided some great music and had respectable acting chops as Cody, the musician who rocked the bar. A fun, trashy movie, made all the better for Jeff Healey's presence. Jeff Healey performed on numerous TV shows worldwide. There was a corny old song called "Rock and Roll Heaven" in which the singer lamented about those who have passed away. I'm sure if anyone were to rerecord that song today it would contain a lyric about Jeff Healey. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends, especially his two young children.

LEONARD ROSENMAN Died Mar. 4, 2008

Oscar and Emmy-winning composer Leonard Rosenman died of a heart attack at age 83. Mr. Rosenman won back-to-back Oscars for his work on Stanley Kubrick's "Barry Lyndon" and Hal Ashby's "Bound for Glory." He was nominated for two more Oscars for "Cross Creek" and "Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home." Mr. Rosenman won two Emmy awards for the miniseries "Sybil" and the TV movie "Friendly Fire." Mr. Rosenman contributed his talent to over 100 films and TV shows.

Leonard Rosenman's long career began with the James Dean films "East of Eden" and "Rebel Without a Cause." Later he would score James Bridges' 1978 film "September 30. 1955," which dealt with the news of James Dean's death on a young man played by Richard Thomas.

Horror and Sci-Fi fans will remember Mr. Rosenman's memorable scores for such films as "Fantastic Voyage," Robert Altman's "Countdown," "Beneath the Planet of the Apes," "Battle for the Planet of the Apes," "Race With the Devil," "The Car," "Prophecy" and "RoboCop 2."

Leonard Roseman also scored several memorable crime films including "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond," "The Todd Killings" and "Hide in Plain Sight." Other credits include the Neil Diamond version of "The Jazz Singer," "A Man Called Horse," Steve McQueen's little seen "An Enemy of the People," "The Chapman Report" and "Making Love."

BILL HAYWARD Died Mar. 9, 2008

Producer and entertainment attorney Bill Hayward committed suicide at age 66. Mr. Hayward shot himself in the heart. Mr. Hayward was the son of super agent Leland Hayward and actress Margaret Sullavan. He was the brother of actress Brooke Hayward. Mr. Hayward was an associate producer on the landmark indie film "Easy Rider." "Easy Rider" director Dennis Hopper was once married to Brooke Hayward. His sister Brooke wrote the book "Haywire" about the family's troubled past. Bill Hayward produced the TV movie based on his sister's book. Actor Hart Bochner portrayed Mr. Hayward in the TV movie. Bill Hayward produced five films with his friend Peter Fonda: "Easy Rider," "The Hired Hand," "Wanda Nevada," "High-Ballin'" and "The Idaho Transfer." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

IVAN DIXON Died Mar. 18, 2008

Emmy-nominated actor, producer and director Ivan Dixon died of a hemorrhage at age 76. Mr. Dixon was also suffering from kidney failure. Ivan Dixon was best known for his role as Sgt. Kinchloe on the hit TV series "Hogan's Heroes." Mr. Dixon was one of the few Black actors to have a major, and non-stereotypical role on a network TV series during the turbulent 1960s. Ivan Dixon was nominated for an Outstanding Actor in a Lead Role Emmy for the 1967 "CBS Playhouse" production "The Final War of Olly Winter." Ivan Dixon appeared in over 50 films and TV shows during his career. He also enjoyed success as a director of feature films and TV shows. His daughter Doris is a production assistant.

Mr. Dixon was Sidney Poitier's stunt double in Stanley Kramer's landmark film "The Defiant Ones." Mr. Portier and Mr. Dixon became friends on the set. The two men acted together in four other films. Mr. Dixon played Mr. Poitier's brother in the Oscar-winning "A Patch of Blue." Their other credits include "Porgy and Bess," "Something of Value" and "A Raisin in the Sun." Ivan Dixon also appeared in the 1959 Broadway production of "A Raisin in the Sun." He also appeared in "The Cave Dwellers" on Broadway. One of Ivan Dixon's most memorable films was the 1964 indie film "Nothing But a Man." Micahel Roemer's film still packs a powerful punch. The film was added to the National Film Registry in 1993. Set in the South, "Nothing But a Man" was a love story told in a frank manner. What was and still is refreshing about the film is that the characters are Black. This was one of the landmark films that helped break down the racial stereotypes so long in place in Hollywood. Ivan Dixons other acting credits include "Suppose They Gave a War and Nobody Came?," "Car Wash," the cool TV snakes on a submarine movie "Fer De Lance" and the miniseries "Amerika." Ivan Dixon was a successful director. He helmed the Blaxploitation films "Trouble Man" and "The Spook Who Sat By the Door" as well have many, many episodic TV shows.

ANTHONY MINGHELLA Died Mar. 18, 2008

Oscar and BAFTA winning director Anthony Minghella died of a hemorrhage at age 54. Last week Mr. Minghella underwent surgery to remove cancer from his neck. Mr. Minghella won the Best Director Oscar and BAFTA for "The English Patient." He was nominated for two Best Writing Oscars for "The English Patient" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Anthony Minghella was the brother of screenwriters Dominic and Edana Minghella. He was the father of actor Max and Hannah Minghella, the President of Production of Sony Pictures Animation.

Anthony Minghella directed seven feature films during his career. He won a Best Director BAFTA for his debut film "Truly Madly Deeply." Mr. Minghella followed this with the enjoyable Matt Dillon/Annabella Sciorra romancer "Mr. Wonderful." His third film was the acclaimed "The English Patient." The film was honored with over 80 awards and nominations worldwide including nine Oscars including Best Picture. Next was "The Talented Mr. Ripley." Mr. Minghella's film earned five Oscar nominations and seven BAFTAs. Jude Law's Best Supporting Actor BAFTA was the film's lone win. Mr. Minghella reteamed with Jude Law for his next film: "Cold Mountain." "Cold Mountain" received thirteen BAFTA nominations (3 wins) and seven Oscar nominations. Renee Zellweger's Best Supporting Actress Oscar was the film's lone win. The 2006 feature "Breaking and Entering" was the final film released during Mr. Minghella's lifetime. This was his final film with actor Jude Law. He had recently completed production on his final film "The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency."

Anthony Minghella began his career as a writer. He wrote for numerous TV shows including "Inspector Morse" and "The Storyteller." He also wrote or co-wrote the scripts for all of his feature films except "Mr. Wonderful." Mr. Minghella also produced a number of films for other directors. His producer credits include "Iris," the great thriller "Heaven," the remake of "The Quiet American," "The Interpreter" and "Michael Clayton." Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

SIR ARTHUR C. CLARKE Died Mar. 19, 2008

Oscar nominated screenwriter and award-winning author Arthur C. Clarke died of respiratory problems at age 90. Sir Clarke had been mostly wheel-chair bound due to post-polio syndrome since 1988. Arthur C. Clarke wrote science fiction as well as futurist speculation concerning the development of space exploration. Many of his predictions from the 1950s and 60s have come true. Sir Clarke developed the idea of world-wide telecommunications via satellites in geosynchronous orbit. He also developed the idea of the space elevator. Arthur C. Clarke served his country as a radar specialist with the RAF during WWII. He took part in the Battle of Britain.

Arthur C. Clarke and Stanley Kubrick shared an Oscar nomination for the landmark film "2001: A Space Odyssey." The pair used Clarke's story "The Sentinel" as the starting point of their script. Clarke and Kubrick also worked simultaneously on a novel of the story. Arthur C. Clarke received sole credit for the book which differed in several respects from the film. Director Peter Hyams adapted Clarke's novel "2010: Odyssey Two" into the film "2010: The Year We Make Contact." The sequel was less mystical than the Kubrick film, but was still an excellent science fiction film.

Arthur C. Clarke's novel "Rendezvous With Rama" is in pre-production stages with director David Fincher at the helm. Clarke co-wrote the documentary film "The Colours of Infinity." His short story "Breaking Strain" was turned into the 1994 film "Trapped in Space." Arthur C. Clarke appeared as himself in numerous documentary films and TV shows. He was a TV commentator along with Walter Cronkite for CBS during the Apollo moon landings.

PAUL SCOFIELD Died Mar. 19, 2008

Oscar, Tony, Emmy and BAFTA-winning actor Paul Scofield died of leukemia at age 86. Paul Scofield was considered one of the greatest British stage actors of the last century. Though he appeared in over 30 films and TV shows, Mr. Scofield's first love was the stage. Paul Scofield starred as Sir Thomas More in the 1962 Broadway production of "A Man for All Seasons." He won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play. He reprised his role in the 1966 film, winning the Best Actor Oscar in the process. Mr. Scofield was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in Robert Redford's 1994 film "Quiz Show." Mr. Scofield's talent was honored in England with five BAFTA nominations. He won three times for his work in "That Lady," "A Man for All Seasons" and "The Crucible." He received an Emmy Award for the 1969 TV movie "Male of the Species" which co-starred Sean Connery, Michael Caine and Laurence Olivier!

Among his memorable film roles was the Nazi art lover Col. Waldheim in John Frankenheimer's 1964 film "The Train." Burt Lancaster co-starred as the French resistance fighter trying to thwart Scofield from looting art treasures before the fall of Paris. Scofield and Lancaster reteamed in the 1973 thriller "Scorpio." He co-starred with Katherine Hepburn in the American Film Theater production of "A Delicate Balance." Mr. Scofield played the title role in Peter Brook's production of "King Lear." Mr. Scofield's other Shakespearian roles on film include parts in Kenneth Branagh's "Henry V" and Mel Gibson's "Hamlet." Mr. Scofield played Otto Frank in the excellent TV movie "The Attic: The Hiding of Anne Frank." Paul Scofield's last major feature film role was in the 1996 version of "The Crucible."

NEIL ASPINALL Died Mar. 23, 2008

Producer and long-time Beatles associate Neil Aspinall died of lung cancer at age 66. Mr. Aspinall was a childhood friend of the lads from Liverpool. He began driving them to gigs and later became their road manager. After the death of manager Brian Epstein, Mr. Aspinall served for a short time as the band's manager. He was a producer of the band's final film "Let It Be." Following the break-up of the band, Mr. Aspinall ran Apple Records. He held the post until his retirement last year. Mr. Aspinall was nominated for an Emmy Award for the TV special "The Beatles: Anthology." He also produced "The Beatles in Help!," "Hendrix: Band of Gypsies" and "The Beatles: The First U.S. Visit."

RICHARD WIDMARK Died Mar. 24, 2008

Oscar-nominated actor Richard Widmark died at age 93. He had been in ill health after breaking a vertebrae. Richard Widmark was an accomplished actor who shunned the bright-lights and flash that came with Movie Star status. He was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his 1947 screen debut as the evil killer Tommy Udo in "Kiss of Death." Mr. Widmark was typecast as a psychotic killer after the Film Noir classic, but was able to break out of the mold and portray a wide range of characters during his long career.

Richard Widmark moved from radio to film in 1947. He tried to enlist in the military three times during WWII but was turned down because of a perforated eardrum. He made his debut in "Kiss of Death." Henry Hathaway's "Kiss of Death" is one of the best movies in the Film Noir genre. The movie catapulted Richard Widmark to stardom in his Oscar-nominated performance as psycho killer Tommy Udo. This is the movie in which Widmark throws a wheel-chair bound Mildred Dunnock down a flight of stairs. Mr. Widmark made six more films during the 1940s. His next film "The Street With No Name" cemented Widmark's status as a classic badguy. He played a psychotic, wife-beating gang leader targeted by the FBI. Next came "Road House," a minor Noir love triangle film. Widmark's fourth film was his first Western. In William Wellman's "Yellow Sky" he played villain against Gregory Peck's hero. In 1949 Mr. Widmark reteamed with director Henry Hathaway for "Down to the Sea in Ships."

Richard Widmark starred in 26 films during the 1950s. He started the decade with Jules Dassin's Film Noir classic "Night and the City." Once again he was the heavy. In his next film Mr. Widmark got to play the hero. Elia Kazan's "Panic in the Streets" dealt with a Navy medical officer assisting the police in tracking down a criminal who had contracted the Plague. Jack Palance co-starred as the badguy. Widmark returned to the villain role for "No Way Out." He played a bigoted stick-up man being treated for gunshot wounds by a Black doctor. Sidney Poitier co-starred as the doctor. The two actors became life-long friends. Though Widmark was not allowed to serve his country during the war he often portrayed American fighting men. His first war film was Lewis Milestone's all-star "The Halls of Montezuma." Widmark followed this up with another war film "The Frogmen." In the 1952 thriller "Don't Bother to Knock" Richard Widmark had the tables turned on him. He was the hero being menaced by the psycho. Marilyn Monroe played the crazed baby-sitter in her break through role.

Director Sam Fuller cast Widmark as his anti-hero in the Noir classic "Pickup on South Street." Widmark plays a pickpocket who inadvertently steals microfilm intended to be delivered to the commies. A great film. Fuller and Widmark reteamed a year later with the Cold War thriller "Hell and High Water." Other memorable films from the 1950s include the Gary Coopper Western "Garden of Evil," "Broken Lance" with Spencer Tracy, "The Last Wagon," Otto Preminger's "Saint Joan" (memorably bad!) and the excellent Western "Warlock." In 1957 Richard Widmark produced his first film: "Time Limit." Actor Karl Malden directed the Korean War court-martial film. Richard Basehart received a BAFTA nomination for his performance as the man accused of being a traitor. Richard Widmark would produce two more films during his career.

During the 1960s starred in two-dozen films, produced two and co-directed one. He started the decade off playing American legend Jim Bowie in John Wayne's bloated epic "The Alamo." I remember the first time I saw the movie on TV in 1971. I thought Richard Widmark was so cool with his multi-barrel shotgun. His performance remains one of the best things in the film. Richard Widmark produced, co-directed and starred in his next film, the Cold War thriller "The Secret Ways." One of the biggest films of Mr. Widmark's career was the 1961 Stanley Kramer classic "Judgment at Nuremberg." The film was written by Abby Mann who died the day after star Richard Widmark. Mr. Widmark played the Army prosecutor during the Nazi war crimes trials. He held his own opposite such stars as Spencer Tracy, Burt Lancaster, Maximilian Schell, Montgomery Cliff and Judy Garland.

The following year Mr. Widmark was part of the all-star epic "How the West Was Won." In 1963 he starred in John Ford's final Western "Cheyenne Autumn" playing a US Calvary officer sympathetic to the plight of the American Indians. The 1965 Cold War thriller "The Bedford Incident" remains one of the best films of the genre. Widmark starred and produced the cat-and-mouse tale of a Navy destroyer commander tracking a Soviet submarine that strayed into US waters. This was the third film co-starring Widmark and friend Sidney Poitier.

In 1968 Richard Widmark delivered a great performance as the tough New York detective "Madigan." He would later reprise the role in a short lived TV series. The movie was directed by Don Siegel. Widmark's final film of the decade was "Death of a Gunfighter." Widmark had creative differences with director Bob Totten and had him replaced by Don Siegel. When it came time to release the film Don Siegel said he had not directed enough of the film to have his name in the credits. Bob Totten did not want credit either. The result was that "Death of a Gunfighter" became the first film directed by Allen Smithee!

Mr. Widmark slowed down his career during the 1970s but he still gave several memorable performances. Mr. Widmark won an Emmy Award for his performance in the TV movie "Vanished." He played the title role in the 1974 TV miniseries "Benjamin Franklin." Another fun TV movie was "The Last Day" which dealt with the Dalton's failed attempt to rob Mr. Widmark appeared 11 feature films during the 1970s. He gave one of the best performances of his career in Stuart Millar's rodeo drama "When Legends Die." The film rivals Sam Peckinpah's "Junior Bonner" as one of the best character studies of men on the rodeo circuit. Richard Widmark added just the right touch of slime as the murder victim Mr. Ratchett in Sidney Lumet's all-star whodunit "Murder on the Orient Express." One of my guilty pleasures is the Hammer Horror film "To the Devil a Daughter." I think my enjoyment of the film has more to do with Nastassja Kinski than Richard Widmark but he was fine also. Many of Richard Whidmark's 1970s film roles were in supporting parts. Other notable credits include Robert Aldrich's "Twilight's Last Gleaming," Stanley Kramer's "The Domino Principle," "Rollercoaster" and "The Swarm."

Richard Widmark made five feature films and seven TV movies during the 1980s and 90s at which point he retired from acting. Among his final credits are the TV movie "A Whale for the Killing," the Gene Wilder/Gilda Radner comedy "Hanky Panky," "A Gathering of Old Men" and "Cold Sassy Tree." In 1984 Richard Widmark had a supporting role in the remake of the Noir classic "Out of the Past." "Against All Odds" paled in comparison to the original film. Mr. Widmark's cameo and an out of place car race down Sunset Blvd are the only things the movie had going for it. Richard Widmark's final feature film was the political thriller "True Colors." The film was a fine swansong for the veteran actor. A great performance in a supporting. Just as strong at the end as he was at the beginning of his career. Rest in Peace Mr. Widmark.

ABBY MANN Died Mar. 25, 2008

Oscar and Emmy-winning screenwriter Abby Mann died of heart failure at age 84. Mr. Mann won the Oscar for his script "Judgment at Nuremberg." He was nominated for a second Oscar for "Ship of Fools." He was also nominated for WGA Awards for both films.

My first memory of Mr. Mann's work was the excellent TV movie "The Marcus-Nelson Murders." The Emmy-winning Made for TV movie starred Telly Savalas and Marjoe Gortner. It was based on the true-crime story of the Wylie/Hoffert 'Career Girl' murders in New York. Abby Mann was drawn to stories of injustice. "The Marcus-Nelson Murders" mirrored the real-life case in which a Black man was beaten into confessing a double murder. He was later cleared when other detectives uncovered evidence to exonerate the suspect and find the real culprit. Telly Savalas played the composite character Detective Theo Kojak. This Emmy0winning TV film became the springboard for the hit TV series "Kojak." The original movie was far superior to any of the TV episodes. Abby Mann is credited as the creator of the TV series. He produced several episodes but became disenchanted with the direction the TV series took.

Abby Mann was nominated for ten Emmy Awards during his lengthy career. He won three awards. Two for his scripts for "The Marcus-Nelson Murders" and "Murderers Among Us: The Simon Wiesenthal Story" and a third award for producing the HBO movie "Indictment: The McMartin Trial." He was nominated for writing and directing the TV miniseries "King," which dealt with the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Other credits include the feature films John Cassavettes' early directorial feature "A Child is Waiting," "Report to the Commissioner" and Frank Sinatra's "The Detective." Mr. Mann later wrote the TV biopic "Sinatra." His other writing and producing TV credits include "The Atlanta Child Murders," "Skag," "Medical Story," "Playhouse 90" and "Studio One."

JULES DASSIN Died Mar. 31, 2008

Oscar-nominated director and writer Jules Dassin died of the flu at age 96. The American expatriate became a Greek citizen in 1981. Jules Dassin was the husband of actress Melina Mercouri. He directed her in the 1960 film "Never on Sunday." The tale of a prostitute in Greece garnered Mr. Dassin Best Director and Best Writing Oscar nominations. His wife also received a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance. Jules Dassin directed his wife in nine feature films including the hilarious "Topkapi" and the Oscar-nominated "Phaedra" opposite Tony Perkins.

Mr. Dassin began directing films during the 1940s. He helmed five of the best movies in the Film Noir genre. His early films include the comedy "The Canterville Ghost." Mr. Dassin drew attention with the 1947 Noir film "Brute Force" starring Burt Lancaster. Next came the 1948 classic "The Naked City." The Oscar-winning film was shot on location in New York City, a novelty at the time. Mr. Dassin next directed "Thieves' Highway" starring Richard Conte and Lee J. Cobb. Mr. Dassin's final film for an American studio for nearly 20 years was the 1950 masterpiece "Night and the City." Richard Widmark starred as a London con-man with the worst luck in the world. Jules Dassin was Blacklisted after director Edward Dmytryk named him as a former communist in front of the House Un-American Activities committee. Dassin first moved to France and later Greece. Five years into his exile, Jules Dassin directed his second masterpiece in the Film Noir genre. "Rififi" is one of, if not the best 'perfect heist gone wrong' films. The movie is famous for the half hour long robbery sequence which does not include any dialogue or music. Often imitated, never bettered.

Jules Dassin returned to the US to directed the 1968 film "Up Tight!" The landmark film was based on "The Informer." He co-wrote the film with actress Ruby Dee and Julian Mayfield. "Up Tight!" dealt with the cultural revolution in the Black community during the 1960s. The movie struck a chord with Black audiences and scared the crap out of White audiences. It was one of the first films to break down the racial stereotypes so-long in place in Hollywood.

CHARLTON HESTON Died Apr. 5, 2008

Oscar-winning actor, political activist and American Icon Charlton Heston died at age 84. In 2002 Mr. Heston revealed to the world through an emotional video that he had been diagnosed with symptoms consistence to those of Alzheimer's disease. The cause of death was not revealed. Charlton Heston won the Best Actor Oscar for playing the title role in William Wyler's classic tale of the Christ "Ben-Hur." His best known performance was as Moses in Cecil B. Demille's 1956 film "The Ten Commandments." In 1978 the Academy honored Mr. Heston with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award. His widow is actress Lydia Clarke. They were married in 1944! Mr. Heston was the father of director Fraser Clarke Heston and adoptive father of Holly Heston Rocell.

Charlton Heston appeared in or leant his vocal talents to nearly 300 films, documentary films, TV shows and specials. He studied theater at Northwestern in Evanston Illinois before serving his country in the US Army-Air corps during WWII. Mr. Heston made his Broadway debut in a 1947 revival of "Antony and Cleopatra." He enjoyed success on the stage and won the 1950 Theater World Award for that year's production of "Design for a Stained Glass Window." Charlton Heston began his film and TV career in the 1950s.

Charlton Heston made several TV appearances and starred in the 1950 indie version of "Julius Caesar" directed by fellow Northwestern alum David Bradley. This was the first of three film performances by Mr. Heston as Marc Antony. In 1950 Charlton Heston made is studio feature film debut starring in the minor Film Noir thriller "Dark City." Next up was Cecil B. Demille's overrated circus epic "The Greatest Show On Earth." Heston lead an all-star cast in what is arguably the worst Best Picture Oscar winner of all time. Still, Heston cut a heroic figure on film. Charlton Heston played US President Andrew Jackson in two films during the 1950s. The first was the 1953 romancer "The President's Lady" opposite Susan Hayward. Next was in the 1958 war film "The Buccaneer."

Two films from the 1950s defined Charlton Heston's screen persona. He became to go-to-guy for historical figures following Cecil B. Demille's epic "The Ten Commandments." His larger-than-life Moses was memorable, due more to the spectacular sets and effects than for his performance in the film. While Mr. Heston was fine, he was out-performed by badguy Yul Brynner as Rameses, Edward G. Robinson and even Anne Baxter as the sexy siren Nefritiri. None of that mattered as the film cemented Charton Heston into film history as a true HERO. In 1959 Charlton Heston again starred in a biblical epic. This time, the depth of his performance as a Jewish Prince who comes to know Christ with his heart and mind showed that Charlton Heston was an outstanding actor. William Wyler's "Ben-Hur" is the greatest film of Charlton Heston's career. Heston's performance includes every imaginable human emotion realistically and painfully displayed. Sure, the film contains the exciting chariot race and naval battle, but the core of the film is Heston's performance as a man who had it all, was betrayed left for dead, obtained vengeance and later redemption. His Best Actor Oscar was well deserved. Next time you watch the film, step back from the epic elements to savor the humanity of Heston's rich performance.

While Heston's epics of the 1950s are his best known films, one shouldn't overlook his work in several other great movies of the 1950s. Heston starred in Orson Welles' classic "Touch of Evil." The film remains one of the best and most influential Film Noir thrillers of all time. Sure, the film's power comes more from the director than from Mr. Heston's performance, but Heston is still one of the elements that makes the movie work. Mr. Heston showed his darker side in the great man-against-nature thriller "The Naked Jungle." Also of note from the 1950s is the mystery/adventure film "The Wreck of the Mary Deare" which paired Mr. Heston with Gary Cooper in one of Mr. Cooper's final films.

Charlton Heston remained one of the biggest A-List actors during the 1960s. His film's from that decade are for the most part epic in scope. His final two films of the 1960s were smaller character studies. He began the decade with "El Cid" opposite Sophia Loren. The romanticized historical epic dealt with the war to drive North African Moor invaders from Spain in 1060. "Diamond Head," "55 Days at Peking," "Khartoum" and "The War Lord" followed. Heston in heroic roles in epic films. Of all the epics of the 1960s none was better than "The Agony and the Ecstasy." Heston was wonderful as the artist Michelangelo struggling to paint the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

In 1965 Charlton Heston was cast in a Western film to be directed by veteran TV director Sam Peckinpah. Mr. Heston admired Peckinpah's 1961 film "Ride the High Country." Heston took the title role in "Major Dundee." The story of the making of "Major Dundee" is legendary in Hollywood. The film was originally budgeted at $4.5 million dollars. Just prior to the beginning of shooting, Peckinpah was informed that Columbia had scrapped the Roadshow idea along with $1.5 million dollars of the budget. Peckinpah was told to pare down the script from an epic to just another action-filled Western. Peckinpah decided he was going to make the epic anyway. Trouble soon developed as the production went over budget. There were ego clashes as Charlton Heston threatened to run Sam Peckinpah through with a saber! The producers got nervous and tried to fire Peckinpah. Despite their differences Heston made a noble gesture and offered to give back his salary if Peckinpah stayed on board and that the film's missing scenes would be completed. The studio agreed, kept Heston's salary but did not allow Peckinpah to finish shooting the promised scenes! Heston once again showed that he could portray the dark side of human nature as the ambitious Dundee.

That dark side helped make the 1968 film "Planet of the Apes" a classic of American cinema. At a time when the real NASA astronauts were idolized around the world as true heroes, Charlton Heston played an American astronaut filled with cynicism and hate. He hated his world so much that he was willing to go on a space trip that would take him away from his time for ever. It was a bold move. It also fit the era as more and more Americans were becoming cynical of Vietnam and life in general. In real life Heston was a vocal oppenent of the Vietnam War. Political assassinations of the nation's best men were the rule, not the exception. "Planet of the Apes" fed on that cynicism. The sci-fi classic spawned a series of feature film sequels, a TV series and a remake in 2001. Charlton Heston appeared in the first sequel "Beneath the Planet of the Apes" as well as the dismal Tim Burton remake in 2001.

Charlton Heston's final two films of the 1960s are among his best. "Will Penny" is a grand character study of an aging cowboy. The old-school Western turns up now and again on the late show. It is a wonderful film that was over-looked at the time. Charlton Heston followed "Will Penny" with "Number One." From the old West to the world of the NFL during the 1960s, "Number One" tells the tale of a NFL quarterback on the downside of his career. Heston's Cat Catlan is a long way from Moses. These two films showcase Heston's talents by keeping the focus small.

The 1970s was a transitional time for Charlton Heston's career. This was the last decade in which he was a name-above-the-title leading man. His film output from the 70s was a mix one-dimensional epic heroes, character studies, smaller supporting roles and a few gems mixed in among the bunch.

Heston started the 70s reprising his role as Taylor in the best of the "Apes" sequels "Beneath the Planet of the Apes." Next he returned to the role of Marc Antony 1970 all-star version of "Julius Caesar." He rounded out 1970 with the epic "The Hawaiians." One of my guilty pleasures is Heston's 1971 sci-fi film "The Omega Man." This was the second film version of Richard Matheson's novel "I Am Legend." While the film looks somewhat dated now, Heston is still cool as ever as Dr. Robert Neville, the last man on earth. In 1972 Charlton Heston wrote, directed and starred in "Antony and Cleopatra." His third turn at playing Marc Antony was not well received by critics and withdrawn from circulation. Charlton Heston's return to sci-fi in 1973's "Soylent Green" resulted in a classic of the genre. Heston played a homicide cop who was coming too close to the secret of the title material. Edward G. Robinson co-starred with Heston in his final and beautiful film performance. Heston's 1976 Western "The Last Hard Men" features one of his best performances of the decade.

The 1970s was the decade of the disaster film…of Sensurround. The movies were big. They needed big stars to balance out the big effects. Charlton Heston was the go-to guy for many of these films. Heston could be seen saving the world, or at least the day in such films as "Skyjacked," "Airport 1975," "Earthquake," "Midway," "Two-Minute Warning" and "Gray Lady Down." Only the WWII historical drama "Midway" gave Mr. Heston much to do from a dramatic POV. He played a Naval officer in conflict with his son (Edward Albert) over the son's love of a Japanese American girl.

Charlton Heston stepped from the foreground to play nice supporting roles in three costume pictures from the 1970s. His performance as Cardinal Richelieu in Richard Lester's "The Three Musketeers" and "The Four Musketeers" is a wonderful portrait of absolute power and absolute corruption. The two movies were originally shot as one long epic, but the producers released them as two separate films. Heston and other cast members sued the producers and won over being paid salaries for just one film. Charlton Heston also made a cameo appearance as Henry VIII in director Richard Fleischer's "Crossed Swords."

The 1980s saw Charlton Heston move from the film to TV. He began the decade with three forgettable feature films: "The Mountain Men," "The Mother Lode" and the horror film "The Awakening." Like Hammer's sexy 1971 film "Blood From the Mummy's Tomb," "The Awakening" was based on Bram Stoker's book "Jewel of the 7 Stars." "The Mother Lode" was co-directed by father and son Charlton and Fraser Heston. Charlton Heston was best known to 1980s TV fans as Jason Colby in the TV series "Dynasty" and its spin-off "The Colbys." Mr. Heston returned to directing with the 1988 TV version of "A Man For All Seasons." Heston played Sir Thomas More opposite John Gielgud and Vanessa Redgrave. My personal Heston favorite from the 1980s was the TV miniseries "Chiefs." The Emmy-nominated series dealt with three generations of police chiefs in a small southern town dealing with a serial killer who kills through the decades. Great TV.

Charlton Heston began the 1990s with a father/son project. Charlton Heston's son Fraser directed the 1990 TV version of "Treasure Island" while Charlton Heston starred Long John Silver to Christian Bale's Jim Hawkins. Son Fraser Heston would direct his father in two more movies during the 1990s. In 1991 Fraser directed his father as Sherlock Holmes in the TV movie "The Crucifer of Blood." In 1996 father and son reteamed for the feature film "Alaska." Charlton Heston played lead roles in the Alan Smithee stinker "Solar Crisis" and the great made for TV movie "Crash Landing: The Rescue of Flight 232."

Otherwise Mr. Heston's work in the 1990s consisted of a number of memorable cameo appearances. Charlton Heston added spice with memorable cameos in the tough Western "Tombstone," "True Lies," Oliver Stone's "Any Given Sunday," "Wayne's World 2," John Carpenter's "In the Mouth of Madness" and Kenneth Branagh's "Hamlet."

In 2002 Charlton Heston announced to the world that he had Alzheimer's disease. His film work during his last decade was limited. He appeared in the Warren Beatty comedy "Town & Country" and the action film "The Order." Mr. Heston's final film appearance was as the evil Dr. Josef Mengele in "My Father, Rua Alguem 5555."

Charlton Heston was active in civil rights during his lifetime. He marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and fought to end racism in America. He was present in Washington D.C. when Dr. King delivered his "I Have a Dream" speech. As president of the NRA from 1998 to 2003 Mr. Heston drew heat from anti-gun rights activists. So-called filmmaker Michael Moore drew the ire of many including myself with his filmed ambush of Mr. Heston in the propaganda film "Bowling for Columbine." Charlton Heston, suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's graciously let Mr. Moore into his home for an interview. What followed was shameful. The image of Heston walking away from the interview is one of the final filmed images of the great American. It is a shame it occurred under such circumstances. Fortunately Mr. Heston left us with so much more to remember him by. I like to think that Mr. Heston is now getting a first hand critique from the real Moses on his performance in the DeMille classic.

Film historian and Omaha Film Event director Bruce Crawford shared his memories of working with Charlton Heston

I had the great pleasure to have worked with Mr.Heston on my public radio documentary "Ben Hur: The Epic Film Scores of Miklos Rozsa." Mr.Heston was gracious and eloquent as always. His insights and anecdotes on the music was a great contribution to the success of the program. He corresponded with me several times over the years and was always very supportive of my work. Also when I appeared in the DVD of "Ben-Hur" in the documentary, "The Epic That Changed Cinema," it was a great honor indeed to be included along with Mr.Heston in that program. I want to close by showing how humble and decent a man he was. In his letter to me, after receiving a tape copy of the radio documentary he worked on with me, he wrote:

Imagine Mr.Heston thanking me for being in the documentary?! The reverse was true, having him grace our program was our good luck indeed. RIP

OLLIE JOHNSON Died Apr. 14, 2008

Walt Disney called them his Nine Old Men. In the 1930s Walt Disney built his animation department around the talents of these men. While the 1920s New York Yankees had Ruth and Gehrig, Disney had his own stellar lineup or artists. For nearly five decades the Nine Old Men kept Walt Disney Studios in the forefront of the animation field. The Nine Old Men were only in their 30s and 40s when they began with Disney. Far from Old, but talented like no other group of animators around.

They were John Lounsbery (died 1976), Les Clark(died 1979), Wolfgang Reitherman (died 1985), Milt Kahl (died 1987), Eric Larsen (died 1988), Marc Davis (died 20000), Ward Kimball (died 2002), Frank Thomas (died 2004) and Ollie Johnson.

Ollie Johnson, the last of Disney's Nine Old Men died at age 95. Ollie Johnson and future fellow 'Old Man' Frank Thomas became friends in college attending Stanford. They joined Disney within a year of each other: Frank in 1934 and Ollie in 1935. The two men co-authored the classic book on animation "The Illusion of Life."

During his 43-year career with Disney, Ollie Johnson helped create some of the most magical moments in film history. He worked on both short films and features. Ollie Johnson worked as an assistant Animator on Disney's first feature length film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarves." During the 1930s Ollie Johnson worked on nine Disney shorts including "Two-Gun Mickey" and "The Brave Little Tailor."

In 1940, Mr. Johnson was an animator on "Pinocchio." That same year he was the animation supervisor for the Pastoral Symphony segment of "Fantasia." Ollie Johnson was the animation supervisor of one of Disney's most beloved characters: Thumper in "Bambi." He was the directing animator on the wrongly maligned "Song of the South" in 1946. Other notable credits from the 1940s include "The Three Caballeros," "Victory Through Air Power" and "Peter and the Wolf." His last project for the 1940s was the double feature "The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad." The film was composed of two short films: "The Wind and the Willows" and "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow." Ollie and Frank Thomas collaborated on creating the gawky character Ichabod Crane.

The 1950s were a very busy time for Ollie Johnson. He was directing animator on the feature films "Cinderella," "Alice in Wonderland," "Peter Pan," "Lady and the Tramp" and "Sleeping Beauty." Some of the characters he created include Mr. Smee in "Peter Pan" and the ugly step-sisters in "Cinderella." Ollie Johnson also worked as an animator on the short classics "Ben and Me" and "Little Toot."

Mr. Johnson animated the mother dog character Perdita in the 1961 feature "One Hundred and One Dalmatians." He was directing animator on 1963's "The Sword and the Stone." Ollie Johnson next worked as an animator on the Oscar-winner "Mary Poppins." He was directing animator on "The Jungle Book" and animated the characters of Mowgli and Baloo. Walt Disney died during the production of the Oscar-winning short "Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day." This was Mr. Johnson's final credit for the 1960s.

Before he retired in 1978, Mr. Johnson continued to forge ahead working on Disney's classic features of the 1970s. He was directing animator on "The Aristocats," "Robin Hood" and "The Rescuers." Mr. Johnson created the character of Prince John for "Robin Hood." Though he retired in 1978, Mr. Johnson came back as supervising animator for the 1981 film "The Fox and the Hound." It was his final Disney animation credit.

Ollie Johnson made vocal cameos in the animated films "The Iron Giant" and "The Incredibles." In 1995, Frank Thomas' son Theodore produced and directed the wonderful documentary film "Frank and Ollie." The film is a document to the long professional collaboration between the two old friends. It is well-worth looking for if you are a fan of Disney animation.

Ollie Johnson was married to Disney Ink and Paint artist Marie Worthy. They married in 1943. Mrs. Johnson died in 2005. Mr. Johnson was honored by his fellow animators with the Winsor McCay Award in 1980. President George W. Bush presented Mr. Johnson with the National Medal of Arts in 2005.

HAZEL COURT Died Apr. 15, 2008

Scream queen Hazel Court died of a heart attack at age 82. The British actress was the object of desire for myself and millions of other baby boomer horror movie fans. Ms. Court appeared in over 80 feature films, TV shows and documentaries during her life. Hazel Court was the widow of director Don Taylor. She had previously been married to actor Dermot Walsh.

Hazel Court became a scream queen of the first magnitude in the 1957 Hammer horror film "The Curse of Frankenstein." Ms. Court played Elizabeth opposite Peter Cushing's Baron Frankenstein. She was menaced by the Creature played by Christopher Lee. This was the first and among the best of the gothic horror films made by Hammer. In 1959 Ms. Court reteamed with actor Christopher Lee and director Terence Fisher for Hammer's "The Man Who Could Cheat Death." In 1961 Ms. Court starred opposite Kieron Moore in "Dr. Blood's Coffin." Though the film doesn't stand up to her Hammer films, Ms. Court delivered a fine performance.

Hazel Court had played horror movie heroines in her British films. American director/producer Roger Corman would cement Ms. Court's status as a scream queen by casting her in three of his Edgar Allan Poe films. Hazel Court starred opposite Ray Milland in "The Premature Burial." This was a mediocre entry in the Poe series. Next came "The Raven." "The Raven" is a mixed bag for horror movie fans. It is a horror comedy that starred Boris Karloff, Vincent Price, Peter Lorre and a young Jack Nicholson. Ms. Court is great fun in a bad girl role. Roger Corman's masterpiece "The Masque of the Red Death" was the director's best film. It also gave Ms. Court the best role of her career. Ms. Court's orgasmic dream sequence with the devil drew the ire of censors in England.

Hazel Court's many film and TV credits include "Devil Girl From Mars," "Playhouse 90," "Thriller," The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza," "Rawhide," "The Wild Wild West," "Mission Impossible," "Mannix" and "McMillan & Wife." Ms. Court made her final screen appearance in a cameo in "Damien 3: The Final Conflict." The "Omen" sequel was directed by her second husband Don Taylor. The pair met when Mr. Taylor directed Ms. Court in a 1958 episode of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." Mr. Taylor also directed Ms. Court in a 1960 episode of "Alcoa Theater" in which he also acted. Ms. Court made five films and a TV series with her first husband Dermot Walsh. Their credits include "Ghost Ship" and "A Woman of Mystery." Ms. Court's autobiography "Hazel Court-Horror Queen" is set to be released this summer from Tomahawk Press.

JULIE EGE Died Apr. 29, 2008

Norwegian actress Julie Ege died of cancer at age 64. Ms. Ege was one of the final scream queens to emerge from Hammer films. The former Miss Norway starred in the final film in Hammer's prehistoric trilogy: "Creatures the World Forgot." While "One Million B.C." and "When Dinosaurs Ruled the Earth" gave us babes and great stop-motion animation dinosaurs, "Creatures the Earth Forgot" gave us only babes (unless you count a giant rubber snake). The beautiful Julie Ege played the object of lust of the film's rival cavemen. The lack of dinosaurs animated by Ray Harryhausen or Jim Danforth made the film less memorable than the earlier films in the cycle. Not that Julie Ege wasn't worth watching! I thought her beauty (not acting ability) surpassed all other Hammer Scream Queens including Ingrid Pitt (but that is just my own personal taste). Julie Ege became a pin-up queen following the film's release. Ms. Ege was the only thing the film had going for it. Julie Ege also starred opposite Peter Cushing in Hammer's final vampire movie "The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires." Her reign as a Hammer scream queen was short-lived as the studio went belly up not long after "The Legend of the Seven Golden Vampires." Ms. Ege was one of Blofeld's bad girls in the underrated James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service." She got the part after being spotted in a 1967 pictorial in the British version of "Penthouse." Other credits include "Every Home Should Have One," "Robbery," "The Final Programme" and "Mutations." Ms. Ege retired from acting and became a nurse in Oslo. She beat breast cancer in the 1980s. Sadly she lost her 5-year-battle with lung cancer. Gone, but still alive in the pin-up dreams of her many fans.

EDDY ARNOLD Died May 8, 2008

Country music legend Eddy Arnold died at age 89. Mr. Arnold enjoyed success as both a Country and a Pop singer. He was known as the Tennessee Plowboy. He had 27 number 1 hit records during his lengthy career. Among his best known songs are "You Don't Know Me," "Make the World Go Away" and "Cattle Call." He hosted two TV series: "Eddy Arnold Time" and "The Eddy Arnold Show." Mr. Arnold's music was used on the soundtracks of numerous films including "Clambake," "Melvin and Howard," "Nurse Betty," "Howard Stern's Private Parts," "Groundhog Day," "Bad Santa" and "Ray." He appeared in the movies "Feudin' Rhythm" and "Hoedown." Mr. Arnold was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame in 1966.

JOHN PHILLIP LAW Died May 13, 2008

Actor John Phillip Law died at age 70. There is debate among Ray Harryhausen fans as which of his films is the best. While many feel "Jason and the Argonauts" is his best work, I fall into "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" camp. "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" features some of Harryhausen's greatest special effects. The something extra that makes the film Harryhauseen's best in my opinion is actor John Phillip Law's performance as Sinbad. Kerwin Matthews' Sinbad in Harryhausen's "7th Voyage of Sinbad" was a one-dimensional cartoon character when compared to Law's later performance. John Phillip Law was an American, but he played Sinbad as an Arab. He imbued the character with humor and humanity as well as the expected heroic qualities. I love his catch phrase from the movie: 'Trust in Allah, but tie up your camel.'

John Phillip Law is best known for his role as Pygar, the blind angel in Roger Vadim's sexy sci-fi film "Barbarella." He was nominated for a Golden Globe for his comedic performance in Norman Jewison's 1966 Oscar-nominated "The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming." He co-starred with Rod Steiger in John Flynn's powerful "The Sergeant." Mr. Law was multilingual which allowed him to find work in Europe as well as in the US. John Phillip Law worked with Otto Preminger in "Hurry Sundown" and the totally bizarre "Skidoo." His European work in the 1960s includes Mario Bava's "Diabolik" and the Spaghetti Western "Death Rides a Horse" with Lee Van Cleef.

During the 1970s Mr. Law appeared in 17 films. For me, the apex of his career came with 1974's "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad." He played the lead in the box-office disaster "The Love Machine." He was part of the all-star thriller "The Cassandra Crossing." Dennis Hopper cast him in his indie flick "The Last Movie." Other credits from the 70s include "The Hawaiians," in the title role of Roger Corman's "The Red Baron," "Target of an Assassin" with Anthony Quinn and the excellent B-movie "Open Season."

John Phillip Law worked steady to the end of his life. Most of his work was in action/adventure films. One of his best films was the 1982 WWII movie "Attack Force Z." Law headlined opposite newcomer Mel Gibson in the tale of an Australian commando force rescuing survivors of a plane crash from Japanese forces. Sam Neill also starred in this excellent movie. Mr. Law was one of the unfortunate cast members in the Bo Derek version of "Tarzan the Ape Man."

DICK MARTIN Died May 25, 2008

Emmy-winning comedian, actor, director, producer Dick Martin died of respiratory failure at age 86. He was married to Playboy playmate and "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" star Dolly Read. Dick Martin and comedy partner Dan Rowan changed the face of TV with the inventive and original hit series "Laugh-In." The show became the number one TV series in the nation during its first season in 1968. It ran until 1973. The picture shows Dan Rowan (left) and Dick Martin (Right) announcing their weekly 'Fickle Finger of Fate' award. "Rowan & Martin's Laugh In" launched the careers of many talented people including Lily Tomlin, Goldie Hawn, Artie Johnson, Tiny Tim, Ruth Buzzi, Flip Wilson and Henry Gibson. Dick Martin and Dan Rowen were nominated for four Emmy awards, winning in 1969.

"Laugh-In" was such an inspiration to me. I had a very progressive 5th grade teacher. Mrs. Upchurch taught 5th grade at the Scenic Hills Elementary School. She took a Montessori approach to things. Mrs. Upchurch also encouraged creativity and the performing arts. Every Friday was our day to express ourselves through skits, music or whatever. Many in the class (myself included) would perform the sketches we saw on that week's "Laugh-In." I used the Artie Johnson/Ruth Buzzi skits as an excuse to talk to girls in the class that I liked. I've always wondered what happened to Mrs. Upchurch.

"Laugh-In" and "The Smothers Brothers Show" reset the boundaries in TV in 1968. The variety show format incorporated a hipper sensibility and more political awareness. While it seems no big deal to have a presidential candidate appear on a TV talk show today, it was unheard of when Richard Nixon appeared on "Laugh-In" and proclaimed "Sock it to…me?"

Dick Martin was the Peck's bad boy of the Rowan and Martin duo. Dan Rowen was the sophisticate who had to hold Martin back, like a dog on a leash wanting to tear up the neighborhood. Their act on "Laugh-In" had been refined after years of performing together in clubs around the world. They paid their dues and became Las Vegas headliners in the mid 1950s. Rowan and Martin did their act on countless TV shows during the 1950s and 60s. In 1958 the pair starred in their first film "Once Upon a Horse." The Western comedy marked Mary Tyler Moore's film debut. Following the success if "Laugh-In" Rowen and Martin starred in the horror comedy "The Maltese Bippy." Was the movie bad? You bet your sweet Bippy it was! Dick Martin acted in a number of films and TV shows without Dan Rowan. They include "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place," "Diagnosis Murder," "3rd Rock from the Sun," "The Love Boat," "Zero to Sixty," "The Glass Bottom Boat," "The Lucy Show" and "Father's Little Dividend."

Dick Martin also enjoyed a successful career as a TV director. His directing credits include "In the Heat of the Night," "The Bob Newhart Show," "Sledge Hammer!," "Newhart," "The Redd Foxx Show," "Mama's Family," "Goodnight, Beantown," "Family Ties," "Archie Bunker's Place" and "House Calls."

"Say goodnight, Dick." "Goodnight Dick."

EARLE HAGEN Died May 26, 2008

Oscar-nominated and Emmy-winning composer Earle Hagen died at age 88. Mr. Hagen composed and whistled the memorable theme song for "The Andy Griffith Show." Mr. Hagen shared an Oscar nomination with Lionel Newman for their score for the Marilyn Monroe film "Let's Make Love." He was nominated for four Emmy awards. Three nominations for his work on the series "I Spy" and one for the TV movie "Stand By Your Man." Mr. Hagen won his Emmy for "I Spy." Earle Hagen worked as either composer, orchestrator or musical arranger on over 100 films and TV shows. His many credits include "Eight Is Enough," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," "The Mod Squad," "The Don Rickles Show," "That Girl," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.," "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis," "Make Room for Daddy," "Mike Hammer," "Compulsion," "Carousel," "Daddy Long Legs," "There's No Business Like Show Business," "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Monkey Business," "Don't Bother to Knock," "Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!," "Nightmare Alley" and "Kiss of Death."

SYDNEY POLLACK Died May 26, 2008

Oscar and Emmy-winning director and producer Sydney Pollack died of cancer at age 73. Mr. Pollack was also an accomplished actor who worked on Broadway, TV and in numerous films. Sydney Pollack was nominated for three Best Director Oscars and three Best Picture Oscars. He won one of each for the 1985 film "Out of Africa." The films he directed received a total of 47 Oscar nominations with 10 wins. The many films he produced earned even more. Mr. Pollack is survived by his wife, the former actress Claire Griswold as well as their two daughters. Mr. Pollack's only son was killed in a plane crash in 1993.

I had the pleasure of meeting Sydney Pollack during the filming of "The Firm." He stood next to the craft service table talking with folks in the neighborhood being used as the location of Tom Cruise's character's home. For nearly an hour Mr. Pollack spoke with the locals. I was struck by his unpretentious manner. Several older women doused him with compliments about "Out of Africa." He took the words humbly and only seemed uncomfortable when someone would go overboard with fawning. A young teen asked him questions about the craft of directing. Mr. Pollack listened intently to the awkward kid and gave in-depth and thoughtful answers. Not once did Mr. Pollack appear annoyed or aloof. Just an ordinary guy enjoying the company of others. When an assistant arrived with a choice of cars to be used in an upcoming scene, Mr. Pollack apologized for having to go back to work and he left. I never forgot what a nice man Sydney Pollack appeared to be. Though that was the only time I had the pleasure of meeting him, I have no doubt that Sydney Pollack was in real life the decent and down-to-earth man he appeared that day.

Sydney Pollack was responsible for some of the best American films of the 60s and 70s. Mr. Pollack began and honed his craft as a director working in television. He helmed episodes of such shows as "Ben Casey," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and "The Fugitive." He won an Emmy for directing a1965 episode of "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater." Following that show Mr. Pollack began directing feature films. Sydney Pollack directed 20 feature films and took over the reigns of another film from Frank Perry.

Sydney Pollack directed five films during the 1960s. His feature debut was "The Slender Thread" which starred Sidney Portier and Ann Bancroft. The movie received two Oscar nominations. His second film was the first of seven collaborations with actor Robert Redford. "This Property is Condemned" starred Redford, Natalie Wood and Charles Bronson. Miss Wood received a Golden Globe nomination for the film. Mr. Pollack and friend Burt Lancaster teamed up for Pollack's next two films as director. "The Scalphunters" is an underrated comedic Western. "Castle Keep" is an interesting misfire that wants to be a surreal anti-war film. Lancaster called on Mr. Pollack to finish directing his adaptation of John Cheever's "The Swimmer" following creative differences with director Frank Perry. Sydney Pollack's final film of the 1960s was one of his best. "They Shoot Horses, Don't They?" received nine Oscar nominations including Pollack's first as Best Director. Gig Young won a well-deserved Best Supporting Oscar for his performance as the organizer of the Depression-era dance marathon.

Mr. Pollack directed six films during the 1970s. He should have kept the total down to five. His first film of the decade was 1972's "Jeremiah Johnson." It was his second collaboration with Robert Redford. Mr. Pollack was nominated for the Golden Palm at Cannes for the film. (Persoanl aside: I snuck out of school to see the movie. That night I got caught out after curfew and taken to juvenile hall. You wouldn't think there was a connection with sneaking out of school to go see a movie and getting arrested but the same thing happened a year later when I snuck out of school to see "The Exorcist.") The following year Mr. Pollack directed one of the best chick flicks of all time. Robert Redford and Barbara Streisand starred in "The Way We Were." The film earned six Oscar nominations including a Best Actress for Ms. Streisand. Marvin Hamlisch won two Oscar for Best Song and Best Score. Sydney Pollack's "The Yakuza" is one of the best crime films of all time. Robert Mitchum is tough as nails as a WWII vet who returns to Japan to help out an old war buddy. The excellent supporting cast includes Brian Keith, Herb Edelman (playing a character based on Paul Schrader's brother Leonard) and Richard Jordon. "The Yakuza" is a tough, gritty film with as much depth as action. Mr. Pollack's commentary track on the DVD for "The Yakuza" shows both his good nature and his insight as a director. In 1975 Pollack once again teamed up with Robert Redford for the thriller "Three Days of the Condor." Max Von Sydow, Cliff Robertson and Faye Dunaway co-starred in the Oscar-nominated film. Mr. Pollack's 1977 misfire "Bobby Deerfield" is the most disappointing film of his career. I don't know what he was thinking. They can't all be winners. Mr. Pollack finished the 1970s with "The Electric Horseman." The romancer was his fifth film with Robert Redford and his second with Jane Fonda. Willie Nelson stole the movie from both stars. The film received one Oscar nomination.

During the 1980s he only directed three films…but what films! "Absence of Malice" The film chalked up three Oscar nominations. The climatic scene in which Wilford Brimley character tries to unravel the film's mystery is still amazing. Next came the gender-bending comedy "Tootsie." Mr. Pollack not only produced and directed but also acted in the film as Dustin Hoffman's agent. The movie earned ten Oscar nominations. Mr. Pollack received his second Best Director nod and his first nomination for Best Picture. Jessica Lange won for Best Supporting actress. His final film as director in the 1980s was "Out of Africa." Once again, he teamed up with Robert Redford. The film received ten Oscar nominations and won six. Mr. Pollack won Best Director and Best Picture Oscars for "Out of Africa."

Mr. Pollack directed six films during the last 18 years. 1990's "Havana" was his final film with Robert Redford. The box-office failure received one Oscar nomination for Best Score. Mr. Pollack's last great film was 1993's "The Firm." Based on the popular John Grisham novel, the movie earned two Oscar nods. Next came the ill-conceived remake of "Sabrina." The two Oscar nominations were for John William's music. "Random Hearts" was a near-miss. It could have been a very good film, but missed the mark. Ironically, the best thing about the movie is Pollack's own acting performance in the film! Pollack's final feature film "The Interpreter" was a return to form. The taut thriller was the first film to gain permission to shoot in the United Nations building. Mr. Pollack's final film as director was the documentary "Sketches of Frank Gehry."

I would be remiss if I didn't pay tribute to Sydney Pollack the actor. His work in Woody Allen's "Husbands and Wives" was Oscar worthy. He acted in over 30 films and TV shows. "War Hunt" was the first film I remember seeing him in. His cameo as the emergency room doctor in "Death Becomes Her" was the only funny thing in that film. Other memorable performances came in "The Player," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Changing Lanes" and "Micahel Clayton." His final acting role is in the just released "Made of Honor."

Sidney Pollack also produced a number of films for other filmmakers. His many producer credits include "Honeysuckle Rose," "The Fabulous Baker Boys," "Presumed Innocent," "White Palace," "Dead Again," "Flesh and Bone," "Searching for Bobby Fisher," "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Dead Again," "Heaven," "40 Shades of Blue" and "Cold Mountain."

Sydney Pollack may not have had the visual style of a Hitchcock, Peckinpah or Kurosawa, but he knew how to tell a story. As an actor himself, he knew how to get the best out of his cast. He mentored many others in the craft of filmmaking. Sydney Pollack was one of the greats. Would that he had made more films!

HARVEY KORMAN Died May 29, 2008

Emmy-winning comedian and actor Harvey Korman died of complications following an abdominal aneurysm at age 81. Mr. Korman was nominated for seven Emmy Awards (four wins) for his work on "The Carol Burnett Show." Mr. Korman was part of the greatest ensemble cast in the history of TV. Mr. Korman was best known for his many skits opposite Tim Conway on the hit variety show. Mr. Korman did his best to not laugh as Tim Conway did his schtick. Like most viewers at home, Harvey Korman could not contain his laughter. His reactions added to the comedy and endeared him to the viewers. Whatever happened to TV shows like that? Mr. Korman along with star Carol Burnett, Tim Conway, Vicki Lawrence and Lyle Wagoner entertained millions of viewers during the show's 11 year run.

Harvey Korman's best known film role was as the villain Hedley Lamar in Mel Brook's classic "Blazing Saddles." Mr. Korman appeared in four films by Mel Brooks. He co-starred in Brooks' send-up of Alfred Hitchcock "High Anxiety." He also appeared in the less successful "History of the World: Part 1" and "Dracula: Dead and Loving It."

Harvey Korman appeared in nearly 100 films and TV shows. He played Bud Abbott opposite Buddy Hackett as Lou Costello in the Made for TV biopic "Bud and Lou." Mr. Korman also appeared in the infamous "Star Wars Holiday Special." Mr. Korman played a supporting role in the cult-classic "Lord Love a Duck." Not all of his film's were gems. He also appeared in two of the post-Peter Sellers "Pink Panther" movies. He also appeared in Buck Henry's stinker "First Family." Mr. Korman made guest appearances on numerous TV series and game shows during the 1960s and 70s

BO DIDDLEY Died Jun. 1, 2008

Rock and Roll pioneer Bo Diddley died of heart failure at age 79. He had been in ill health following a heart attack last August and a stroke the previous May. Bo Diddley was one of the most influential guitarists from the early days of Rock and Roll. His style was borrowed, imitated and stolen by his contemporaries and those who followed in the years since. Buddy Holly's "Not Fade Away" took Bo Diddley's trademark guitar riff from Diddley's classic song "Bo Diddley." Holly also remade "Bo Diddley." Bo Diddley was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Grammy Awards. He was also inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall o Fame. While Bo Diddley had the glory of being one of Rock and Roll's greatest pioneers, he was screwed out of a fortune. Like many of the era, Bo Diddley received a flat fee for his music and did not receive royalties.

In 1973 the concert film "Let the Good Times Roll" was released. The film was chronicled a series of 'Oldies' concerts performed in Long Island. Every major (then living) Rock and Roll star from the 1950s (except Elvis) appeared in the film. While most of the acts provided lively recreations of what they were 15 years earlier, Bo Diddley showed that he was still relevant in the world of 1970s Rock. Gone was his 50s style performance suite. Bo was clad head to toe in black leather. Bo Diddley performs a set early in the film which ends with a five-minute jam that had the crowd of Led Zeppelin fans rocking in the aisle. The film's finale features a split-screen guitar battle between Bo Diddley and Chuck Berry. Unfortunately the film has been tied up in legal battles of musical rights and has yet to be released on VHS or DVD. It does show up occasionally on IFC. Do not miss this movie! If you want to compare Bo Diddley in 1972 with Bo Diddley in 1966 check out the concert film "The Big TNT Show." Bo was rock's badass from the very beginning. He is backed by his trio of girls singers and musicians as well as drummer and bass player. Check out his moves as well as his guitar playing. Bo's dancing in "The Big TNT Show" reminds one of the legendary James Brown. The difference is that Bo danced while playing one mean guitar.

Bo Diddley acted in a few of fiIms. His most notable role was as the pawnbroker who sold Dan Aykroyd the gun in "Trading Places." He also appeared in "The Blues Brothers 2000," "Eddie and the Crusiers 2" and "Rockula." In addition to performing in many documentaries and TV shows, Bo Diddley's music has been used on numerous soundtracks. His music added the beat to such films as "Goodfellas," "Fritz the Cat," "Ghosts of Mississippi," "Boys Don't Cry" and "Hollywoodland."

YVES SAINT LAURENT Died Jun. 1, 2008

Renowned clothing designer Yves Saint Laurent died at age 71. Mr. Saint Laurent was considered one of the greatest designers of the past century. He was the protégé of Christian Dior. He took over the House of Dior following that designer's death in 1957. Yves Saint Laurent's film credits include the classic "Belle de Jour," "The Pink Panther" and "The Hunger."

MEL FERRER Died Jun. 2, 2008

Actor, director, producer Mel Ferrer died at age 90. Mel Ferrer appeared in over 100 films and TV shows during his career. He was once married to actress Audrey Hepburn. Mr. Ferrer produced his wife's classic thriller "Wait Until Dark." He appeared with her in several films including the 1956 version of "War and Peace." Mr. Ferrer appeared in a number of Broadway productions beginning with the 1940 production of "Kind Lady." He made his Hollywood debut in the 1947 film "The Fugitive."

Mel Ferrer's director credits include "The Girl of the Limberlost," "Green Mansions" and "Cabriola." He produced several films including "El Greco," "W" starring Twiggy and the superior Max Von Sydow thriller "The Night Visitor."

Mel Ferrer appeared in films both in the US and in Europe. His career was a mixture of A-list films and various genre movies. His 'Hollywood' credits include "Born to Be Bad," "Rancho Notorious," "The Brave Bulls," "Scaramouche," as King Arthur in "Knights of the Round Table," "Lili," "War and Peace," "The Sun Also Rises," "The World, the Flesh and the Devil," "The Longest Day," "Sex and the Single Girl," John Wayne's "Brannigan" and "The Fall of the Roman Empire."

Mel Ferrer also worked in many B-movies and horror films. Horror fans remember his work from numerous films including Tobe Hooper's underrated "Eaten Alive." Mel Ferrer actually appeared in two films with that title. His second "Eaten Alive" was director Umberto Lenzi's entry into the cannibal film cycle. Mr. Ferrer's many horror film credits include Roger Vadim's "Blood and Roses," "The Hands of Orlac" which was a remake of Peter Lorre's "Mad Love," "The Antichrist," "Something Waits in the Dark," "The Visitor," "Guyana: Cult of the Damned," "Alligators" and "City of the Walking Dead."

Mr. Ferrer made guest appearances on numerous TV shows during the latter part of his career. His many guest credits include "Police Story," "Murder, She Wrote," "Dallas" and "Fantasy Island."

JIM MCKAY Died Jun. 7, 2008

Emmy-winning sports-caster Jim McKay died at age 86. Mr. McKay was the host of "ABC's Wide World of Sports" for more than four decades! He also covered a dozen Olympic Games for ABC during his lengthy career. Mr. McKay won an Emmy Award (one of twelve!) for his coverage of the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich Germany. He was thrust into the forefront as a news man when PLO terrorists kidnapped and eventually murdered 11 members of the Israeli Olympic team. Mr. McKay broke the tragic news to the world with the words "They're all gone." Footage of his haunting broadcast was used in the documentary "One Day in September" and Steven Speilberg's "Munich." Mr. McKay played himself in the 2004 film "Miracle" which dealt with the USA's upset of the Russian Hockey team at the 1980 Olympics. Mr. McKay appeared in numerous documentaries and sports TV shows in addition to his voluminous work for "ABC's Wide World of Sports." Jim McKay served his country in the US Navy during WWII.

TIM RUSSERT Died Jun. 13, 2008

TV newsman Tim Russert died of a heart attack at age 58. Mr. Russert was the host of the long-running news program "Meet the Press." Mr. Russert became the show's moderator in 1991. He was NBC News' Washington bureau chief. Mr. Russert began his career at NBC in the 1980s on the "Today Show." Mr. Russert appeared in the documentary "Why We Fight" and Michael Moore's propaganda piece "Fahrenheit 9/11." Tim Russert made an appearance as himself on the TV series "Homicide: Life on the Streets." The character Megan Russert played by actress Isabella Hofmann was portrayed as Tim Russert's cousin!

STAN WINSTON Died Jun. 15, 2008

Oscar-winning visual effects and makeup master Stan Winston died of multiple myeloma at age 62. Stan Winston received ten Oscar nominations during his illustrious career. He won four. Stan Winston was beloved by millions of horror and science fiction movie fans. He stands next to Willis O'Brien and Ray Harryhausen in the pantheon of special effects gods. Stan Winston was responsible for some of the most incredible images ever captured on film. He was much in demand by top directors and with good reason. It is hard to imagine what many of the films he worked on would have looked like without his magic. In addition to his Oscar winning makeup and visual effects work, Stan Winston wrote and directed the monster movie "Pumpkinhead." I will pay tribute to Mr. Winston's Makeup career and Visual Effects career separately. Of course remember that he worked in both capacities on a number of films.

MAKEUP CAREER

Stan Winston did the makeup for nearly 40 films and TV shows. Like many of his fans, I saw his first film when it aired on CBS in 1972. The Made for TV movie "Gargoyles" was a cool sci-fi flick starring Cornel Wilde and Bernie Casey. The TV movie earned Stan Winston his first of five Emmy nominations for makeup. He won for "Gargoyles" as well as the 1974 TV movie "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pitman." In that film, Mr. Winston aged actress Cicely Tyson to look 110 years old. Stan Winston contributed makeup to 15 films and TV shows during the 1970s. Not all were genre films. He transformed Maximilian Schell into the Adolph Eichman-based character in the American Film Theater's production of "The Man in the Glass Booth." He turned Rod Steiger into W.C. Fields in the biopic "W.C. Fields and Me." Other makeup credits from the 1970s include "The Wiz," "Roots," "Dracula's Dog."

Stan Winston did the makeup on nine films and TV movies during the 1980s. He received his first of four Best Makeup Oscar nominations for the abysmal 1981 film "Heartbeeps." Stan Winston began the 1980s working on Michael Ritchie's adaptation of Peter Benchley's "The Island." Lots of creepy pirates. Next up was the cool vigilante B-movie "The Exterminator" "The Entity" and Oliver Stone's misfire "The Hand." His best makeup work from the 1980s was in John Carpenter's remake of "The Thing." The gruesome, gory alien transformations played on the viewer's innermost fears of change and death. Another standout film Mr. Winston worked on was the eerie "Dead and Buried." Mr. Winston also worked on "Friday the Thirteenth Part 3" and "Wes Craven's Chiller."

Stan Winston received three Best Makeup Oscar nominations during the 1990s. They were for his work on Tim Burton's "Edward Scissorhands," "Batman Returns" and "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." He won his only Best Makeup Oscar for "Terminator 2: Judgment Day." He also was honored with two BAFTA nominations for Best Makeup. They were for "Batman Returns" and "Interview with the Vampire." Mr. Winston's work was about the only memorable aspect of the third remake of "The Island of Dr. Moreau." Stan Winston's makeup credits in the new century include "Terminator 3," "Constantine," "AI: Artificial Intelligence" and the dreadful "Pearl Harbor."

VISUAL EFFECTS CAREER

As wonderful as Stan Winston's makeup work was, his artistry in the field of visual effects is nearly unequalled in the film industry. His visual effects work was honored with six Oscar nominations (three wins) and four BAFTA nominations (three wins). Even more that the high accolades from his peers, Stan Winston earned the respect and admiration of millions, possibly billions of movie fans. He made the impossible possible. His childlike imagination and his talent for finding a way to bring fantasy to life have enriched our movie going lives immeasurably.

If the only film credit Stan Winston ever had was James Cameron's "Aliens" then we would all owe him a debt of gratitude. "Aliens" is arguably the greatest science fiction film ever made. Stan Winston created the Alien effects for the film and won his first Best Visual Effects Oscar and BAFTA. He shared the Oscar with three others who helped create the stunning visuals. "Aliens" was followed the next year by "Predator." The film earned Mr. Winston a back to back Oscar nomination. Four years later Mr. Winston would do the special effects for the sequel "Predator 2." Mr. Winston won his second Best Visual Effects Oscar and BAFTA for James Cameron's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."

I was sad when Ray Harryhausen retired. The magic of his stop-motion dinosaurs was a special part of my childhood. Of course I'm also one of those guys who looks back fondly at the memories of vinyl record albums. Steven Spielberg's "Jurassic Park" took the sting out of the passing of Harryhausen's craft. Stan Winston made you believe that dinosaurs were real…and scary as hell! The 1993 film earned Stan Winston his third Visual Effects Oscar and BAFTA. He shared it with a team of three others. Like James Cameron before, director Steven Spielberg recognized in Stan Winston a kindred spirit possessing both imagination and talent. Mr. Winston would earn his 5th Visual Effects Oscar nomination for Spielberg's "The Lost World: Jurassic Park 2." Mr. Winston's final Visual Effects Oscar nomination came for Spielberg's "AI: Artificial Intelligence."

Stan Winston's final film released theatrically is the current hit "Iron Man." There is a good chance that Stan Winston may join the ranks of those film artists who have earned posthumous Oscar nominations. IMDB states that Mr. Winston was working on the upcoming "Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins." I'm not sure how much work Mr. Winston completed before he lost his battle with cancer.

Stan Winston contributed incredible special effects to many films which weren't nominated for top industry awards. Those films include "Darkness Falls," "Jurassic Park III," "Galaxy Quest," "End of Days," "Lake Placid," "Small Soldiers," "The Relic," "Congo," "Leviathan," "The Monster Squad," "Invaders from Mars," "Mousehunt," "The Ghost and the Darkness," "Starman" and the original "The Terminator."

I don't remember which one, but one old comedian once posed the question "I wonder what Frank Sinatra puts on the record player when HE makes out?" Old guys like me will understand the joke. But it got me wondering just what it would take to capture the imagination of a person like Stan Winston. What would make him fall down in awe? He struck so many of us in our hearts with his magic. I imagine that standing at the gate of heaven will do the trick. Thanks for the thrills and excitement Mr. Winston.

CYD CHARISSE Died Jun. 17, 2008

Dancer/actress Cyd Charisse died of a heart attack at age 86. The leggy dancer was one of the greatest musical stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood. Her dance numbers with Gene Kelly and Fred Astaire are among the most memorable ever captured on film. Ms. Charisse had a sensual quality which added heat to her dancing. She began studying dancing as a child. She appeared in some of the best musicals in film history. Last month, Ms. Charisse and her husband, actor/singer Tony Martin celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary!

Cyd Charisse worked with Gene Kelly in six films. Their dance in the 1952 classic "Singin' in the Rain" highlighted Ms. Charisse's incredible legs. That same year the studio got $5,000,000.00 insurance policy on Ms. Charisse's legs! She and Kelly also co-starred in the 1954 film "Brigadoon." "Brigadoon" was one MGM's lesser musicals.

My personal favorite of Ms. Charisse's musicals is "Silk Stockings." The musical remake of "Ninotchka" co-starred Fred Astaire. Cyd Charisse's other musical film credits include "Meet Me in Las Vegas," "It's Always Fair Weather," "Deep in My Heart," "The Band Wagon," "East Side, West Side," "Words and Music," "The Kissing Bandit," "Till the Clouds Roll By," "Ziegfeld Follies," "The Harvey Girls" and "Thousands Cheer." Many of her dance numbers from these classic films were used in the 1970s documentaries "That's Entertainment!" and "That's Entertainment, Part II."

Cyd Charisse also acted in many non-musicals. Her straight acting film and TV acting credits include "Murder, She Wrote," "Fantasy Island," "The Love Boat," "Warlords of the Deep," "Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood," "The Silencers," "Two Weeks in Another Town," as the other woman in the unfinished Marilyn Monroe film "Something's Got to Give," "Party Girl," "The Big North" and the cool Film Noir thriller "Tension."

DAVEY LEE Died Jun. 17, 2008

Former child actor Davey Lee died at age 83. He had been in a nursing home since suffering a stroke several years ago. He was the child who crawled up on Al Jolson's lap as he sang the song "Sonny Boy" in the 1928 feature film "The Singing Fool." The recording of "Sonny Boy" became the first record to sell more than one million copies. The following year Mr. Lee played the title role in the movie "Sonny Boy." He also worked with Al Jolson in the movie "Say It With Songs." Mr. Lee appeared in a handful of films before leaving the business. His other credits include "The Squealer" and the Rin-Tin-Tin movie "Frozen River." Mr. Lee's mother ended his career after five films so that he could have a normal childhood. Mr. Lee served his country in the US Army under General George S. Patton during WWII. He later tried to get back into show business, but had no success. Mr. Lee performed for fans at conventions for the International Al Jolson Society during his later years.

DODY GOODMAN Died Jun. 22, 2008

Comedic actress Dody Goodman died at age 92. Ms. Goodman enjoyed success on Broadway, in film and especially on TV. Her trademark 'airhead' persona made her a popular guest on both the Jack Parr and Johnny Carson versions of "The Tonight Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Mike Douglas Show" and "Dinah!" She was nominated for an Emmy award for her guest appearances on the Jack Parr version of "The Tonight Show." Ms. Goodman appeared in 13 Broadway productions including "Grease" and "Call Me Madam." She was nominated for a Drama Desk award for her performance in the off-Broadway production of "Ah! Wilderness." Ms. Goodman was part of the excellent ensemble cast on the landmark TV series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." She had a very funny role in the hit film "Splash." Her many film and TV credits include "Boston Common," "Splash, Too," "Diff'rent Strokes," "St. Elsewhere," "Max Dugan Returns," "Grease 2," "Fantasy Island," "Grease," "Search for Tomorrow" and "The Defenders."

GEORGE CARLIN Died Jun. 22, 2008

So many memories! The icons of my youth are passing away so fast. I remember the first time I heard George Carlin. The summer of 1972. I was attending a junior high school church retreat in Montreat, North Carolina. At the time I was more interested in finding a girl than finding Jesus. My buddies Bruce Ingram, Scoop Carlisle and I sat around in the dorm with several others listening to George Carlin's incredibly funny album "FM & AM." I had the album memorized before the week was over. Flash forward ten years to Las Vegas. I remember the anticipation of finally seeing Mr. Carlin in concert. I'd see him twice more before I left Las Vegas in 1987. Finally the bittersweet last date with the one who got away from me. George Carlin at the Orpheum Theater in Memphis, October 1993. Lots of little and big memories rushed back when I heard that George Carlin had died of heart failure at age 71. 71! How could he be that old, or that young? George Carlin seemed to capture the essence of youth. He was smart and he was a smart ass. The perfect description of the young. As I am now officially old I've graduated from being a smart ass to a wise ass. Wisdom. George Carlin seemed to have that too, though it was sometimes misguided. I admit that I gave-up on George Carlin when I saw one of his HBO specials in which he began to attack God in general and Christians in particular. That is what George Carlin was good at…getting under your skin. Whether he made you bust a gut laughing or infuriated you to rage, George Carlin made you think. Like Lenny Bruce and Frank Zappa, George Carlin like to smash icons. He thought that sacred cows made the tastiest burgers to steal a joke. Mr. Carlin was a comedic genius who had the ability to make us laugh with clean humor and with the profane. Did he always hit a home run? No, but neither did Babe Ruth. Life is tough and full of pain. George Carlin gave us laughter to lift our spirits. That is a blessing.

Comedian Steve Bluestein is another person blessed with the gift of laughter. Like so many others, my friend was touched by George Carlin in profound ways. Steve shared his thoughts with me:

"I didn't 'know' him, I've met him, I've seen him around...but I will sorely miss him. He was, in a word, a genius. His concepts, his ability to make audiences think will be hard to match again by any other comedian. With George gone the flood gates are open for low-brow comedy, we are destined to see more dick jokes and crude comedy that doesn't make us think. George made us think, he observed the world and reported it in a way that left you wondering. I will miss his voice on the comedy scene. I have been a fan since I was 18...his was the first comedy album I ever bought. I still have it. That's something, no? That just goes to show you how much I respected the man."

George Carlin appeared in numerous films and TV shows. He had over a dozen "HBO Specials." Mr. Carlin was the first guest host of the landmark comedy series "Saturday Night Live." George Carlin wirked with director Kevin Smith on several projects including "Jersey Girl," "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and "Dogma." He leant his distinctive voice to a number of animated film and TV projects as well as his live acting credits. Mr. Carlin's many credits include "Cars," "Scary Movie 3," "The Simpsons," "Shining Time Station," "The Prince of Tides," "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey," "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure," "Americathon," "Welcome Back, Kotter," "With Six You Get Eggroll," "That Girl," "The Aristocrats," "The Daily Show," "Dennis Miller Live," "Late Show with David Letterman," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Carol Burnett Show" and "The Ed Sullivan Show."

DON S. DAVIS Died Jun. 29, 2008

Character actor Don S. Davis died of a heart attack at age 65. Mr. Davis was beloved by sci-fi fans for his portrayal of Major General George Hammond during the first seven years of the TV series "Stargate SG-1." Mr. Davis left the series in 2003 due to health concerns however he reprised his role in the upcoming film "Stargate: Continuum" as well as making guest shots on "Stargate: Atlantis" and "Stargate: SG-1." Mr. Davis was also well known for his role in David Lynch's TV series "Twin Peaks." Mr. Davis worked on over 130 films and TV series. He first worked with his "Stargate: SG-1" co-star Richard Dean Anderson when Mr. Davis worked as Dana Elcar's stunt double on "MacGuyver." Don S. Davis served his country as an officer in the US Army during the Vietnam War era. In addition to his acting, Don Davis was an accomplished painter, sculptor and woodcarver.

Mr. Davis' many acting credits include "The West Wing," "Best in Show," "Con Air," the TV remake of "In Cold Blood," "Needful Things," "Cliffhanger," "Hero," "A League of Their Own," "Kuffs," "Hook," "21 Jump Street," "Look Who's Talking Too," "L.A. Law," "Look Who's Talking," "Matinee," "Wiseguy," "Stakeout" and "The Journey of Natty Gann."

LARRY HARMON Died Jul. 3, 2008

Actor Larry Harmon died of congestive heart failure at age 83. Mr. Harmon bought the rights to the character "Bozo the Clown" and turned it into a very profitable business enterprise. Mr. Harmon played Bozo for over 50 years. He also trained and licensed countless other Bozos. Mr. Harmon produced several TV shows including "The All New Adventures of Laurel & Hardy in 'For Love or Mummy'," "It's Good to Be Alive," "Bozo's Big Top," "The New Casper Cartoon Show" and "Popeye." Mr. Harmon's acting credits include "Matt Houston," "The New Scooby-Doo Movies," "A Laurel and Hardy Cartoon," "Because You're Mine," "Invitation" and "Too Young to Kiss."

EVELYN KEYES Died Jul. 4, 2008

Actress Evelyn Keyes died of cancer at age 91. Ms. Keyes is best remembered for her role as Vivian Leigh's younger sister Suellen in the Hollywood classic "Gone With the Wind." Ms. Keyes appeared over 50 films and TV shows during her career. She co-starred with Robert Montgomery in the classic "Here Comes Mr. Jordan." Ms. Keyes was paired with Glenn Ford in six films including "The Adventures of Martin Eden" and "The Lady in Question." Ms. Keyes was married four times. Her ex-husbands include directors John Huston and Charles Vidor as well as band leader Artie Shaw. Ms. Keyes' other credits include "Murder, She Wrote," "Wicked Stepmother," "A Return to Salem's Lot," "Amazing Stories," "The Love Boat," the original version of "Around the World in Eighty Days," "Climax!," "The Seven Year Itch," "Hell's Half Acre," "The Prowler," "The Killer That Stalked New York," "Mrs. Mike," "Enchantment," "Johnny O'Clock," "The Jolson Story," "A Thousand and One Nights," "Before I Hang" with Boris Karloff, "Union Pacific" and "The Buccaneer."

RICHARD ANGAROLA Died Jul. 7, 2008

Veteran character actor Richard Angarola died of complications from leukemia at age 87. Mr. Angarola appeared in nearly 70 films and TV shows. Though primarily a film and TV actor, Mr. Angarola appeared in Broadway in the 1947 production of "Our Lan'." I remember first seeing Mr. Angarola as the prison commandant in the Steve McQueen epic adventure film "Papillon." His other feature film credits include Tom Laughlin's "The Master Gunfighter," "Raveling," "Black Moon Rising," "Three the Hard Way," "Jeremiah Johnson" Russ Meyer's "The Seven Minutes," "The Undefeated" with John Wayne and Rock Hudson, "What Ever Happened to Aunt Alice?," "Che!," "Sweet Charity," Clint Eastwood's "Hang 'Em High," "Star!," "Yours, Mine and Ours," "Valley of the Dolls," "Gambit" and "Moment to Moment." The photo at right is from "Jeremiah Johnson." Mr. Angarola's many TV credits include "Switch," "Lou Grant," "Hawaii Five-O," "McCloud," "Ironside," "Adam-12," "Gunsmoke," "The Wild Wild West," "Get Smart," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "The Rat Patrol," "Perry Mason," "Honey West," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "The Fugitive," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza," "The Detectives" and "One Step Beyond." Richard Angarola served his country in the US Army-Air Corp during WWII. He flew 52 combat missions including D-Day. Mr. Angarola donated his body for medical research to the USC Medical Center.

CHARLES H. JOFFE Died Jul. 9, 2008

Oscar-winning producer Charles Joffe died one week shy of his 78th birthday. Mr. Joffe won a Best Picture Oscar for Woody Allen's "Annie Hall." Mr. Joffe and business partner Jack Rollins produced and/or were executive producers of nearly all of Woody Allen's films. Mr. Joffe was one of the most powerful talent agents in Hollywood. In addition to Woody Allen, Mr. Joffe helped shape the careers of Hary Belafonte, Ted Bessell, Dick Cavett, David Letterman, Robin Williams and Billy Crystal. In addition to Mr. Joffe's many credits with Woody Allen, he also produced the Oscar-nominated "Arthur" starring Dudley Moore. Mr. Joffe's 40-plus Woody Allen credits include "Bananas," "Sleeper," "Interiors," "Zelig," "Alice," "Celebrity" and "Scoop." Mr. Joffe was the step-father of "Lovely and Amazing" director Nicole Holofcener.

ESTELLE GETTY Died Jul. 22, 2008

Emmy and Golden Globe winning actress Estelle Getty died of Lewy Body Dementia three days before her 85th birthday. Ms. Getty won both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her work on the hit TV series "The Golden Girls." Ms. Getty played the sarcastic Sophia Petrillo on the long-running series. She received seven Emmy nominations in a row for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Ms. Getty played the mother of actress Bea Arthur's character. In real life, Bea Arthur was 15 months older than Ms. Getty. Estelle Getty began her film-acting career in the late 1970s. She appeared in nearly 30 films and TV shows. He feature film credits include "Tootsie," "Mask," "Mannequin" and "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot." Ms. Getty was a member of the original Broadway cast of "Torch Song Trilogy." She enjoyed a three-run with the play and was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance. Ms. Getty's success was a testament to her perseverance. She began working as a stand-up comedian in the borsch belt while still a teenager. After decades of sticking to it, Ms. Getty achieved success on Broadway, in film and on TV. A great testament to following one's dream. Thanks for the many laughs and your inspirational spirit.

CHARLES H. GRAY Died Aug. 2, 2008

Character actor Charles H. Gray died at age 86. Mr. Gray was a familiar face to Western fans during the 1950s through the 70s. The prolific actor appeared over 60 films and TV shows during his career. Mr. Gray may be best known for playing Clay Forrester during the last four seasons of "Rawhide." Mr. Gray's final role was as the sheriff in the terrible 1979 monster movie "The Prophecy." Mr. Gray's many credits include "Ike," "Sergeant Matlovich vs. the U.S. Air Force," "A Love Affair: The Eleanor and Lou Gehrig Story," "Captains and the Kings," "Banacek," "The Rookies," "Alias Smith and Jones," "The New Centurions" with George C. Scott, Sam Peckinpah's rodeo film "Junior Bonner," "Bonanza," "The Organization," "Bless the Beasts & Children," "Wild Rovers," "McCloud," Elvis Presley's Western "Charro!," "Perry Mason," "Gunsmoke," "Death Valley Days," "Riverboat," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Zane Grey Theater," "The Ann Sothern Show," "Leave It to Beaver," "The Unknown Terror," "Whirlybirds" and "Highway Patrol."

ALEXANDER SOLZHENITSYN Died Aug. 3, 2008

Nobel laureate Alexander Solzhenitsyn died of heart failure at age 89. Mr. Solzhenitsyn won the Nobel Prize in literature for his books dealing with Soviet labor camps. Mr. Solzhenitsyn was a decorated soldier during WWII. Despite this, he was imprisoned by Joseph Stalin for a slight against the dictator written in a private letter. Mr. Solzhenitsyn's experiences became the basis for his classic books "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich," "The First Circle" and "The Gulag Archipelago." "One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich" was turned into a feature film in 1970. It received a BAFTA nomination. The book was also dramatized in a 1963 episode of "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater." Mr. Solzhenitsyn's book "The First Circle" was turned into a feature film, a TV movie and a TV miniseries.

LOU TEICHER Died Aug. 3, 2008

Pianist Lou Teicher died of heart failure at age 83. Mr. Teicher was half of the renowned piano duo Ferrante & Teicher. The pair recorded over 150 albums during their lengthy career. They were known for their versions of famous movie theme songs. Mr. Teicher composer the theme song for the movie "A Rage to Live." The duo performed on numerous TV shows including "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and "The Dinah Shore Show."

JUD TAYLOR Died Aug. 6, 2008

DGA-winning director and former actor Jud Taylor died at age 68 of an undisclosed illness. Mr. Taylor was the former president and vice president of the Director's Guild. Mr. Taylor was married to Emmy-winning casting director Lynn Kressel. He won a DGA for the 1987 TV special "Foxfire" which starred Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn. Mr. Taylor was also honored by the Director's Guild with the Robert B. Aldrich Achievement Award in 2003. Mr. Taylor received an Emmy nomination for the TV biopic "Tail Gunner Joe." The TV film starred Peter Boyle as Senator Joe McCarthy. Jud Taylor directed nearly 70 TV movies and TV shows during his lengthy career. He directed multiple episodes of many popular TV shows including the original "Star Trek." Mr. Taylor directed the Made for TV movie "The Great Escape II: The Untold Story." As an actor, Jud Taylor appeared in the original classic film "The Great Escape." Mr. Taylor played Steve McQueen's buddy Goff, who along with James Garner and McQueen were the only American POWs in the film. You may remember him from the scene in which the three American POWs taste the moonshine they brewed for the 4th of July celebration. Mr. Taylor chokes on the fire-water as he says "Wow!" He also carried the flag in the photo shown at right. Mr. Taylor directed David Jansen in his final film "City in Fear." Mr. Taylor surprisingly used the Alan Smithee credit for the TV movie. It was surprising that he used the Smithee credit because the movie was a very-well done crime thriller. He also used the Alan Smithee pseudonym for the 1968 Burt Reynolds' TV movie "Fade In."

Jud Taylor's many directing credits include "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues," "Broken Vows," "Lou Grant," "Woman of the Year," "The Disappearance of Flight 412," "Winter Kill," the pilot film for "The Rookies," "Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole," "Mannix," "Longstreet," "Then Came Bronson," "Love, American Style," "The New Doctors," "Judd for the Defense," "The Guns of Will Sonnett," "The Second Hundred Years," "The Fugitive," "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.," "Ben Casey," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." and "Dr. Kildare."

Jud Taylor also had a successful career as a film and TV actor before heading behind the camera. Mr. Taylor made his acting debut in Robert Aldrich's WWII film "Attack." He was a regular on the TV series "Dr. Kildare." He appeared in several episodes playing different parts on "The Fugitive" and "12 O'Clock High." Other acting credits include "The Interns," "Follow the Sun," "The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin," "Men of Annapolis," "Gunsmoke" and "The Garment Jungle."

BERNIE BRILLSTEIN AUG. 7, 2008

Emmy-nominated producer Bernie Brillstein died of kidney failure at age 77. Mr. Brillstein was one of the most successful and powerful agents in Hollywood. He was responsible for bringing such shows as "Saturday Night Live," "Hee Haw," "The Muppet Show" and "Alf" to TV. Mr. Brillstein represented many of the most talented actors and writers of the past 30 years. He was best known as John Belushi's agent. Mr. Brillstein was nominated for nine Emmy awards and three Daytime Emmy awards. Mr. Brillstein's many producer credits include "Jiminy Glick in Lalawood," "The Wayne Brady Show," "The Martin Short Show," "NewsRadio," "Just Shoot Me!," "The Replacement Killers," "Politically Incorrect," "Mr. Show," "Bulletproof," "The Cable Guy," "Happy Gilmore," "The Dana Carvey Show," "The Steve Harvey Show," "The Celluloid Closet," "It's Garry Shandling's Show," "Ghostbusters II," the feature film version of "Dragnet," "Spies Like Us," "Summer Rental," "Ghost Busters," "Buffalo Bill," "Doctor Detroit," "Neighbors," "Continental Divide," "The Blues Brothers" and "Up the Academy." Actor Alex Rocco played a fictionalized version of Bernie Brillstein in the lame movie "Wired."

BERNIE MAC Died Aug. 9, 2008

Emmy-nominated comedian/actor Bernie Mac died at age 50. Bernie Mac had been hospitalized with severe pneumonia for several weeks. He also suffered from the autoimmune disease sarcoidosis since the early 1980s. I love the fact that Bernie Mac fought against being labeled a 'Black Comedian.' Bernie Mac's comedy crossed all lines. He spoke to all humans. When he broke the 4th wall at the end of each episode of "The Bernie Mac Show" he sure spoke to me. Bernie Mac was born almost one year to the day before me. His insights on parenting, wives and other topics covered in his TV show hit home with me and I imagine millions of other men in the same generation. He voiced the conflict of what it means to be a real man in a world of metrosexual, Oprah-inspired, man-bag carriers. I hated when the show was cancelled. I hate even more that Bernie Mac was not able to win this last battle. Thirty years ago I would have said that 50 is old. What a shame that Bernie Mac died so young. Some will detract from the man for his blue humor. I look at Bernie Mac as a positive role model for the power of perseverance. Though he knew at an early age that he wanted to make his living as a comedian, he did not get his big break until late in life. But Bernie Mac did not give up the fight. He did not lose sight of his dream. He worked to make ends meet while he pursued his dream.

Bernie Mac gained wide audience exposure in the early 1990s with his appearances on HBO's "Def Comedy Jam." He soldiered on through the 1990s working comedy clubs, making TV appearances and playing bit parts in movies. In 2000 Bernie Mac was one of four comedians featured in Spike Lee's comedy concert film "The Original Kings of Comedy." The movie pushed Bernie Mac further up the ladder and landed him on the A-List. His TV series was in direct result of his appearance in the Spike Lee documentary. There was no denying that Bernie Mac was a star who could carry a TV show. The series ran from 2000 through 2006 and earned Bernie Mac two Emmy nominations among many other accolades. His movie roles also grew larger.

Bernie Mac appeared in nearly 40 films and TV shows. He had finished work on two films at the time of his death. "Soul Men," set for release next year was filmed in part in my home town of Memphis. Bernie Mac co-starred in the remake of "Ocean's Eleven" and its two sequels. His hilarious cameo as a used car dealer was the only thing, besides Megan Fox looking under the hood of that car, worthwhile in last year's "Transformers." I loved the fact that Bernie Mac was cast as Bill Murray's brother when he replaced Murray as Bosley in the second "Charlie's Angels" movie. Bernie Mac's many film and TV credits include "Pride," "Guess Who," "Mr 3000," "Bad Santa," "Head of State," "Moesha," "The Players Club," "B*A*P*S," "Booty Call," "Get on the Bus," "Don't Be a Menace to South Central While Drinking Your Juice in the Hood," "Friday," "Above the Rim," "House Party 3" and "Mo' Money."

Thanks for the laughter. It was needed in this tough world. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends.

ISAAC HAYES Died Aug. 10, 2008

Oscar-winning composer Isaac Hayes ten days shy of his 66th birthday. Mr. Hayes was found unresponsive by a treadmill in his house. He was pronounced dead at Baptist East Hospital in Memphis. Isaac Hayes was one the most influential songwriters and performers in American music history. His impact on Soul, R&B, Rock and Roll and Disco can be heard in not only his recordings but also in those for who he wrote hit songs and influenced. Isaac Hayes was nominated for two Oscars for his score and original song for the movie "Shaft." He won the Oscar for Best Song. Mr. Hayes won two Grammy awards for his score and song from the same film.

Isaac Hayes was one of the premiere artists working at the Memphis based record studio STAX. Along with David Porter of "Sam & Dave" fame, Mr. Hayes co-wrote some landmark hit records. The Sam & Dave hits "Soul Man" and "Hold On! I'm Comin'" were co-written by Isaac Hayes. Isaac Hayes broke trough as a nationally recognized performer with the classic 1969 album "Hot Buttered Soul." This began a five-year period during which Mr. Hayes recorded some of the most memorable music of the 1970s. During this time Isaac Hayes was nicknamed Black Moses. His music created an opening through which many followed. Isaac Hayes' electric live performances were captured in a number of films and documentaries including "Wattstax" and "Save the Children."

In addition to his score for the movie "Shaft," Isaac Hayes composed scores for such films as "Knight Fever," "Truck Turner," "Tough Guys" and "Maidstone." Music written and/or performed by Mr. Hayes has been used on numerous movie soundtracks. You can enjoy his work in such films as "American Gangster," "Zodiac," "Lord of War," "Kill Bill," "8 Mile," "We Were Soldiers," "The Sopranos," "Jackie Brown," "Beavis and Butt-Head Do America," "Dead Presidents," "White Men Can't Jump," "Wired," "Casualties of War," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "The Blues Brothers" and "Shaft's Big Score!"

Isaac Hayes also enjoyed a successful career as an actor. He appeared in over 60 films and TV shows. He starred in the 1974 Blaxploitation film "Truck Turner" in which he played the title character bounty Hunter. John Carpenter cast Isaac Hayes as the chief crime boss 'the Duke' in his classic "Escape from New York." His Duke was a super bad, super cool counterpart to Kurt Russell's super-bad, super-cool hero Snake Plissken. Memphis director Craig Brewer gave Mr. Hayes a nice cameo role in the Oscar-winning "Hustle & Flow." Isaac Hayes also had a small part in the Samuel L. Jackson remake of "Shaft." He made an appearance as himself in the upcoming "Soul Men." Just hours before his own death, Isaac Hayes told a Memphis TV news reporter how upset he was at the death of his "Soul Men" co-star Bernie Mac. Younger audiences know him best for his voice role as Chef in "South Park." Mr. Hayes left the show after his Scientology beliefs were lampooned in one episode. A somewhat hypocritical stance as Mr. Hayes contributed his voice to other episodes which poked fun at other religions. We all are guilty of our own hypocrisy now and again. This just showed he was human. Isaac Hayes other acting credits include "Return to Sleepaway Camp," "Stargate SG-1," "Chelsea Walls," "Dr. Dolittle 2," "Reindeer Games," "Escape from L.A.," "Sliders," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Tales from the Crypt," "Robin Hood: Men in Tights," "Prime Target," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "Miami Vice," "The A-Team" and "The Rockford Files."

HOWARD MINSKY Died Aug. 10, 2008

Oscar-nominated producer Howard Minsky died at age 94. Mr. Minsky was nominated for a Best Picture Oscar for "Love Story." Mr. Minsky's only other producer credit was for the Robbie Benson Western "Jory." Howard Minsky worked in the film industry since childhood. He was a studio exec at both Fox and Paramount. He also worked as a talent agent for the William Morris agency. He was writer Erich Segal's agent. Mr. Minsky quit William Morris and worked to get Mr. Segal's book "Love Story" to the screen. While "Love Story" is Mr. Minsky's biggest claim to fame, his other film "Jory" is well worth discovering. I remember seeing it in the theater back in the day. Robbie Benson did a great job portraying a teen who has to learn to be a man on his own after his family is killed. John Marley and singer BJ Thomas co-starred.

GEORGE FURTH Died Aug. 11, 2008

Actor and Tony-winning playwright George Furth died at age 75. Mr. Furth was a frequent collaborator of Stephen Sondheim. Mr. Furth won the 1971 Tony award and 1970 Drama Desk award for his book of the play "Company." Mr. Furth wrote or co-wrote eight Broadway plays. Mr. Furth appeared in nearly 90 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. He may be best remembered as the loyal railroad clerk Leonard Woodcock in George Roy Hill's classic Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Mr. Furth's character was nearly killed several times protecting the money of E. H. Harriman of the Union Pacific Railroad from the Hole in the Wall gang's robbery attempts. His interplay with actor Paul Newman during the two robbery scenes were classics of comedic timing.

George Furth's many acting credits include "Bulworth," "Murder, She Wrote," "Murphy Brown," "The Man with Two Brains," "Doctor Detroit," "The Cannonball Run," "Oh, God!," "Airport '77," "All in the Family," "Shampoo," "Blazing Saddles," "Sleeper," "Bonanza," "Night Gallery," "Myra Breckinridge," "The Boston Strangler," "What's So Bad About Feeling Good?," "Ironside," "The Monkees," Curtis Harrington's "Games," "F Troop," "Honey West," "McHale's Navy," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" and "The Defenders."

ROBERTA COLLINS Died Aug. 16, 2008

Life is tough. Grief can be overwhelming. Janis Joplin once said "On stage I make love to twenty five thousand people; and then I go home alone." Fame is fleeting. The love and adoration of fans may fill some void, but we are all alone at the end of the day. Sometimes it becomes more than we can bear. Roberta Collins lost her son Michael to suicide. While it is not known whether Roberta Collins' death was an accident or suicide, my sources state that she took too many pills the day she died. Ms. Collins sank into depression following the death of her son. She was married to actor Paul Harper (The Wild Bunch). On the last day of her life, Bobbie Collins lay in bed. Her husband checked on her in the morning and at lunch time. She refused any food. She was gone by 4 that afternoon.

Roberta Collins was a free spirit. She brought joy to others through her work and in her personal life. She was a believer in holistic healing and tried to help others through those beliefs. Most of us didn't know Roberta Collins. We remember her fondly from her many cult films from the 1970s. She was a contemporary of Rainbeaux Smith, Candice Rialson, Claudia Jennings. While I enjoyed Roberta Collins' work, Rainbeaux Smith was the girl for me (in a movie fantasy way I'm sure you understand.) Roberta Collins appeared in 30 films and TV shows during her career. She remains in the hearts of drive-in movie fans for a half-dozen cult classics she appeared in during the 1970s.

In 1971, Roberta Collins co-starred with Pam Grier in her first of three Women in Prison films: Jack Hill's "The Big Doll House." Who can forget their famous, muddy cat-fight! That same year, she re-teamed with Ms. Grier in her second Women in Prison film "Women in Cages." Both films were US/Philippine co-productions. Ms. Collin's third Women in Prison film was Jonathan Demme's fun "Caged Heat." She co-starred with Barbara Steele, Erica Gavin, Juanita Brown and Rainbeaux Smith. The 1974 film is the best of the three films.

Her best known role is probably as Matilda the Hun in Roger Corman's gonzo cult-classic "Death Race 2000." She played a Nazi vixen paired up with Fred Grandy in the tale of a cross country race where the more people you kill, the more points you score. One of her most touching roles was as Clara, the doomed prostitute in Tobe Hooper's under-rated horror classic "Eaten Alive." She played one of those characters you know is going to end up in a very bad place, but you want her to make it. She doesn't. Another early drive-in classic from the 70s: "The Unholy Rollers." The Roller Derby movie belongs to its star, the late Claudia Jennings. Roberta Collins delivers the film's second best performance as a beautiful, but badass teammate.

Roberta Collins did some TV and made a few movies during the 1980s before leaving the film industry. Her TV credits include "Adam 12," "The Night Stalker," "BJ and the Bear" and Glenn Ford's great series "Cade's County." Ms. Collins would later work as one of the health care providers for Glenn Ford toward the end of his life. Ms. Collins other film credits include "Sweet Kill" with Tab Hunter, "Death Wish 2," "School Spirit" and the two "Hardbodies" movies.

It has taken some time to find and talk to my sources. Ironically news of Ms. Collins' passing surfaced on August 28, my daughter Christy's birthday. Tomorrow (Sept. 14) is the fourth anniversary of Christy's ATV accident. When Christy lay in a coma the doctors told me on several occasions that she wouldn't live through the night. I was blessed that I didn't lose my daughter. However the experience gave me some insight into what it would be like to lose a child. As bad as my experience was I know that it pales in comparison to what Bobbie Collins went through. I can't say what I would have done had Christy died. I hope I never have to find out the answer to that question. I just pray that Ms. Collins finds some peace from the pain she suffered due to the loss of her son Michael.

UPDATE: I was contacted by Roberta Collins' sister Lois. She forwarded her sister's death certificate to me which states the cause of death as Myocardial Infarction. She stated in her e-mail that Ms. Collins' husband Paul had informed her that Roberta had taken too many pills that day. It is an accusation that she did not believe. After being contacted by Ms. Collins' sister, I contacted my original source and was assured that their information was correct. In fact, their information was confirmed in many respects by the e-mail I received from Ms. Collins' sister Lois. There was no autopsy as a doctor signed the death certificate the same day Ms. Collins died. Ms. Collins' sister has some very definate ideas on how this was accomplished. I understand her grief, and regular readers know the tone of this obituary column. I stand by my original sources as to what happened the day Ms. Collins passed away.

JULIUS CARRY Died Aug. 19, 2008

Actor Julius Carry died of pancreatic cancer at age 56. Mr. Carry appeared in nearly 60 films and TV shows during his career. He will always be remembered and loved for his gonzo performance as 'Sho Nuff: The Shogun of Harlem' in producer Berry Gordy's cult, Kung-Fu classic "The Last Dragon." Mr. Carry's over-the-top villain remains one of my favorite movie characters of all time. Mr. Carry was also well-known for playing Lord Bowler on the cult TV series "The Adventures of Brisco County Jr." Julius Carry's many credits include "The Unit," "JAG," "The District," "The Hughleys," "Boy Meets World," "Cosby," "Caroline in the City," "Murphy Brown," "Earth 2," "Tales from the Crypt," "Murder, She Wrote," "Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin," "Tanner '88," "Moonlighting," "Fame," "The A-Team," "The Man with One Red Shoe," "The Jeffersons," "Alice," "Newhart," "Benson," "Hill Street Blues," "The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh" and "Disco Godfather." Thanks for the memories, sho nuff!

JERRY REED Died Sep. 1, 2008

Singer/songwriter/actor Jerry Reed died of complications from emphysema at age 71. Jerry Reed's music and movies were a popular part of my youth growing up in the South. I was never a country music fan in high school, but Jerry Reed cut across all genres with his humorous novelty songs, incredible and distinctive guitar playing and his naturally cool and funny screen presence. You couldn't help but like Jerry Reed. His many appearances on variety talk shows like "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" and "The Dean Martin Show" showcased his charismatic personality. Jerry Reed drew you into his own cult of personality. He was the guy you wanted at your back in a bar-fight or by your side at a keg party. His laughter was infectious.

Jerry Reed wrote songs for many other artists including Elvis and Brenda Lee. Some of his more memorable songs were "When You're Hot, You're Hot," "Amos Moses," "That's All You Gotta Do," "Misery Loves Company," "Guitar Man," "Tupelo Mississippi Flash," "Lord, Mr. Ford" and "East Bound and Down."

The song "East Bound and Down" was the theme song to the movie "Smokey and the Bandit." Jerry Reed co-starred with Burt Reynolds and Sally Field in the hit movie. He acted in over 20 films and TV shows, often playing to his good-old-boy persona. He stretched a bit to play the villain in Burt Reynolds' "White Lightning" sequel "Gator." His other acting credits include "The Waterboy," "Evening Shade," "Bat*21" (which he also served as executive producer, "The Survivors," "W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings" and "Harper Valley, U.S.A."

Mr. Reed's songs can be heard on the soundtracks of such films and TV shows as "My Name Is Earl," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "The Thing Called Love," "This Is Elvis," "Drive-In" and "Vanishing Point."

DON LAFONTAINE Died Sep. 1, 2008

Voiceover artist Don LaFontaine died of complications from pneumothorax at age 68. Don LaFontaine had one of the most recognizable voices in modern media. He provided the narration to thousands of movie trailers over the past three decades. Mr. LaFontaine's trademark line was "In a world with…" then he would fill in the blank depending on the product. Millions of TV viewers were finally able to put a face with the voice when Geico Insurance hired him to do one of their recent TV commercials. It would be impossible to list all of the films on which Mr. LaFontaine worked. In a world without Don LaFontaine who will do our voiceovers? He was one of a kind.

MICHAEL PATE Died Sep. 1, 2008

Prolific Australian character actor Michael Pate died of respiratory failure at age 88. Mr. Pate was on location filming a remake of his 1977 film "The Mango Tree" when he died. Mr. Pate moved to the US in 1950 and enjoyed a long and successful career. He often was cast as an American Indian on numerous TV shows and films. He played the villainous Sierra Charriba in Sam Peckinpah's misfire "Major Dundee" (see picture at right). Mr. Pate appeared in over 150 films and TV shows during his career. He appeared in the first film adaptation of a James Bond novel: the 1954 live-TV version of "Casino Royale." Mr. Pate played Clarence Leiter. Not sure why they writer changed the character's name from Felix. The show was an episode of the TV series "Climax!" Mr. Pate was also a successful screenwriter. In addition to writing the aforementioned "The Mango Tree" Mr. Pate wrote the Mel Gibson film "Tim." Mr. Pate was nominated for a Best Screenplay Adapted award by the Australian Film Institute for "The Mango Tree." Mr. Pate won the Australian Logie Award (their version of the Emmy) for "Tim." He also directed "Tim." Mr. Pate was the father of actor Christopher Pate.

Michael Pate's many film and TV credits include "Howling III," "The Virginian," "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea," "Mission: Impossible," "The Rat Patrol," "The Time Tunnel," "The Wild Wild West," "Batman," "The Singing Nun," "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.," "Get Smart," "Wagon Train," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Gunsmoke," "Perry Mason," "Rawhide," "McLintock!," "PT 109," "Tower of London," "Route 66," "The Rifleman," "77 Sunset Strip," "Have Gun - Will Travel," "Sergeants 3," "Peter Gunn," "Thriller," "Maverick," "Curse of the Undead," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "The Court Jester," "The Silver Chalice," "Hondo," "The Maze," "Houdini," the Brando version of "Julius Caesar," "The Desert Rats" and "Ten Tall Men."

BILL MELENDEZ Died Sep. 2, 2008

Oscar-nominated producer/animator and composer Bill Melendez died at age 91. Mr. Melendez was also nominated for 28 Emmy awards. He won six! Bill Melendez will always be beloved and remembered for bringing Charles Schultz characters from the "Peanuts" comic strip to TV and film. He produced, directed and/or animated over 50 "Charlie Brown" TV specials and feature films. Mr. Memlelndez shared an Oscar nomination for the 1969 feature "A Boy Named Charlie Brown." Bill Melendez also provided the voice of Snoopy and Woodstock! Mr. Memlelndez started his career working for Walt Disney and contributed to projects like "Pinocchio" and "Bambi" among others. He then went to work for Warner Brothers and worked on many "Bugs Bunny" and "Daffy Duck" cartoons. Mr. Melendez won Emmy awards for "Cathy," "Garfield on the Town," "Life Is a Circus, Charlie Brown," "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus," "You're a Good Sport, Charlie Brown" and "A Charlie Brown Christmas." Mr. Melendez was honored by his peers in the Animation Guild with the Windsor McCay Award in 1979.

ANITA PAGE Died Sep. 6, 2008

Anita Page, the last surviving silent film star died at age 98. Yes, there are other actors and actresses who worked in silent films still living, but Ms. Page was the last of the star from the era. Ms. Page rose to stardom in the late 1920s. Her costars included Lon Chaney Sr., Ramon Novarro, Joan Crawford, Buster Keaton and Clark Gable. Anita Page's career was over at age 23. Fear of a scandal because of a deluge of fan letters from admirer Benito Mussolini combined with Ms. Page's refusal to have sex with producer Irving Thalberg ended her career. Like a comet entering the atmosphere, Ms. Page's career burned bright hot and then was gone. She made a British film three years after her Hollywood career was taken from her, but then nothing…until the late 1990s when she began making cameo appearances in small horror movies.

Anita Page became a superstar when she co-starred with Joan Crawford in the 1928 "Our Danicing Daughters." The actresses made three films together though Ms. Page detested Crawford. Her next film cast her opposite Lon Chaney Sr. in the gangster film "While the City Sleeps." IMDB states that Ms. Page also appeared uncredited in Chaney's "West of Zanzibar" but a close examination shows that she is no where to be found. The following year Ms. Page successfully made the transition to 'talkies.' She co-starred in "The Broadway Melody," which was the first sound film to win the Best Picture Oscar.

Anita Page made 30 films before her career was taken from her. Other credits include "Free and Easy" and "Sidewalks of New York" both opposite Buster Keaton, "Our Blushing Brides," "Little Accident" opposite Douglas Fairbanks Jr. and "The Easiest Way" as Clark Gable's love interest. Ms. Page married naval officer Herschel House and enjoyed her role as wife and mother as well as popular hostess to parties in San Diego. Following the death of her husband, Ms. Page began appearing in indie horror films. She had recently finished a role in the upcoming "Frankenstein Rising" in which she plays the mother of another star from yesteryear Margaret O'Brien!

NORMAN WHITFIELD Died Sep. 16, 2008

Songwriter and record producer Norman Whitfield died of complications from diabetes at age 65. Mr. Whitfield co-wrote some of the greatest songs to come out of America during the 1960s and 70. Mr. Whitfield spent the most prolific and productive part of his career working at Motown. His list of hits include "Heard It Through the Grapevine," "Just My Imagination," "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone," "I Can't Get Next to You," "Ball of Confusion" and "War." Mr. Whitfield won a Grammy for the soundtrack album to the comedy movie "Car Wash." He also composed addition music for Berry Gordy's cult classic "The Last Dragon." Can you imagine "The Big Chill" without Norman Whitfield's music? The haunting effect of "Heard It Through the Grapevine" over the credit sequence and the contagious joy of "Ain't to Proud to Beg" during the dance scene in the kitchen helped make "The Big Chill" the classic film it became. The movie would be empty and shallow without Mr. Whitfields great songs. Mr. Whitfield's music can be heard on the sound tracks of dozens of films and TV shows. Some of them include "Rush Hour 3," "The Sopranos," "Munich," "Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle," "The Wire," "Tupac: Resurrection," "Undercover Brother," "Bringing Out the Dead," "How Stella Got Her Groove Back," "Private Parts," "Dead Presidents", "Smiling Faces," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "Eddie Murphy Raw," "Hamburger Hill," "Ruthless People" and "Which Way Is Up?"

IRENE DAILEY Died Sep. 24, 2008

Daytime Emmy and Drama Desk-winning actress Irene Dailey died of colon cancer at age 88. Ms. Dailey was the sister of actor Dan Dailey. Ms. Dailey worked on Broadway as well as in film and TV. Ms. Dailey began her Broadway career in 1943. She co-starred with Jack Albertson in the two-year run of "The Subject Was Roses." She won the Drama Desk Award for her performance in the play "Rooms." Ms. Dailey was well known to soap opera fans for her work in "The Edge of Night" and "Another World." She won a Daytime Emmy award in 1979 for her work in "Another World." Irene Dailey appeared in a number of memorable films. She played the Ma Barker based character in Robert Aldrich's excellent depression-era gangster film "The Grissom Gang." Other film credits include "The Amityville Horror," "Jigsaw," "Five Easy Pieces" and "No Way to Treat a Lady." Her TV credits include "Ben Casey," "Dr. Kildare," "The Twilight Zone," "The Defenders" and "Naked City."

PAUL NEWMAN Died Sep. 26, 2008

Oscar-winning actor/producer and director Paul Newman died of cancer at age 83. Though blessed with leading-man good looks, Paul Newman was one of the best character actors of his generation. He was that rare combination of Movie Star and talented serious actor. Unlike his two-time screen partner Robert Redford, Paul Newman did not bring the same mannerisms ad bits to each role. There was always something new and different in every performance. The camera and audiences carried on an on-screen love affair with Paul Newman for over 50 years. His characters included heroes, bastards, losers and winners. We gave his characters a chance because we loved the man bringing them to life.

Paul Newman married actress Joanne Woodward in 1958. It was his second marriage and was one of the longest Hollywood marriages on record. When asked if he was ever tempted to stray, Mr. Newman said "Why go out for hamburger when you have steak at home?" In addition to his accomplished acting career, Paul Newman was a philanthropist, activist and respected race-car driver. He was the father of actress/producer Susan Kendall Newman, actresses Nell Potts and Melissa Newman, actor Scott Newman and two daughters not in show business: Stephanie and Claire. His son Scott Newman died of an overdose of drugs and alcohol in 1978. Paul Newman started the Scott Newman Center to prevent drug abuse through education to help prevent other parents having to go through the pain of loss he suffered. Paul Newman was able to donate nearly $200,000,000.00 to various charities through the profits of his "Newman's Own" salad dressing company. The company was begun in 1982 and has expanded to produce other food products in addition to the salad dressing line. His daughter Nell is slated to continue the "Newman's Own" company and philanthropic work. Paul Newman also started the "Hole in the Wall" camps for seriously ill children. Paul Newman served his country as a tail-gunner in the US Navy in the Pacific Theater of Operation during WWII.

Paul Newman was nominated for ten Oscars during his lengthy career. He received eight Best Actor nods, one Best Supporting Actor nomination as well as a Best Picture nomination for "Rachel, Rachel." Mr. Newman won his lone competitive Oscar for Best Actor for playing Fast Eddie Felson in Martin Scorsese's "The Color of Money." The 1986 film was a sequel to his 1961 film "The Hustler." Paul Newman earned the distinction of being one of only five actors to be nominated for Oscars for playing the same character in two different films! Paul Newman received two honorary Oscars. He received an Honorary Oscar for his body of work in 1986 and he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian award in 1994. Paul Newman's work on film, TV and stage was also honored with numerous nominations and awards including Emmy, Tony, Golden Globe, BAFTA, SAG and the New York Film Critic Circle awards.

Paul Newman appeared in over 80 films and TV shows during his career. He made his Broadway debut in the original 1953 production of William Inge's "Picnic." The following year, Paul Newman made his big screen debut in the Biblical epic "The Silver Chalice." Depending on which version you believe, the young actor took out a full page ad in either Variety or the New York Times to apologize for the film. After making a number of appearances on early TV shows, Paul Newman starred in his second feature film. The 1956 biopic "Somebody Up There Likes Me" re-teamed Newman with his "Chalice" co-star Pier Angeli as boxer Rocky Graziano. This time the audiences and critics liked what they saw. The film also marked the big-screen debut of actor Steve McQueen in a small supporting role. McQueen would spend a number of years struggling in Hollywood before he reached Paul Newman's level of stardom. There was no love lost between the two actors as Steve McQueen resented Newman's success and fought to emerge from Newman's shadow in the industry.

Paul Newman continued to work on TV and in film during the 1950s. 1958 turned out to be a banner year for Paul Newman. Though his first marriage ended that year he married actress Joanne Woodward. Mr. Newman starred in four feature film releases in 1958 which planted him firmly and permanently in the A-List of Hollywood talent. He co-starred with Joanne Woodward and Orson Wells in the Faulkner-based "The Long, Hot Summer." Newman created his first of many great anti-heroes as Ben Quick. Next up was Arthur Penn's "The Left Handed Gun" with Newman playing famed outlaw Billy the Kid. Paul Newman received his first Best Actor Oscar nomination in Tennessee William's "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof." He played a latent-homosexual, alcoholic ex-football star married to a very hot and horny Elizabeth Taylor. He ended 1958 with the comedy "Rally 'Round the Flag Boys." This was the second of ten feature films he made with wife Joanne Woodward. The soap opera drama "The Young Philadelphians" was his final film of the 1950s.

Paul Newman made 18 feature films during the 1960s. He created one of the great Iconic film characters of all time in Stuart Rosenberg's "Cool Hand Luke." His films ranged from soap operas to comedies to Westerns. Paul Newman personified the anti-hero with his film roles during this productive decade. He started the decade with the entertaining soap-opera "From the Terrace." He followed this with Otto Preminger's overblown 'important film' "Exodus." In 1961 he created his first immortal character 'Fast Eddie' Felson in Robert Rossen's classic "The Hustler." The gritty drama earned Newman his second Best Actor Oscar nomination. The following year he reteamed with Joanne Woodward in "Paris Blues." He then recreated his Broadway role in the film version of "The Sweet Bird of Youth." He played a small role in "Hemingway's Adventures of a Young Man" in 1962. In 1963 Paul Newman created another immortal film character in Martin Ritt's "Hud." This was the fourth of six films the actor and director worked on. Newman played a selfish bastard, but you can't help but root for Hud and admire his pure lust for life. The performance earned Newman his third Best Actor Oscar nomination.

Five forgettable films followed before Newman returned to top form in the detective thriller "Harper." The popular movie spawned the 1970s sequel "The Drowning Pool." His next film was "Torn Curtain," directed by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock. The Cold War thriller was not one of Hitchcock's best films. It does include one of the most brutal murder scenes ever filmed. Hitchcock wanted to show just how hard it is to take a person's life. Newman and actress Carolyn Conwell work together to kill a KGB agent played by Wolfgang Keiling. The scene is classic Hitchcock stuck in the middle of one of his most unsatisfactory films. Paul Newman re-teamed with director Martin Ritt for one of my personal favorite Westerns: "Hombre." Mr. Newman plays a white man raised by Indians who inherits a boarding house owned by his father. His character comes to town, sells the boarding house and heads back to the hills. He rides a stage coach along with those displaced by the sale of his new property. He is ridicules and oustricized by the 'Whites' until the stage is held up by bandits lead by the menacing Richard Boone. Once again, Paul Newman plays against his leading man looks to create a memorable character who is not the most likable guy in the world. This is a must-see film for those who've never had the pleasure.

With so many memorable characters, it is hard to say which role was Paul Newman's best. For my money, his best film is "Cool Hand Luke." The prison drama is a character study of a man angry at the world. A real world shaker! Stuart Rosenberg's film is one of the best films of the 60s or any decade. Luke is Newman's ultimate anti-hero. Newman received his fourth Best Actor Oscar nomination. Actor George Kennedy won a well-deserved Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his role as Dragline.

In 1968 Paul Newman made his directorial debut with "Rachel, Rachel." The movie earned four Oscar nominations including a "Best Picture" nod for Newman. His wife Joanne Woodward received her second of four Best Actress Oscar nominations as the title character. Estelle Parsons earned her second of back-to-back Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations for her performance. The story of an old-maid finally learning to live life is a rewarding small film.

Returning to acting, Paul Newman appeared in the so-so comedy "The Secret War of Harry Frigg." Next up was "Winning" which combined Newman's new-found love of automobile racing with his acting profession. Paul Newman's final film of the 1960s was the classic comedy-Western "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid." Newman co-starred with Robert Redford in one of the first great 'buddy films.' The stars had a wonderful on-screen chemistry which made the movie one of the most popular films of all time. Unfortunately the pair would only make one more film together.

Paul Newman's output during the 1970s wasn't as prolific as his work in the 60s, but he turned in several excellent comedic performances. He began the decade with the little-seen "WUSA." The flawed film looks at a right-wing radio station in the south. Newman himself was a staunch liberal all his life. He worked for Eugene McCarthy during the 1968 presidential race and was proud of the fact he ended up on Richard Nixon's Enemies List! Ironically, Newman's rival Steve McQueen was a staunch conservative and was upset the he too somehow found his way on Nixon's infamous list.

Another one of my personal favorites was the 1971 film "Sometimes a Great Notion." Newman co-stars with Henry Fonda, Michael Sarrazin and Richard Jaeckel (in a memorable Oscar nominated performance) as an independent logging family trying to survive against the large logging companies. This was Paul Newman's second film as director. Newman's scene in which he tries to save his brother (Jaeckel) from drowning is unforgettable. The following year Paul Newman stepped behind the camera to direct "The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds." The movie starred wife Joanne Woodward and their daughter Nell Potts as a dysfunctional mother and her idealistic daughter.

Next up, acting-wise, was the disastrous "Pocket Money" with Lee Marvin. In 1972 director John Huston cast Newman in the lead of "The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean." This classic off-kilter Western contains some of Newman's best work as a comedian. The film was not a big success and the fact it is not considered a cult classic still mystifies me. The following year he re-teamed with John Huston on the deliberately-paced thriller "The MacKintosh Man." A rewarding film for the patient viewer.

In 1973 director George Roy Hill re-teamed with Newman and Redford for the Oscar-winning comedy "The Sting." During the early 1970s, Memphis had its own film review board. A number of films rated GP in the rest of the country were rated R in Memphis. "The Sting" was one such film. I spent a week with relatives in Little Rock that year and caught up on all the movies I couldn't see in Memphis. What a great movie. No great performances, just fun entertainment. The depression era conman movie won seven Oscars including Best Picture. Once again, Newman and Redford shined together. Next to wanting the Beatles to get back together, I think wanting to see another Newman/Redford movie was on the top of my wish list. Alas, it will never happen.

Irwin Allen wrangled Paul Newman and Steve McQueen to co-star in his disaster film "The Towering Inferno." The all-star disaster movie was famous for McQueen's contractual negotiations to star with the man he most envied. He followed "Inferno" with the "Harper" sequel "The Drowning Pool." It was his final of four collaborations with director Stuart Rosenberg. Paul Newman made three more films during the 1970s. Two of them were quirky tales for director Robert Altman: "Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bulls History Lesson" and the post-apocalyptic sci-fi mystery "Quintet." One of Newman's best films of the decade is the profane sports comedy "Slap Shot." Newman is in top form as the cynical, middle-aged, minor league hockey player trying to keep his team from being sold. The film is filled with some of the most crude and hilarious humor you will ever witness.

Paul Newman made eight feature films during the 1980s. He received Oscar nominations for three and won his sole competitive Oscar. The decade didn't start out that well, acting-wise. He starred in Irwin Allen's 1980 disaster film "When Time Ran Out." This Paul versus the volcano movie hammered the final nail in the disaster movie coffin. 1980 was a successful year for Paul Newman in that he directed the excellent Made for TV movie "The Shadow Box." He received an Emmy nomination for the tale of three people dealing with impending death. Wife Joanne Woodward co-starred with Christopher Plummer.

Paul Newman returned to form as an actor in 1981 with the excellent cop-drama "Fort Apache, the Bronx." I love the scene in which Paul Newman disarms a crazy man with a knife by acting so crazy himself that the suspect begins laughing and surrenders. The movie also features a chilling performance by Pam Grier as a murderous prostitute.

Paul Newman received his fifth Best Actor Oscar nomination for Sydney Pollack's "Absence of Malice." He plays the son of a gangster wrongfully framed for a murder. His "Slap Shot" leading lady Melinda Dillon turned in an Oscar-nominated performance as his doomed girlfriend. I don't care how many times I run across this movie on TV, if I get a chance to watch the scene in which Wilfred Brimley as the US Attorney takes names and kicks ass. I will watch it. I've always thought that his sole scene in the movie was worth an Oscar, just like Ned Beatty's Oscar-winning single scene in "Network." The following year he received his sixth Best Actor Oscar nomination as Frank Galvin, an alcoholic lawyer getting one last chance at life in Sidney Lumet's "The Verdict." James Mason and Milo O'Shea were also excellent in this great courtroom drama. A young Bruce Willis was an extra in the courtroom scenes!

I never saw Newman's 1984 feature "Harry & Son." Robby Benson co-starred in Newman's third outing as director of a feature film. Oscar finally shined on Paul Newman in 1986. Martin Scorsese directed Newman in "The Color of Money." He reprised his "Hustler" role as 'Fast Eddie' Felson. This time playing Felson as a mentor and manager to a young pool shark played by Tom Cruise. Newman ended the decade with the A-Bomb drama "Fat Man and Little Boy" and the fun but forgettable "Blaze."

Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward made their final feature film together in 1990. "Mr. & Mrs. Bridge." The Ivory/Merchant film earned Joanne Woodward her, to now, final Oscar nomination. Newman next appeared in the Coen Brother's comedy "The Hudsucker Proxy." The following year he co-starred with Bruce Willis and Melanie Griffith in Robert Benton's great little comedy/drama "Nobody's Fool." Mr. Newman received his final Best Actor Oscar nomination in a role that has to be seen a number of times to appreciate its many nuances. Four years later, director Robert Benton called on Paul Newman to star in the thriller "Twilight." The only reason to see the mediocre movie is for Mr. Newman's performance. The following year he turned in a nice cameo the romancer "Message in a Bottle." 2000's "Where the Money Is" was a fun piece of fluff that showed that Paul Newman at 75 was still cooler than most actors still in their 20s. His final live-action feature film performance was in the Sam Mendes's gangster film "The Road to Perdition." He played a cold, evil and well-mannered mob boss and received his sole Best Supporting Oscar nomination. Paul Newman ended his acting career with two Made for TV movies. He played the stage manager in the 2003 version of "Out Town." He also played the role on Broadway the same year. He received both Emmy and Tony nominations for his work in the productions of "Our Town." His final live work was in the HBO miniseries "Empire Falls." He won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries for his work. Mr. Newman ended his career doing vocie work on the IMAX documentary "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon" and Pixar's "Cars."

RON SULLIVAN aka HENRI PACHARD Died Sep. 27, 2008

Adult film director Henri Pachard (real name Ron Sullivan) died of cancer at age 69. Mr. Pachard was an old school adult film director who made the transition to video when the industry moved from shooting on film. He directed a number of erotic classics from the 1970s. His credits include "Babylon Pink" and "The Devil and Ms. Jones: Part 2." Mr. Pachard was mentor to many directors to emerge in the years following the PornChic era including actor turned director Paul Thomas. Mr. Pachard directed over 300 adult films. Mr. Parchard, as Ron Sullivan was also producer on Robert Downey Sr.'s landmark satire "Putney Swope." "Putney Swope" dealt with a Black man becoming the head of a Madison Avenue advertising firm. For those who look down on the adult industry, Mr. Sullivan's part in bringing "Putney Swope" to the screen should still earn him the respect he deserves from film fans.

KIM CHAN Died Oct. 5, 2008

Chinese actor Kim Chan died in Brooklyn, New York. His exact is age not known. Mr. Chan was born in 1917 in China. His family came to the US in 1928. Mr. Chan appeared in over 30 films and TV shows during his career. TV fans remember him for his two roles in the 1990 TV series "Kung Fu: The Legend Continues." Mr. Chan had several memorable film roles. He played Jerry Lewis's butler in the Martin Scorsese's dark look at fame "The King of Comedy." Mr. Chan also had a small but memorable role in "The Fifth Element." His other film and TV roles include "16 Blocks," "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," "Shanghai Knights," "Now and Again," "The Corruptor," "Mad About You," "Lethal Weapon 4," "Kundun," "The Devil's Advocate," "Private Parts," "Alice," "Cadillac Man," "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," "Jumpin' Jack Flash," "Nine 1/2 Weeks," "Spenser: For Hire," "Desperately Seeking Susan," "The Cotton Club," "Moscow on the Hudson" and "The Owl and the Pussycat." Mr. Chan also produced and starred in "Zen Noir."

KEN OGATA Died Oct. 5, 2008

Award-winning Japanese actor Ken Ogata died at age 71 after a long battle with liver cancer. Mr. Ogata was nominated for ten Best Actor and two Best Supporting Actor awards by the Japanese Academy. He won three Best Actor awards for Kinji Fukasaku's "House on Fire," Shohei Inamura's "Ballad of Narayama" and Yoshitaro Nomura's "The Demon." Mr. Ogata's best known work was in director Inamura's classic "Vengeance is Mine." He also starred in director Paul Shrader's "Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters." Mr. Ogata worked with director Shohei Inamura on five films including the Japanese segment of "September 11." Mr. Ogata also appeared in Kinji Fukasaku's international sci-fi thriller "Virus." He also appeared in the 1989 film "Zatoichi" which marked actor Shintaro Katsu's 26th and final appearance in the title role of the blind samurai. Mr. Ogata appeared in over 70 films and TV shows. His many credits include "A Long Walk," "The Samurai I Loved," "The Hidden Blade," Takashi Miike's "Izo," "Proof of the Man," "Shooting Star," "Shogun's Shadow," "Memories of You," "The Geisha," "The Castle of Sand" and "Takôki."

GIL STRATTON Died Oct. 10, 2008

Sportscaster and actor Gil Stratton died of congestive heart failure at age 86. Though best known for his many years as a sports announcer (he was the voice of the LA Rams), Gil Stratton also had a respectable film career. Mr. Stratton appeared in nearly 40 films and TV shows. His best known film role was as William Holden's sidekick 'Cookie' in Billy Wilder's classic "Stalag 17." Mr. Stratton was a prolific radio actor in the days before TV. He appeared on Broadway in 1942 in "Best Foot Forward." The following year he appeared in the film version. Mr. Stratton served his country in the US Army-Air Corps during WWII. His film and TV credits include "The Wild One" with Marlon Brando, "Sextette" with Mae West, "Malcolm & Eddie," "Boy Meets World," "Mama's Family," "Remington Steele," "Cagney & Lacey," "Inside Moves," "Wonder Woman," "The Cat from Outer Space," "Police Story," "The Red Skelton Show," "Dragnet," "Monkey Business," "Here Come the Marines," "Mr. Belvedere Goes to College" and "Girl Crazy."

NEAL HEFTI Died Oct. 11, 2008

Emmy and Grammy-nominated composer Neal Hefti died of a heart attack just shy of his 86th birthday. Mr. Hefti was best known for writing the theme for the TV series "Batman." He played trumpet for the Woody Herman Orchestra during the big band era. Mr. Hefti received an Emmy Award nomination for "The Fred Astaire Show" and a Grammy nomination for "The Odd Couple." His many credits include "Barefoot in the Park," "Sex and the Single Girl," "Won Ton Ton, the Dog Who Saved Hollywood," "Last of the Red Hot Lovers," "A New Leaf," "Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mama's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feeling So Sad," "Lord Love a Duck," "Boeing Boeing," "Harlow," "How to Murder Your Wife," "Rush Hour 2," "61*," "Wayne's World 2."

Voice actor Wally Wingert was a friend of Mr. Hefti. He shared these memories with me: "I'm also saddened to inform you that a friend of mine has passed away at the age of 85, just a few weeks shy of his 86th birthday. Film and TV composer Neal Hefti apparently died of a heart attack on 10/11/08. I heard the news tonight at my church, First Christian Church of North Hollywood, where Neal was active. Neal and I had become good friends in the past few years. He was a sweet guy and I'm glad we sat down and had all those lunches where he told me the stories about his work. This photo of Neal was taken in February at the church. We had an 85th birthday celebration for the great Larry Storch, and Neal came by to say hi to Larry, since they had worked together before in "Sex and the Single Girl."

Photo: From left to right: Wally Wingert, Chuck McCann, Neal Hefti and Larry Storch. My thanks to Mr. Wingert for sharing his memories and this great picture.

CHRISTOPHER WICKING Died Oct. 13, 2008

Screenwriter Christopher Wicking died of a heart attack at home in France. He was 65 years old. Mr. Wicking was best known to horror movie fans for his Hammer and AIP films of the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was brought into "The Oblong Box" project by director Michael Reeves to rewrite the script. Reeves left the project and director Gordon Hessler came on board. This would be the first of five films on which Christopher Wicking and Gordon Hessler would collaborate. Four of the films were with AIP: "The Oblong Box," "Scream and Scream Again," "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "Cry of the Banshee."

These four films were released on DVD as part of MGM's Midnight Movies Double Features series. To access my archived reviews of "Murders in the Rue Morgue" and "Cry of the Banshee" CLICK HERE. To access my archived reviews of "Scream and Scream Again" and "The Oblong Box" CLICK HERE.

Christopher Wicking also wrote three films for Hammer during the studio's final years. He adapted the Bram Stoker novel "Jewel of the Seven Stars" into the sexy "Blood From the Mummy's Tomb" For more about that film CLICK HERE to read my archived review of Anchor Bay's Deluxe Edition DVD. Mr. Wicking also wrote the thriller "Demons of the Mind" for Hammer. This film has been on my must see list for years, but I've yet to find a copy. Mr. Wicking also co-wrote Hammer's final film "To the Devil a Daughter." This is a bad film that remains one of my guilty pleasures. CLICK HERE to read my archived review of Anchor Bay DVD.

Mr. Wicking's other film credits include "Medusa," "Jack Higgins' on Dangerous Ground," "Absolute Beginners," "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and "Venom."

EDIE ADAMS Died Oct. 15, 2008

Tony-winning and Emmy-nominated actress and singer Edie Adams died of cancer and pneumonia at age 81. Edie Adams won a Tony in 1957 for her role as Daisy Mae in "L'il Abner." Edie Adams was well known for her sexy Muriel cigar commercials in which she coaxed me to "pick one up, and smoke it some time." She was nominated for Emmy awards for "The Ernie Kovacs Show" and the TV special "Here's Edie." Edie Adams first husband was TV comedic genius Ernie Kovacs. Mr. Kovacs was killed in a car crash in 1962. Their daughter Mia Kovacs was also killed in a car crash in 1982. She later married Marty Mills and then musician Pete Candoli.

Edie Adams appeared in over 100 films and TV shows during her lengthy career. Her many credits include "Designing Women," "Murder, She Wrote," as Mae West in her late husband's biopic "Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter," "Fantasy Island," "The Love Boat," "Up in Smoke," "The Blue Knight," "Harry O," "Evil Roy Slade," the camp classic "The Oscar," "The Best Man," "Love with the Proper Stranger," "It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World," "Under the Yum Yum Tree," "Call Me Bwana," "Lover Come Back," "The Spiral Staircase," Billy Wilder's "The Apartment," "The Red Skelton Show," "Cinderella," "The Ernie Kovacs Show," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Carol Burnett Show," "The Jackie Gleason Show," "The Dean Martin Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Steve Allen Show."

DAVID LEE Died Oct. 16, 2008

Scottish-born Oscar, Emmy and BAFTA-winning sound editor David Lee died at age 80. Mr. Lee worked on over 70 films and TV shows during his career. He won an Oscar and a BAFTA for "Chicago." Mr. Lee was nominated for two Emmy awards, winning for the Made for TV movie "Unnatural Causes." He won athe Canadian Film Award for the great crime thriller "The Silent Partner." Mr. Lee was the father of Emmy-nominated film editor Allan Lee and sound mixer Ken Lee.

Among Mr. Lee's many notable credits are "Silent Hill," the remake of "Assault on Precinct 13," "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," "The Gospel of John," "Wrong Turn," "John Q," "X-Men," "Shanghai Noon," "Storm of the Century," "The Last Don," David Cronenberg's "Crash," "The Santa Clause," "Adventures in Babysitting," "Mrs. Soffel," "Police Academy," "Strange Brew," "Incubus," "Tribute," "A Man, a Woman and a Bank."

LEVI STUBBS Died Oct. 17, 2008

Soul singing legend Levi Stubbs died at age 72 after years of battling cancer and a series of strokes. Levi Stubbs was the lead singer of the Motown super group "The Four Tops." Founded by four high school friends in the mid 1950s, the band signed with Motown in 1963 and the rest is history. Their songs have become standards which remain as fresh today as when recorded 40 years ago. Their lengthy string of hits include "Baby I Need Your Loving," "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honeybunch)," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)," "Standing in the Shadows of Love," "Bernadette," "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)" and "Are You Man Enough." The group was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1990.

Mr. Stubbs provided the voice of the space plant monster Audrey II in the Broadway and film version of the musical "Little Shop of Horrors." Mr. Stubbs performed in the great documentary "Standing in the Shadows of Motown." The music of the Four Tops can be heard on many, many film soundtracks including "Superbad," "Zodiac," "Shark Tale," "Gothika," "Auto Focus," "Forrest Gump," "A Bronx Tale," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "The Five Heartbeats," "In Country," "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka," "Alien Nation," "Into the Night," "Blood Simple," "John Carpenter's The Thing" and "Shaft in Africa."

RUDY RAY MOORE Died Oct. 19, 2008

Groundbreaking Black comedian, singer, poet and actor Rudy Ray Moore died at age 81 following an extended illness. Mr. Moore was one of the most popular Black comedians of the 1960s and 70s. He released dozens of albums of blue material that did not get any air play, but which gained him a huge following. He broke into film during the Blaxploitation era during the 1970s. His profane, badass character "Dolemite" caught on with Black Americans and brought Mr. Moore even wider recognition. "Dolemite" spawned one feature film sequel during the 1970s: "The Human Tornado" and two direct to video sequels in 2000 and 2002: "Big Money Hustlas" and "The Return of Dolemite." Mr. Moore also starred in the popular Blaxploitation film "Petey Wheatstraw." Other film credits include "Shaolin Dolemite," "B*A*P*S," "Penitentiary II," "Disco Godfather," "The Monkey Hu$tle."

RICHARD SELZER aka MR. BLACKWELL Died Oct. 19, 2008

Former fashion designer Richard Selzer died of complications from an intestinal infection at 86. Richard Selzer was better known by the name Mr. Blackwell. He was the creator of the annual 'Worst Dressed List.' He began ripping into the clothes worn by actress during the 1970s. Mr. Selzer began his career as a child actor. He turned to fashion designing in the 1950s. His acting credits include "Foreign Correspondents," "Matlock," "Matt Houston," "Juvenile Court" and "Little Tough Guy." His costumer credits include "The Beverly Hillbillies" and "Promises! Promises!" Ironically Jayne Mansfield's most famous costume from "Promises! Promises!" was her birthday suit! Mr. Blackwell appeared as himself on countless TV shows including "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson."

GERARD DAMIANO Died Oct. 25, 2008

Director Gerard Damiano died of complications following a stroke at age 80. Mr. Damiano was a hairdresser turned film director. His seventh film was one of the most controversial and profitable film in the history of movies. "Deep Throat" kicked off the 'porn chic' phase where adult films became fashionable for couples, not just the raincoat crowd. The movie was made for $25,000.00 and its estimated worldwide take is somewhere around $600,000,000.00! Mr. Damiano saw little or none of that money as the movie was financed by the Columbo Mafia organization. Mr. Damiano's followed "Deep Throat" with the classic "The Devil in Miss Jones." "The Devil in Miss Jones" is probably the greatest adult film ever made. The tale of an old-maid virgin who commits suicide and is granted one-week to experience every erotic fantasy she ever imagined is not just a great adult film, it is a classic film of any genre. The haunting ending remains one of the best film endings in history. "The Devil in Miss Jones" is classic erotica, not pornography. Gerard Damiano helmed nearly 50 films during his career. As the 70s gave way to the 80s, shot on film adult films went the way of the dinosaur as video took over. Mr. Damiano followed "The Devil in Miss Jones" with another artistic film "Memories Within Miss Aggie." One critic stated that "Memories Within Miss Aggie" would stand on its own as a psychological Hitchcockian horror thriller without the sex scenes. High praise for the adult film industry's one true auteur. His filmography also includes the R-rated horror film "The Legacy of Satan." Mr. Damiano retired to a simple life in Florida.

ESTELLE REINER Died Oct. 25, 2008

Actress and singer Estelle Reiner died at age 94. Ms. Reiner was the wife of Carl Reiner and the mother of directors Rob and Lucas Reiner and writer Annie. Estelle Reiner was a renowned jazz singer who released 7 CDs during her career. She also acted in several films. Most people remember her for delivering a single line in her son Rob's film "When Harry met Sally." Following the scene in the restaurant where Meg Ryan shows Billy Crystal how easy it is for a woman to fake an orgasm, Ms. Reiner says to her waiter "I'll have what she's having." Ms. Reiner's other film and TV credits include "Hot to Trot," Mel Brooks' version of "To Be or Not to Be," "The Man with Two Brains," "Fatso" and "Marathon." Her singing can be heard on the soundtrack of "Sibling Rivalry."

DELMAR WATSON Died Oct. 26, 2008

Former child actor turned news photographer Delmar Watson died of prostate cancer at age 82. Mr. Watson was part of a family of nine children who appeared in more than a 1000 films combined! Delmar Watson appeared in over 300 films and short subjects himself. Mr. Watson appeared in four "Our Gang" shorts in the mid 1930s. Among his many credits are such notable films as Frank Capra's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," "Young Mr. Lincoln," W.C. Fields' "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man," "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn," the Reginald Owen version of "A Christmas Carol," the Shirley Temple version of "Heidi," "Annie Oakley," "The Fourth Horseman" and "Riders of the Purple Sage." Mr. Watson and several of his brothers served their country in the Coast Guard during WWII. While one family trade was the film industry, another was photography. Mr. Watson and his brothers would become the third generation of Watsons to become news photographers. He worked for the LA Mirror during the 1940s and 50s. He joined his siblings in the Six Watson Bros. Studio doing commercial photography before opening his own studio in 1967. Mr. Watson ran the Watson Family Photographic Archives which houses over two million images.

TONY HILLERMAN Died Oct. 26, 2008

Mystery writer Tony Hillerman died of pulmonary failure at age 83. Mr. Hillerman wrote over 30 novels. He wrote a series of mystery novels set in the Navajo reservation. Mr. Hillerman's fictional heroes were Navajo Tribal Police Officers Sgt. Jimmy Chee and Lt. Joe Leaphorn. Four of Mr. Hillerman's novels have been adapted to the screen. Lou Diamond Phillips played Jimmy Chee and Fred Ward played Lt. Leaphorn in the feature film "The Dark Wind." Actor Adam Beach played Jimmy Chee and Wes Studi played Joe Leaphorn in three TV movies: "Coyote Waits," "Skinwalkers" and "A Thief of Time." Mr. Hillerman began his writing career as a reporter for UPI. He served his country in the US Army during WWII. Mr. Hillerman saw action on D-Day and was later wounded in Alsace France. He was awarded the Silver Star for his actions during WWII.

CHRIS BRYANT Died Oct. 27, 2008

British screenwriter Chris Bryant died at age 72. Mr. Bryant was best known to horror movie fans for his screenplays of Nicolas Roeg's eerie "Don't Look Know," Charlton Heston's mummy movie "The Awakening" and the 1975 version of "The Spiral Staircase." Other credits include the Goldie Hawn/Hal Holbrook romancer "The Girl from Petrovka" and Tony Richardson's "Joseph Andrews." Mr. Bryant also acted in several films including "Only in Hollywood" and "Young Catherine." Ina ddition to his film career, Mr. Bryant was an attorney and politician.

BUCK ADAMS Died Oct. 28, 2008

Adult film actor and director Buck Adams (real name Charles Stephen Allen) died of heart failure at age 52. Mr. Adams had a series of heart problems stemming back to several heart attacks in the late 1990s. Buck Adams was the brother of '80s porn superstar Amber Lynn. Mr. Adams followed his sister into the business after his boxing career failed to take off. He appeared in over 400 films and is best remembered for the "Babewatch" series of films. Mr. Adams also directed over 70 films during his career. One of his best directorial efforts was "Buck Adams' Frankenstein" in which he also played Dr. Frankenstein. His monster (Rebecca Wild) looked a lot better than Boris Karloff! Buck Adams died three days after adult film autuer Gerard Damiano. Mr. Adams performed in six videos directed by Mr. Damiano before Damiano's retirement in the early 1990s. Unlike many others in the industry Buck Adams was able to win his battle against drug and alcohol abuse through the 12-step program.

MAE MERCER Died Oct. 29, 2008

Renowned Blues singer Mae Mercer died at age 76. Ms. Mercer had been in ill health after suffering several strokes in 2007. Ms. Mercer added acting to her resume after a successful singing career in Europe. She is best known for her roles in two Clint Eastwood films. Ms. Mercer played the slave at the Southern all-girls school in Don Siegel's gothic Civil War era drama "The Beguiled." Clint Eastwood stars as a wounded soldier who cons his way into the beds of several teachers and students at the school. Only Mae Mercer's character sees through Eastwood's false veneer from the beginning. Ms. Mercer later reteamed with director Siegel and star Eastwood in the controversial cop drama "Dirty Harry." She makes the most of her one scene as the mother of a 10-year-old boy murdered by the film's psychotic villain played by Andy Robinson. Monster movie fans will remember her from the eco-horror film "Frogs." Ms. Mercer's other film and TV credits include "The Shield," "ER," "A Woman Called Moses," "Pretty Baby," "Kung Fu," "Mannix," "Ironside" and "The Hell with Heroes." Ms. Mercer produced the documentary film "Angela Davis: Portrait of a Revolutionary."

JOHN DALY Died Oct. 31, 2008

Producer and co-founder of Hemdale Films John Daly died of cancer at age 71. Mr. Daly and British actor David Hemmings co-founded "Hemdale" which was involved in a diverse group of activities from Film, TV and music. Hemdale Films produced a number of notable and Oscar-winning films. Mr. Daly produced such films as "Hidden Agenda," "Chattahoochee," "Shag," "Criminal Law," "The Last Emperor," "Platoon," "Hoosiers," "River's Edge," "At Close Range," "Salvador," "The Return of the Living Dead," "The Falcon and the Snowman," "The Terminator," "Strange Behavior," "Carbon Copy," the excellent B-movie "High Risk" and "The Border." Mr. Daly directed a few films including "The Aryan Couple," "The Box Collector" and "The Petersburg-Cannes Express."

STUDS TERKEL Died Oct. 31, 2008

Author and talk-radio legend Studs Terkel died at age 96. Studs Terkel was as much a part of Chicago as Mrs. O'Leary's Cow, Al Capone and Richard Daley. He lived and breathed the Windy City. For 45 years he was one of the major voices of Chicago as a pioneering talk-radio host and deejay. He gave voice to the common man and to the elite. Mr. Terkel was established in radio and had his own TV show two-years before Rush Limbaugh was born. He became a published author in the mid 1950s and a best-selling author in the mid 1969s. He wrote numerous best selling books including "Division Street: America," "Hard Times," "Working," "American Dreams; Lost and Found" and "The Good War." Studs Terkel occasionally worked as an actor. His best known role was in John Sayles's Chicago Black Sox film "Eight Men Out." Other acting credits include "The Dollmaker" and "Beginning to Date." He appeared as himself in such documentaries and TV shows as "Stud's Place," "Sacco and Vanzetti," "The Daily Show," "Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson," "Look Out Haskell, It's Real: The Making of 'Medium Cool'," "Tanner '88," "The Weavers: Wasn't That a Time" and "Cities."

JONATHAN BATES Died Oct. 31, 2008

Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning British sound editor Jonathan Bates died of a brain tumor at age 68. Mr. Bates received an Oscar nomination for his work on director Richard Attenborough’s “Gandhi.” Mr. Bates collaborated with Mr. Attenborough on ten films. Mr. Bates also worked with director Otto Preminger on a number of films. Mr. Bates won a BAFTA for his work on “Cry Freedom!” Mr. Bates worked on nearly 70 films and TV shows during his career. Among his many notable credits are "Mona Lisa,“ Shadowlands,” “The Man Without a Face,” “Chaplin,” “Shirley Valentine,” “The Mighty Quinn,” “A Fish Called Wanda,” “Flash Gordon,” the Frank Langella version of “Dracula,” “Magic,” “International Velvet,” “The Eagle Has Landed,” “The 'Human' Factor,” “92 in the Shade,” “Murder on the Orient Express,” “11 Harrowhouse,” “Young Winston,” Roman Polanski’s morbid classic “Macbeth,” “Kelly's Heroes,” “Where Eagles Dare,” “Fathom,” “The Comedians,” “The Three Lives of Thomasina,” “Bunny Lake Is Missing,” “Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines” and “The Moon-Spinners.”

MICHAEL CRICHTON Died Nov. 4, 2008

Author Michael Crichton died of cancer at age 66. Michael Crichton was a Harvard educated doctor who turned to writing and directing. He was associated with some of the most popular films in history. He directed eight films, wrote numerous screenplays and had many films adapted from his novels. Sci-Fi fans admired his smart and terrifying films. His best known work was the post-prehistoric thriller "Jurassic Park."

When I was a kid, I used to cut out movie advertisements from the newspaper and collect them in a scrapbook. I remember the ad for "The Andromeda Strain" which stated "Rated G but may be too intense for younger viewers." I saw the film and was hooked. The tale of a space virus brought back via a crashed satellite which threatens human existence was very intense. Mr. Crichton's book was remade for TV this year. The feature film version remains far superior to the TV version.

Michael Crichton emerged as a double threat in 1973. He wrote and directed the classic "Westworld." The tale of a futuristic amusement park where nothing can go wrong…go wrong…go wrong. Yul Brynner starred as a homicidal gun-slinging robot. Richard Benjamin and James Brolin co-starred. The film spawned a sequel but Mr. Crichton was not involved with the film "Futureworld." A remake of "Westworld" has been announced. Michael Crichton directed two more decent films. His 1978 film "Coma" and the period piece "The Great Train Robbery" with Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down were both excellent films. Well-written and directed by Mr. Crichton. His other director credits include the abysmal "Looker," "Runaway" with Tom Selleck and "Binary."

Michael Crichton maybe best known for his Sci-Fi works, but he also wrote in other genres. His medical background was used to create the Emmy-winning TV series "ER." He also wrote the great little James Coburn film "The Carey Treatment." One of my guilty pleasures is Mike Hodges adaptation of Michael Crichton's novel "The Terminal Man." It is a nice mix of sci-fi, horror and crime. George Segal starred as a computer scientist who suffered a brain injury resulting in seizures. A microchip implanted in his brain to control the seizures turns him into a homicidal maniac for several minutes every day. Other sci-fi credits include the police thriller "Rising Sun," "Disclosure" and "Dealing: Or the Berkeley-to-Boston Forty-Brick Lost-Bag Blues." Michael Crichton's other writing credits include "Timeline," "The 13th Warrior," "Sphere," "Twister" and one of the worst films of all time "Congo."

Director Stephen Spielberg was approached to make a film written by Michael Crichton based on his medical experiences. Spielberg decided to make "Jurassic Park" instead of the medical script. That script was later turned into the TV series "ER." Mr. Crichton wrote a sequel to "Jurassic Park" titled "The Lost World." It was also adapted to the screen. A third sequel was filmed and a fourth is in pre-production. Michael Crichton received a technical award from the Academy for pioneering computerized motion picture budgeting and scheduling. He was nominated for seven Emmy Awards for "ER," winning once for Outstanding Drama Series. He also won a Writer's Guild Award for the pilot episode of "ER."

ARTHUR A. ROSS Died Nov. 11, 2008

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Arthur A. Ross has died according to the Writer's Guild of America. Mr. Ross' age and cause of death were not given. Mr. Ross shared a Best Screenplay Oscar nomination with W.D. Richter for the 1980 prison drama "Brubaker." Mr. Ross died three days after Joe Hyams who wrote one of the two books upon which the Ross/Richter screenplay was based. Mr. Ross also received a WGA nomination for writing the Blake Edwards' comedy "The Great Race." Mr. Ross was the father of multi-Oscar-nominated producer/writer/director Gary Ross.

Monster movie fans remember Arthur Ross for co-writing the screenplay for the Universal classic "The Creature From the Black Lagoon." The Gill-Man was the last of Universal's classic Monsters. The others being Frankenstein, Dracula, The Wolf Man and The Mummy. "The Creature From the Black Lagoon" spawned two sequels. Mr. Ross was the sole writer on the third and final entry in the series "The Creature Walks Among Us." Arthur Ross' son Gary is currently developing a remake of his father's classic monster movie. Mr. Ross also co-wrote the screenplay for the Ray Harryhausen fantasy film "The 3 Worlds of Gulliver."

Arthur Ross wrote over 30 films and TV shows during his career. His other credits include "Satan's School for Girls," "Mannix," numerous episodes of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "Kraft Mystery Theater," "Peter Gunn," "The 30 Foot Bride of Candy Rock," "Okinawa," "Rusty Leads the Way" and "San Quentin." Arthur A. Ross served his country in the US Army during WWII.

MITCH MITCHELL Died Nov. 12, 2008

Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for The Jimi Hendrix Experience was found dead in a Portland, Oregon hotel room at age 61. The cause of death is unknown at this time. Mr. Mitchell had been taking part in the 2008 Experience Hendrix concert tour which featured many noted musicians including Buddy Guy and Brad Whitford of Aerosmith. Mitch Mitchell began his show business career as a child actor. He played the title role in the 1958 British children's TV series "Jennings at School." He also appeared in the 1963 movie "Live It Up!" Mr. Mitchell worked as a sessions drummer and played in several bands including Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames before being picked to form The Jimi Hendrix Experience. He played with the power trio for all but several months of Jimi Hendrix's career as a headliner. After The Jimi Hendrix Experience disbanded, Mitch Mitchell continued to play drums and tour with the Cry of Love band. Billy Cox replaced Experience bass player Noel Redding for this tour. Mitch Mitchell was replaced by drummer Buddy Miles for Hendrix's final musical incarnation "Band of Gypsys." Mr. Mitchell worked as a producer to finish the two posthumous Hendrix releases "Cry of Love" and "Rainbow Bridge." He continued to play gigs for other musicians following Hendrix's death in 1970. Like Noel Redding, Mitch Mitchell was cut out of future royalties from his work with the Jimi Hendrix Experience with a pittance payoff. Mitch Mitchell appeared in numerous documentary films including "Jimi Hendrix: Live at Woodstock," "Message to Love: The Isle of Wight Festival," "The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus," "A Film About Jimi Hendrix," "Rainbow Bridge," "Jimi Plays Berkeley," "Band of Gypsys: Live at the Fillmore East," "Woodstock" and "Monterey Pop."

BAIRD BRYANT Died Nov. 13, 2008

Underground and documentary filmmaker and cinematographer Baird Bryant died of complications following surgery at age 80. Mr. Bryant directed the Rockumentary “Celebration at Big Sur.” He was the editor of the concert film “Jimi Plays Berkeley.” Mr. Bryant worked as a camera operator on a number of films including “Easy Rider” and “Gimmie Shelter.” While shooting the Rolling Stones’ infamous concert at Latamont for the film “Gimmie Shelter” Mr. Bryant was the camera operator who captured on film the stabbing death of an armed concertgoer by a Hell’s Angels member. Mr. Bryant worked as Foley editor on Lee Marvin’s last movie “The Delta Force.” He was the sound effects editor on the 1970s drive-in monster movie “The Legend of Boggy Creek.”

IRVING GERTZ Died Nov. 14, 2008

Composer Irving Gertz died at age 93. Mr. Gertz composed scores or contributed music to over 100 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. He worked on many B-Westerns and monster movies from the 1950s. His many credits include “Land of the Giants,” “The Invaders,” “Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea,” “Marines, Let's Go,” “Flaming Star,” “The Leech Woman,” “Hell Bent for Leather,” “The Alligator People,” “The Thing That Couldn't Die,” “The Monolith Monsters,” “The Deadly Mantis,” “The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “The First Traveling Saleslady,” “The Creature Walks Among Us,” “To Hell and Back,” “Abbott and Costello Meet the Mummy,” “Cult of the Cobra,” “It Came from Outer Space,” “Dragnet,” “Monster on the Campus,” “M Squad,” “Cannibal Attack,” “Jungle Jim in the Forbidden Land,” “My Dog Rusty” and “Young Jesse James.”

CHARLES SCHRAM Died Nov. 14, 2008

Emmy-nominated make-up wizard Charles Schram died at age 97. Mr. Schram's was the man who created Bert Lahr's Cowardly Lion make-up for the classic film "The Wizard of Oz." He also worked on Margaret Hamilton's Wicked Witch of the West. Mr. Schram worked in the industry for over 40 years. Charles Schram and fellow USC student William Tuttle were recruited by MGM. The collaborated on several films including the original version of "The Time Machine." Charles Schram shared an Emmy nomination with Michael Westmore and Edwin Butterworth for the Made for TV movie "The Million Dollar Rip-Off." He worked on Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece "The Godfather Part II." Mr. Schram's many credits include "The Seven Faces of Dr. Lao," "Ben-Hur," "Mommie Dearest," "Being There," "California Suite," "The Big Fix," "The Cheap Detective," "The Turning Point," "Looking for Mr. Goodbar," "Murder by Death," "Silent Movie," "That's Entertainment, Part II," "Lincoln," "Papillon," "They Only Kill Their Masters," "Portnoy's Complaint," "Carnal Knowledge," "Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon," "The Thing with Two Heads," "The Twilight Zone," "Around the World in Eighty Days" and "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante."

IRVING BRECHER Nov. 17, 2008

Oscar-nominated writer Irving Brecher died at age 94 after a series of heart attacks. Mr. Brecher was one of the best joke writers in show business. He worked on Radio, in Vaudeville, TV and film. Mr. Brecher received an Oscar nomination for the Judy Garland classic “Meet Me in St. Louis.” Comedy fans cherish Mr. Breacher’s scripts for the two Marx Brothers’ films “At the Circus” and “Go West.” Irving Breacher also created the show “The Life of Riley.” “The Life of Riley” started as a radio show and eventually was turned into a feature film and two TV series. While Lionel Stander and Jackie Gleason both played Riley at various points in time actor William Bendix was the one who really brought Mr. Breacher’s classic character to life.

Irving Breacher’s many film and TV credits include “Bye Bye Birdie,” “The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis,” “Somebody Loves Me,” “Ziegfeld Follies,” “Yolanda and the Thief,” “Best Foot Forward,” “Du Barry Was a Lady” “Shadow of the Thin Man.” Mr. Breacher was also hired as a script doctor for the 1939 classic “The Wizard of Oz.” Mr. Breacher also appeared in several documentaries about the Marx Brothers.

JOHN MICHAEL HAYES Died Nov. 19, 2008

Oscar-nominated screenwriter John Michael Hayes died at age 89. Mr. Hayes received two Oscar nominations for his work on Alfred Hitchcock's "Rear Window" and the classic soap opera "Peyton Place." Mr. Hayes worked with Alfred Hitchcock on four films in the mid 1950s: "To Catch a Thief," the remake of "The Man Who Knew Too Much," "The Trouble With Harry" and "Rear Window." Mr. Hayes also received three WGA nominations for his two Oscar nominated films plus "To Catch a Thief." In 2004 the Writer's Guild honored him with their highest award The Laurel Award for Screenwriting Achievement. Mr. Hayes wrote nearly 30 film and TV scripts during his career. Other notable scripts "The Matchmaker," "Nevada Smith," "Walking Tall," "Harlow," "The Carpetbaggers," "The Children's Hour," "BUtterfield 8," "The Rat Race," "Separate Tables," "It's a Dog's Life," "War Arrow," "Torch Song," "Thunder Bay" and "Red Ball Express." Mr. Hayes appeared in several documentary films about Alfred Hitchcock.

Author Steven DeRosa wrote the excellent book "Writing With Hitchcock." During his research for that book, Mr. DeRosa got to know the late John Michael Hayes very well.

I asked Mr. DeRosa what caused the end of the Hitchcock/Hayes collaboration.

Mr. DeRosa stated: After getting a lot of attention from the studios and the industry press, Hitchcock sought to take John Michael Hayes down a rung or two by having him share screenplay credit with an old friend of his on their fourth film together, "The Man Who Knew Too Much." The trouble was that Hitchcock's friend, Angus MacPhail, suffered a lot of ailments in addition to being an alcoholic, and was incapable of producing any real work of value. Hitchcock knew this but was doing a favor for MacPhail who had fallen on hard times. When Hitchcock submitted the screenplay with both Hayes's and MacPhail's names on it, Hayes protested the credits to the Writer's Guild. And challenging Hitchcock is something that simply wasn't done. He threatened Hayes, "if you persist in this, I'll never speak with you again." Hayes went forward with the protest, and won sole credit on the film. But the two never worked together again.

I also wondered why Mr. Hayes refused to take a credit for the original Joe Don Baker version of "Walking Tall." Again, Mr. DeRose responded: "Walking Tall" was a B movie and Hayes did not feel that it would add anything to his career. Little did he know that it would become a cult hit and financial success.

Finally Mr. DeRosa shared his experiences with Mr. Hayes while preparing to write "Writing With Hitchcock."

For me, it was a very rewarding relationship, in many ways. When I first met Mr. Hayes n 1994, it was with the object of interviewing him for what was to be a more academic study of the screenwriter's role in an auteur director's world. Little did I know that he had an amazing story to tell. Not just his relationship with Hitchcock, which was akin to David and Goliath, but his entire life and career was some thing that I needed to chronicle.

I was honored to play my small role in helping shine the spotlight back on him and was thrilled when the Writer's Guild recognized him with their Laurel Award in 2004.

WILLIAM GIBSON Died Nov. 25, 2008

Oscar, Emmy, Tony and WGA nominated writer William Gibson died at age 94. Mr. Gibson won a Tony award and was nominated for an Oscar, Emmy and WGA award for "The Miracle Worker." The script was written for "Playhouse 90" and aired in 1957. Mr. Gibson adapted his TV script for the 1959 Broadway production and then the 1962 feature film version starring Patty Duke and Anne Bancroft as Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan respectively. "The Miracle Worker" was filmed as a TV movie five times including the original "Playhouse 90" version, and Italian and Spanish version and two US productions. In a bit of novelty casting Patty Duke switched roles from Helen Keller to Ann Sullivan opposite Melissa Gilbert as Helen Keller in the 1979 TV version. Mr. Gibson was nominated for two other Tony awards for "Two for the Seesaw" and a musical version of the Clifford Odetts play "Golden Boy." Robert Wise directed the Oscar-nominated film version of Mr. Gibson's play "Two for the Seesaw." Mr. Gibson wrote nine plays which were produced on Broadway.

WILLIAM FINNEGAN Died Nov. 28, 2008

Emmy-nominated producer Bill Finnegan died of Parkinson's disease at age 80. Mr. Finnegan was nominated for five Emmy awards during his lengthy career. His five nominations were for the TV movies "The Dollmaker" and "Amos," the miniseries "King" and "Lincoln" and the TV series "Hawaii 5-0." Mr. Finnegan produced over 50 films and TV shows. His feature film credits include "Ed," "The Babe," "White Palace," "The Fabulous Baker Boys," "Support Your Local Sheriff!," and "Support Your Local Gunfighter." Mr. Finnegan produced many notable TV movies and series. They include "The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd," "The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory," "This Child Is Mine," "The Atlanta Child Murders," "Flight 90: Disaster on the Potomac," "World War III" and "The Ordeal of Patty Hearst." Bill Finnegan also worked as an assistant director and production manager on several films and TV series. He was assistant director on two dozen episodes of "The Man from U.N.C.L.E." Mr. Finnegan was production manger on such films as "CrissCross," "Bobby Deerfield," "Monte Walsh" and "The Good Guys and the Bad Guys."

PAUL BENEDICT Died Dec. 1, 2008

Noted character actor Paul Benedict died at age 70. Mr. Benedict was best known for his role as Harry Bentley on the hit TV sitcom "The Jeffersons." Mr. Benedict worked on TV, in film and on Broadway. He appeared in over 50 films and TV shows during his career. Whether playing comedy or drama, Mr. Benedict's characters were uniquely his. Like most people my age, my first exposure to Mr. Benedict's work was as the Mad Painter on "Sesame Street." My all-time favorite Paul Benedict role was that of Professor Fleeber in "The Freshman." Benedict shone as the NYU film professor obsessed with "The Godfather." He added extra magic to an already wonderful film. Mr. Benedict's other notable film credits include "A Mighty Wind," "The Devil's Advocate," "Waiting for Guffman," "The Addams Family," "This Is Spinal Tap," "The Man with Two Brains," "The Goodbye Girl," "Smile," "Mandingo," "The Front Page," "Up the Sandbox," "Jeremiah Johnson," "Deadhead Miles," "The Gang That Couldn't Shoot Straight," "They Might Be Giants" and "Cold Turkey."

Paul Benedict was a prolific stage actor. He appeared on Broadway in a handful of plays including the 1999/2000 revival of "The Music Man" "The Play's the Thing" and "Bad Habits." Paul Benedict's many TV credits include "The Drew Carey Show," "The Guiding Light," "Seinfeld," "Tales from the Crypt," "A Different World," the 1980s version of "The Twilight Zone," "Murder, She Wrote," "The Blue and the Gray," "All in the Family," "Maude," "Harry O" and "Kojak."

FORREST J. ACKERMAN Died Dec. 4, 2008

This is a sad one for me and millions of other Monster Kids around the world. Our beloved Uncle Forry died at age 92. Forry introduced millions of kids to the wonders and magic of monster movies through his magazine "Famous Monsters of Filmdom." Publisher James Warren and beloved editor Forrest Ackerman began the magazine in 1958. Many of his loyal readers such as Oscar-winner Rick Baker, Tim Burton, Stephen King, Tom Savini and John Landis grew up to make their mark on the industry. Forrest Ackerman was a teenage friend with author Ray Bradbury and Oscar-winning animator Ray Harryhausen. Mr. Ackerman coined the term "Sci-Fi" in the 1950s. He was one of the foremost promoter of science fiction as a respectable literary form. Mr. Ackerman helped form the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society in the mid-1930s.

I discovered "Famous Monsters of Filmland" at the Stop and Go convenience store at Union and McLean in Memphis. That was in April 1970 Issue #64. The cover by Basil Gogos caught my eye and I was hooked. I would save up my paper route money to by the new issues and try my best to raise the money to buy the back issues. When I was 15-years-old I was hit by a car and spent the summer in the hospital. My Ma surprised me with a copy of the first issue as I lay in traction. Living in Tennessee, I dreamed of living in Los Angeles so I could visit the Ackermansion. Uncle Forry's home in LA housed a collection of over 300,000 pieces of sci-fi and monster movie memorabilia. The cape Bela Lugosi wore…Willis O'Brien armatures…priceless artifacts from the world of fantasy. Uncle Forry didn't hoard this fantastic collection. He allowed fans of all ages into his home to share the joy. Eventually girls and work moved to the front of the line in my life and I stopped collecting "Famous Monsters." What I didn't lose was the desire to discover all the great horror and science fiction films I had first read about in Uncle Forry's great magazine.

In September 2003 one of my childhood dreams came true when I met Uncle Forry at DragonCon in Atlanta. The room was noisy and crowded so we were not able to do much talking. That was OK. I have to believe that Forrest Ackerman can see the joy in the eyes of those who meet him and know that he had an impact on their life. I wish I could say that I'm one of those writers who knew him well, because I would have loved to have known him. I didn't, except through his writings. But he was MY Uncle Forry too.

Uncle Forry's final years were marked by illness and a costly (but victorious) legal battle with a man whose name is not worthy to appear here took their toll on Forry. Forry spent several hundred thousand dollars on his legal war with the nameless one. After winning, the nameless one declared bankruptcy. Uncle Forry was forced to sell much of his memorabilia to pay his legal fees. The Ackermansion was no more. The Acker mini-mansion was born. Despite his set-backs, Uncle Forry still kept up his spirit. He attended fan conventions, entertained guest and conducted tours of the mini-mansion. Though Forry didn't believe in God, he did show love to his fellow man.

Forrest Ackerman made cameo appearances in hundreds of films. He can be seen looking through Dick Miller's book store with a copy of "Famous Monsters" in his hand during the scene in which Dee Wallace's friend buy the silver bullets in Joe Dante's "The Howling." He was the guy who got his car stolen outside the hotel in John Landis' "Innocent Blood." Uncle Forry was the President in "Amazon Women on the Moon." Other credits include "Kentucky Fried Movie," "Schlock," "Dracula vs. Frankenstein" and "Michael Jackson's Thriller." Thanks for the memories. Thanks for the inspiration and education.

NINA FOCH Died Dec. 5, 2008

Oscar and Emmy-nominated actress and drama coach Nina Foch died of the blood disorder myelodysplasia at age 84. Ms. Foch received a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her work opposite William Holden in the 1954 film "Executive Suite." Her Emmy nomination was for "Lou Grant." Ms. Foch appeared in over 160 films and TV shows during her 65-year career. Ms. Foch continued to work up until her death. In addition to her many acting credits, Ms. Foch was George Stevens' assistant director on the classic film "The Diary of Anne Frank."

Ms Foch appeared in a number of notable films during her career. She played Moses' adoptive mother Bithiah in Cecil B. Demille's 1956 epic "The Ten Commandments." Director Stanley Kubrick also used Ms. Foch in his epic "Spartacus." Horror movie fans remember Ms. Foch for the 1940s films "The Return of the Vampire" with Bela Lugosi, "Cry of the Werewolf" and the 1970s "Carrie" rip-off "Jennifer." Other notable credits include "Sliver," Blake Edwards' "Skin Deep," George Cukor's final film "Rich and Famous," "Mahogany," Otto Preminger's "Such Good Friends," "Cash McCall," "Scaramouche," "An American in Paris," "Johnny O'Clock," "A Thousand and One Nights" and Bud Boetticher's "Escape in the Fog."

Nina Foch was also a prolific TV actress. She played the victim of the very first murder to be solved by TV detective Columbo in the 1968 pilot film "Prescription Muder." Her most recent TV credits were on "The Closer" and "Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service." Among Ms. Foch guest appearances on TV shows and TV movie credits are "Just Shoot Me!," "Dharma & Greg," "Alien Nation: Dark Horizon," "Murder, She Wrote," "L.A. Law," "War and Remembrance," "McMillan & Wife," "The Great Houdini," "Barnaby Jones," "Kolchak: The Night Stalker," "Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law," "Hawaii Five-O," "The Mod Squad," "That Girl," "The Name of the Game," "McCloud," "The F.B.I.," "Gunsmoke," "The Wild Wild West," "Bonanza," "I Spy," "Combat!," "Dr. Kildare," "Burke's Law," "Route 66," "The Outer Limits," "The Virginian," "Naked City," "Studio One," "Wagon Train" and "Your Show of Shows."

Nina Foch appeared in five Broadway productions including revivals of "King Lear" and "Twelfth Night." Probably Ms. Foch's most lasting contribution to Hollywood was made in her role as a drama teacher. For 40 years Ms. Foch shared her craft with hundreds through her class at USC. She also taught at the American Film Institute. Ms. Foch was doing what she loved when she fell ill in class on Thursday. She was taken to the hospital where she died the next day. Next to dying onstage at the end of a perfect performance, I can think of no more fitting end for an actor.

BEVERLY GARLAND Died Dec. 5, 2008

Emmy-nominated actress Beverly Garland died at age 82. Ms. Garland was best known for her role as Fred MacMurray's wife on the hit TV series "My Three Sons." She also had a cult following for her roles in a number of monster movies including "It Conquered the World," the original version of "Not of This Earth" and "The Alligator People." Beverly Garland appeared in over 180 films and TV shows. She was nominated for a Best Actress in a Single Performance Emmy for her work in the 1954 TV show "Medic."

Ms. Garland was known for playing tough women. When compared to other women's characters in 1950s horror and sci-fi movies, her characters were not your typical damsels in distress. Ms. Garland gave back as good as she got. Her genre film and TV roles include "The Neanderthal Man," "Science Fiction Theater," "It Conquered the World," "Curucu, Beast of the Amazon," "Not of This Earth," "The Alligator People," "The Twilight Zone," "Boris Karloff's Thriller," "Stark Fear," "Kraft Suspense Theater," "Twice-Told Tales," "The Mad Room" and the TV series "Planet of the Apes." While not a horror film, per se, Ms. Garland also co-starred as Tuesday Weld's doomed mother in the cult classic "Pretty Poison."

She made her film debut in the Film Noir classic "D.O.A." Her many feature film credits include "It's My Turn," "Roller Boogie," "Airport 1975," "Where the Red Fern Grows," "Salome '73," "Gundown at Sandoval," "The Joker Is Wild," "Chicago Confidential," "Naked Paradise," "Gunslinger," the original version of "The Desperate Hours," "Swamp Women," "The Miami Story," "The Rocket Man" and "The Velvet Cage."

Beverly Garland was a prolific TV actress. She joined the cast of "My Three Sons" during the 12-year series' final three seasons. Ms. Garland was a regular cast member on a number of TV series. She played Teri Hatcher's mother on "Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman." Ms. Garland played Cookie LaRue on the comedy series "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman." "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" fans will remember her character Dotty West. She also had a recurring role on thesoap "Port Charles."

Ms. Garland's other TV series and TV movie credits include "7th Heaven," "Diagnosis Murder," "Friends," "Magnum, P.I.," "Flamingo Road," "Charlie's Angels," "The Mary Tyler Moore Show," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Medical Center," "Kung Fu," "Ironside," "Love, American Style," "Mannix," "The Rookies," "The Voyage of the Yes," "The Mod Squad," "Say Goodbye, Maggie Cole," "Then Came Bronson," "Here's Lucy," "The Wild Wild West," "Judd for the Defense," "The Fugitive," "Rawhide," "Dr. Kildare," "Wanted: Dead or Alive," "Tales of Wells Fargo," "Perry Mason," "The Millionaire" and "The Lone Ranger."

ROBERT PROSKY Died Dec. 8, 2008

Tony-nominated actor Robert Prosky died of complications from a heart procedure at age77. Mr. Prosky was nominated for a Best Featured Actor Tony and won the Drama Desk Best Actor award for his performance as Shelly Levene in David Mamet's play "Glengarry Glen Ross." Jack Lemon played the part in the film version. Mr. Prosky also received a Best Actor Tony nomination for the 1988 production of "A Walk in the Woods." Robert Prosky appeared in six Broadway productions. On his road to Broadway and the silver screen, Mr. Prosky honed his skills in regional theater for over 20 years.

Robert Prosky made his feature film debut at age 51 in Michael Mann's intense crime thriller/character study "Thief." Mr. Prosky played the crime boss pressuring James Caan's character to continue his life of crime. "Thief" is one of my all-time favorite films. There are so many things right with this movie that it is impossible to lay the credit for the movie's success on just one person. That aside, Robert Prosky's performance as Leo remains one of the best screen villain portrayals of all time. Prosky's Leo is the Prince of Darkness. He captures the charm and menace of a made man like few before him. Prosky's performance contains subtle nuances which show you don't always have to talk loudly to be a badass. He holds his own against a strong performance by star James Caan. Mr. Prosky's other great villainous role was as the demonic baseball team owner in "The Natural."

Robert Prosky appeared in over 70 films and TV shows during his career. He was not typecast as a heavy and showed himself to be adept at comedy and drama. In juxtaposition to the menace of Leo in "Thief," Robert Prosky was a lovable teddy-bear as Sergeant Stan Jablonski on the TV series "Hill Street Blues." Mr. Prosky's best comedic performance on film came in "Mrs. Doubtfire." Other notable feature film credits include "The Chamber," "Dead Man Walking," "The Scarlet Letter," the remake of "Miracle on 34th Street," "Rudy," "Last Action Hero," "Hoffa," "Far and Away," "Green Card," "Gremlins 2," "The Great Outdoors," "Broadcast News," "Outrageous Fortune," "The Keep," "John Carpenter's Christine," "The Lords of Discipline," "Monsignor" and "Hanky Panky."

In addition to his recurring role on the TV series "Hill Street Blues" Mr. Prosky was a regular or had a recurring role on the TV series "Veronica's Closet," "The Practice," "Lifestories" and "Danny." Mr. Prosky's guest roles and TV movie credits include "ER," "Touched by an Angel," "Frasier," "Cheers," "Brooklyn Bridge," "Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story," "The Murder of Mary Phagan," "Murder, She Wrote," the 1980s version of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Lou Grant" and "They've Killed President Lincoln."

BETTIE PAGE Died Dec. 11, 2008

Enigmatic pin-up goddess Bettie Page died eight days after suffering a heart attack. Ms. Page was one of the most popular pin-up models of the 1950s. Ms. Page appeared in bikini, nude and bondage poses. She was a model for ‘photography clubs’ which allowed men to come and take photos of naked models. Ms. Page quickly became one of the top models for these clubs. The Tennessee-born Southern Belle captured the eyes, hearts and loins of millions of men with her beautiful smile, sexy eyes and playful attitude. Her trademark bangs hair cut became known as Bettie Page hair. Ms. Page was one of the first Playboy Playmates of the Month (January 1955). She was hired by Irving Klaw to star in movie loops of women spanking each other. No nudity, just harmless B&D. Congress didn’t think so and Ms. Page was subpoenaed to appear before congress. Her presence was then excused, but the films and photos sold by Mr. Klaw were outlawed.

She came from a hardscrabble upbringing which included being molested by her father and blazed like a comet for several years in the mid-1950s. Ms. Page disappeared from the limelight in 1957. Her life afterwards was marked by mental illness and tragedy and finally peace.

Ms. Page became a Christian in 1959. She worked as a missionary for a time. She maintained an unorthodox view towards nudity. Ms. Page felt that nudity was fine as long as it wasn’t combined with promiscuity. She married several times but each ended in failure. Ms. Page began to show signs of mental illness in the late 1960s. In 1979 she attacked and stabbed an elderly couple who were her landlords. She spent several months in a mental institution followed by outpatient care. In 1982 Ms. Page attacked another landlady with a knife. This time she stabbed the woman more than a dozen times, slicing her face and cutting off the end of one finger. Ms. Page was tried for Criminal Attempt Murder One. She was found not guilty by reason of insanity and was sent to a mental institution for 10 years.

Ms. Page was released in 1992. She discovered that she had been discovered by a new generation. Comic book artist and writer Dave Stevens based the girlfriend of his hero "The Rocketeer" on Bettie Page. Another comic series "The Betty Pages" was based on her life as a model. Ms. Page’s image was fodder for numerous artists. She became the subject of a number of rock songs. Ms. Page shunned the limelight in her later years. She gave several audio interviews, but did not wish to be seen. Ms. Page felt that no one would want to see her as an old woman. Better to remember her as she was back in the day. This was sadly ironic as the few, rare photos of her in her later years show her to still be a beautiful woman. More mature, but still beautiful. By all accounts, her later years were happy in that she controlled her mental illness with medications and had come to grips with her past.

Ms. Page appeared in several feature-length stripper compilations including "Striporama," "Teaserama" and "Varietease." Her life was the subject of two feature films. "The Notorious Bettie Page" starred Gretchen Mol as Ms. Page. Director Nico B’s "Bettie Page: Dark Angel" starred Bettie Page impersonator Paige Richards as the pin-up icon.

VAN JOHNSON Died Dec. 12, 2008

Movie star Van Johnson died at age 92. Mr. Johnson emerged as a popular leading man during the 1940s. Mr. Johnson's career spanned seven decades and included work on Broadway, London's West End, in film and on TV. Van Johnson appeared in over 120 films and TV shows during his lengthy career. He is best known for his excellent performance as Lt. Merrick in the 1954 film "The Caine Mutiny." Mr. Johnson received an Emmy-nomination for his work in the 1976 miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man."

Van Johnson was married to Eve Wynn in 1947. The marriage was arranged by MGM boss Louie B. Mayer to end rumors that Mr. Johnson was gay. Ms. Wynn was the wife of Johnson's 'best friend' Keenan Wynn. The Wynns divorced in Mexico and the Johnsons were married only hours later. A number of authors and the even children of the Wynns and Johnsons have confirmed that Van Johnson was gay. There has been much speculation that Van Johnson and Keenan Wynn were lovers. Van and Evie Johnson separated in 1961 and were divorced in 1968. Mr. Johnson remained estranged from his daughter and ex-wife for the rest of his life. Evie Wynn died in poverty in 2004.

Mr. Johnson's stage career included six Broadway productions between 1936 and 1987. He appeared in the 1987 production of "La Cage aux Folles," as well as the 1941 production of "Pal Joey." Mr. Johnson also played the lead in the 1961 West End production of "The Music Man."

Van Johnson made his film debut in 1940. He quickly rose up the ranks to become one of MGM's most popular leading men. He was often paired on screen with actresses June Alyson and Esther Williams. Mr. Johnson began the decade in the chorus and ended as a star. In between he nearly died in a 1943 automobile crash which badly scarred his face. The crash occurred during the filming of "A Guy Named Joe." The movie made Johnson a star. The scars added realism to his man WWII film performances. Mr. Johnson's credits from the 1940s include such WWII classics as "Battleground," "Command Decision" and "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo." Other notable credits from the 1940s include "In the Good Old Summertime," "State of the Union," "Till the Clouds Roll By," "The White Cliffs of Dover," "Madame Curie," "The Human Comedy" and "Murder in the Big House."

While Mr. Johnson's film career continued forward in the 1950s, he lost much box-office appeal because of his image as a homewrecker for having married his best friend's wife. In many way's Louie B. Mayer's plan backfired on MGM. Back then, adultry was looked down on. He appeared in 27 feature films and made a handful of TV appearances. The highlight of his career was the 1954 classic "The Caine Mutiny." Mr. Johnson held his own against Humphrey Bogart as Captain Queeg's executive officer Lt. Merrick. Mr. Johnson co-starred with Jane Wyman in the 1956 classic romance film "Miracle in the Rain." He and Ms. Wyman had previously starred together in the 1951 romantic comedy "Three Guys Named Mike." Other notable credits from the 1950s include "23 Paces to Baker Street," "The End of the Affair," "The Last Time I Saw Paris," "Brigadoon," "Siege at Red River" and "Plymouth Adventure."

Van Johnson slowed the pace down during the 1960s, only appearing in 15 films and TV shows. His biggest hit of the decade was the comedy "Yours, Mine and Ours" opposite Lucille Ball. Mr. Johnson played the villain The Minstrel on the campy hit TV series "Batman." (Coincidentally Mr. Johnson is the third actor to play a villain on the TV series "Batman" to die on December 12th: Tallulah Bankhead-12/12/1968 and Anne Baxter-12/12/1985 being the others.) Other credits from the decade include "Where Angels Go Trouble Follows!," "Divorce American Style" and "Ben Casey."

Except for the occasional foreign film, Van Johnson spent the 1970s working on TV. He made guest appearances on nearly two dozen shows. Mr. Johnson earned an Emmy nomination for the miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man." He also appeared in the sequel "Rich Man, Poor Man Book II." Other credits include "The Sicilian Boss," "The Concorde Affair," "Black Beauty," "Quincy," "McMillan & Wife," "McCloud" and Maude." Between 1980 and his retirement in 1992 Van Johnson continued to focus on TV and the Stage. His film credits from this final period include Woody Allens The "Purple Rose of Cairo," "Murder, She Wrote," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat."

SAM BOTTOMS Died Dec. 16, 2008

Actor Sam Bottoms died of brain cancer at age 53. Mr. Bottoms was the brother of actors Timothy, Joseph and Ben Bottoms. His wife was Oscar-nominated producer Laura Bickford. Mr. Bottoms had a very likable screen persona. Sam Bottoms delivered memorable performances in several classic films. Sam Bottoms appeared in over 50 films and TV shows during his career.

Mr. Bottoms was best known for his role as Corporal Lance Johnson in Francis Ford Coppola's epic war film "Apocalypse Now!" Mr. Bottoms captured how a normal kid is changed by the horrors of war in his performance as the California surfer assigned to a Navy gunboat in Vietnam. He played a key role in a number of the film's most memorable sequences, most notably the exhilarating 'helicopter attack' sequence. Robert Duvall's character Col. Kilgore orders the helicopter attack of a Viet-Cong stronghold in order to watch Bottoms's character Lance surf. "Charlie don't surf!" Lance's escape from what he experiences into drug-induced madness is one of the most subtle and overlooked parts of Coppola's film. Sam Bottoms worked with director Coppola again in "Gardens of Stone."

Sam Bottoms made his screen debut at age 15 in Peter Bogdanovich's Oscar-winning "The Last Picture Show." Mr. Bottoms was cast in the film while visiting his older brother Timothy on the set. Sam played the mentally retarded teenaged boy Billy. His sweet, doomed character was a minor but very memorable part of the classic film.

My favorite Sam Bottom's performance was as Jamie, the doomed side-kick of Josey Wales in Clint Eastwood's epic Western "The Outlaw Josey Wales." The film features many memorable side characters. Each time I watch the movie, I hate the fact that Sam Bottoms character is killed off so early. Mr. Bottoms reteamed with Clint Eastwood in the actor/directors personal favorite "Bronco Billy."

Sam Bottoms's many film and TV credits include "Shopgirl," "NYPD Blue," "Seabiscuit," "The X Files," "Sugar Hill," "Murder, She Wrote," "21 Jump Street," the TV miniseries version of "East of Eden," "Up from the Depths," "Greatest Heroes of the Bible," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Zandy's Bride" and "Class of '44."

PAUL GRECO Died Dec. 17, 2008

"You see what you get, Warriors? You see what you get when you mess with the Orphans?" Paul Greco delivered that memorable line in his film debut as the leader of the small-time street gang the Orphans in Walter Hill's cult classic "The Warriors." Hill's gang masterpiece includes a number of memorable set pieces. The confrontation between the Warriors and the Orphans introduces the female lead played by Deborah Van Valkenberg. Just when Michael Beck and Paul Greco have a peaceful solution to their turf quarrel, Ms. Van Valkenberg shakes her ass and taunts Mr. Greco's character into a fight. Paul Greco died at age 53. He appeared in 15 films and TV shows during his career. He had a small role in the under-rated "Four Friends." He was memorable in the redneck revenge classic "Next of Kin." Other memorable credits include "The Last Temptation of Christ," "The Cable Guy," "Broadway Danny Rose," "Miami Vice" and "Crocodile Dundee."

MAJEL BARRETT-RODDENBERRY Died Dec. 18, 2008

Actress Majel Barrett-Roddenberry died of leukemia at age 76. The widow of producer Gene Roddenberry was known as 'The First Lady of Star Trek.' She appeared in over 60 films and TV series, but it is her "Star Trek" connection which millions of fans will remember her for. Ms. Barrett appeared in all five "Star Trek" TV series, the original pilot film and several of the feature films. Ms. Barrett played the Jeffery Hunter's tough second in command 'Number One' in the original unaired pilot episode "The Cage." Her 'Number One' character was scrapped and Ms. Barrett played nurse Christine Chapel in the series proper. Ms. Barrett provided the voice of the USS Enterprise computer in the remaining "Star Trek" TV series. She also appeared as Nurse Chapel in the feature films "Star Trek: The Motion Picture" and "Star Trek VI." She did voice work in the feature films "Star Trek: Nemesis" and the upcoming "Star Trek."

Scenic art supervisors Denise and Mike Okuda worked on a number of "Star Trek" projects. They shared their memories of Ms. Barrett-Roddenberry with me: Majel Roddenberry was an important part of the Star Trek dream from the very first episode in 1964, where she played the mysterious "Number One," the original second-in-command of the Starship Enterprise. Ever since then, she has been the "First Lady of Star Trek," first as a talented member of the Star Trek cast, then as a goodwill ambassador to legions of fans, and finally as a keeper of the flame of Gene Roddenberry's vision of a better tomorrow. She was a free spirit, a delightful colleague, and a kind and generous friend. We will miss her terribly.

Ms. Barrett's other credits include "Here Come the Brides," "A Guide for the Married Man," "Please Don't Eat the Daisies," "Love on a Rooftop," "Bonanza," "The Quick and the Dead," "The Lucy Show," "Pete and Gladys," "Love in a Goldfish Bowl," "Leave It to Beaver," "The Untouchables," "The Buccaneer," "Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter?" and "Whirlybirds."

BILL LANDIS Died Dec. 18, 2008

Author Bill Landis died of a heart attack at age 49. Mr. Landis published the famed 80s magazine "Sleazoid Express" which dealt with the movies Mr. Landis saw on 42nd street during the late 70s and early 80s. Mr. Landis and his wife Michelle Clifford resurrected the magazine for a period of time during the 1990s. They also collaborated on the book by the same name for Simon and Schuster was well as an unauthorized biography of Kenneth Anger. Mr. Landis also co-published his wife's magazine "Metasex." Mrs. Clifford-Landis said that the last thing they wrote together was an obituary for director Gerard Damiano in early December. SHe also stated what all of Mr. Landis' readers know: "He was one of a kind." Mr. Landis wrote articles for a number of publications, most notably for "Film Comment" and "The Village Voice." Bill Landis played a small role in the 1982 underground film "Vortex." He also appeared in "Divine Trash" a documentary about director John Waters. Prayers of comfort for his family and friends, especially his daughter.

ROBERT MULLIGAN Died Dec. 20, 2008

I've shared this story before, but it is appropriate to repeat today. I first saw "To Kill a Mockingbird" when I was 10 years old. I watched in on the Channel 3 late movie with my father. When the movie was over I wanted to either be Atticus Finch or the guy who made that movie. I didn't know Robert Mulligan's name that night, but he was the guy who made that movie.

Oscar and DGA-nominated and Emmy-winning director Robert Mulligan died of heart disease at age 83. Mr. Mulligan received an Oscar nomination for directing the classic "To Kill a Mockingbird." His work on the film earned him the Gary Cooper Award at Cannes as well as nominations from the DGA, Golden Globe and the Palm D'Or at Cannes. Mulligan lost the Oscar to David Lean for "Lawrence of Arabia." Richard Mulligan earned an Emmy for the 1959 special "The Moon and Sixpence." He was honored with four DGA nominations. The Los Angeles Film Critics Association bestowed the Career Achievement Award to Mr. Mulligan in 2006.

Like Robert Altman, Franklin Schaffner and others Robert Mulligan was one of the successful American film directors who cut his teeth during the era of live TV. Robert Mulligan's TV credits from the 1950s include "Playhouse 90," "The DuPont Show of the Month," "Studio One," "The Alcoa Hour," "The Philco Television Playhouse," "Suspense" and "Goodyear Television Playhouse."

Robert Mulligan directed 20 films during his career. His best work was made in collaboration with producer Alan J. Pakula. The pair made seven films together including "To Kill a Mockingbird." Mr. Pakula produced Robert Mulligan's feature film debut "Fear Strikes Out," the biopic of baseball player Jimmy Piersall's battle with mental illness. Anthony Perkins and Karl Malden starred. "To Kill a Mockingbird" was the pair's second film. Next up was the Steve McQueen/Natalie Wood comedy "Love With the Proper Stranger." Mulligan and Pakula worked with both again. Natalie Wood starred in "Inside Daisy Clover" and Steve McQeen in "Baby the Rain Must Fall." Sandy Dennis starred in the sixth Mulligan/Pakula collaboration "Up the Down Staircase." The pair's final film was the disappointing Western "The Stalking Moon," which starred Gregory Peck. The pair's seven films earned 16 Oscar nominations with four wins.

Robert Mulligan directed 13 other films. Of those, his 1971 film "Summer of '42" was the biggest hit. Jennifer O'Neill and Gary Grimes starred in the sexual coming of age story set during WWII. The movie was nominated for four Oscars. This was followed by the excellent horror film "The Other." Mr. Mulligan also produced as he did his next film "The Nickel Ride" starring Jason Miller. One of his most entertaining films was "The Great Imposter" starring Tony Curtis. Mr. Mulligan received a DGA nomination for the biopic of Fred Demara, a man who impersonated others and ended up working as a prison warden and a Naval surgeon during WWII! Tony Curtis also starred in Mulligan's "The Rat Race." Rock Hudson teamed up with Mr. Mulligan for "Come September" and "The Spiral Road." Mr. Mulligan directed Richard Gere in one of the actor's first starring role in "Bloodbrothers." The film earned one Oscar nomination. That same year, Robert Mulligan directed Alan Alda and Ellen Burstyn in the enjoyable tale of an adulterous couple "Same Time Next Year." The movie earned four Oscar nominations. Mr. Mulligan's 1982 film "Kiss Me Goodbye" was a so-so remake of the erotic Brazilian classic "Dona Flor and Her Two Husbands." Mr. Mulligan's final film was "The Man in the Moon" which was the film debut of Reese Witherspoon.

HAROLD PINTER Died Dec. 24, 2008

Oscar-nominated and Nobel Prize-winning playwright Harold Pinter died of cancer at age 78. Mr. Pinter was one of the greatest British stage directors and playwrights of the past half-century. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2005. In recent years Mr. Pinter was an outspoken critic of the Iraq War and the foreign policy of America's and England's government. While I abhor his views and comments on the subject, like the thousands of US servicemen and women now serving in the Middle East, I would defend with my life his right to make those comments.

Harold Pinter received two Oscar nominations for his screenplays "The French Lieutenant's Woman" and "Betrayal." Mr. Pinter also received BAFTA nominations for both films. He received a total of seven BAFTA nominations, winning twice for "The Go-Between" and "The Pumpkin Eater." His other BAFTA nominated films were "Accident," "The Quiller Memorandum" and "The Servant." Harold Pinter's many film and TV writing credits include the remake of Anthony Shaffer's "Sleuth," "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Last Tycoon" and "The Homecoming" and "The Birthday Party." While Harold Pinter directed a number of stage plays, he only directed one feature film: the 1974 American Film Theater production of "Butley."

Harold Pinter's work has been produced around the world including London's West End and Broadway. There have been 17 Broadway productions of Mr. Pinter's work. He received four Tony nominations, winning once for "The Homecoming." His other three nominations were for "The Caretaker," "The Man in the Glass Booth" and "Old Times."

EARTHA KITT Died Dec. 25, 2008

Tony-nominated and Emmy-winning actress, singer, dancer Eartha Kitt died of colon cancer at age 81. Ms. Kitt was also a Grammy-nominated singer. Her many accolades and awards include two Tony nominations for "The Wild Party" and "Timbuktu!" She also received a Drama Desk nomination for "The Wild Party." She won two Daytime Emmy awards and three Annie awards for her voice work in Disney's series "The Emperor's New School." She played the character Yzma in the TV series as well as the feature films "The Emperor's New Groove" and "The Emperor's New Groove 2: Kronk's New Groove." She received a primetime Emmy nomination for "I Spy."

Eartha Kitt was one of three actresses to play the villain Catwoman in the campy 1960s TV series "Batman." Her many acting credits include "Oz," "Space Ghost Coast to Coast," "The Wild Thornberrys," "The Nanny," "I Woke Up Early the Day I Died," "Harriet the Spy," "Ernest Scared Stupid," "Miami Vice," "Police Woman," "Friday Foster," "Mission: Impossible," "Ben Casey," "Burke's Law," "St. Louis Blues" and "Your Show of Shows."

The Grammy nominated singer cut a number of albums and performed around the world during her lengthy career. She performed on such TV shows as "It's Showtime at the Apollo," "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," "The Barbara McNair Show," "The Ed Sullivan Show," "The Nat King Cole Show," "The Colgate Comedy Hour" and "The Red Buttons Show." Ms. Kitt's songs can be heard on the soundtracks of "The O.C.," "Elf," "Friday After Next," "The Sopranos" and "Driving Miss Daisy" among others.

ANN SAVAGE Died Dec. 25, 2008

Actress Ann Savage died at age 87. Ms. Savage is an icon of the Film Noir genre for her performance as the evil Vera in Edgar Ulmer's low-budget classic "Detour." The 1945 film was a poverty-row production, which took a week to film. It was the first such film to be chosen by the library of congress for preservation. Ms. Savage plays one of the greatest Femme Fatales in movie history in this classic film. She and her "Detour" co-star Tom Neal worked together in a total of four films and an episode of "Gang Busters." Ms. Savage appeared in over 30 films and TV shows during the 1940s and 50s. She made one feature in 1986 and her final film in Canadian director Guy Madden's 2007 movie "My Winnipeg." Ms. Savage's other credits include "Fire with Fire," "Death Valley Days," "Woman They Almost Lynched," "Jungle Jim in Pygmy Island," "The Devil's Den," "The Last Crooked Mile," "The Spider," "Apology for Murder," "The Unwritten Code," "Dangerous Blondes," "Passport to Suez" and "After Midnight with Boston Blackie."

DELANEY BRAMLETT Died Dec. 27, 2008

Rock legend Delaney Bramlett died of complications following gall-bladder surgery at age 69. Mr. Bramlett wrote or co-wrote a number of hit songs including "Let it Rain," "Superstar" and "Never Ending Song of Love." My first exposure to Mr. Bramlett was in the 1971 cult classic "Vanishing Point." Mr. Bramlett and then wife Bonnie Lynn's band 'Delaney, Bonnie and Friends' played a ragtag group of musicians working for the snake-handling preacher J. Hovah played by actor Severn Darden. The group also appeared in the 2003 rockumentary "Festival Express." The long-delayed film chronicled the 1970 Canadian rock tour which also included performances by The Band, Janis Joplin and The Grateful Dead among others. 'Delaney, Bonnie and Friends' enjoyed success from the late 1960s until the divorce of Delaney and Bonnie Bramlett in the early 1970s. Mr. Bramlett was a member of the house band the Shindogs on the TV series "Shindig" during the early 1960s. He worked with many of the greatest musicians of his era including George Harrison, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix. Mr. Bramlett's songs have been recorded by a variety of artists from many musical genres including Rock, Country and Hip-Hop. Mr. Bramlett's music can be heard on the soundtracks of such films and TV shows as "Guitar Man," "Juno," "The Still Life," "Ghost Rider," "A Good Year," "The Sopranos," "Wanted: Dead or Alive" and "The Swimming Pool."

BERNIE HAMILTON Died Dec. 30, 2008

Actor turned record producer Bernie Hamilton died of a heart attack at age 80. Mr. Hamilton was best known for playing Captain Dobey in the hit 1970s TV series "Starsky and Hutch." The part was played by actor Richard Ward in the pilot film. Mr. Hamilton played the part in the series which ran four seasons. Bernie Hamilton appeared in over 60 films and TV shows during his career. He retired from acting in the early 1980s and turned to the music business as a record producer.

Bernie Hamilton's feature film credits include "Bucktown," "Scream Blacula Scream," "Hammer," "The Organization," "The Swimmer," "Synanon," "One Potato, Two Potato," "Captain Sindbad," "The Devil at 4 O'Clock," "Underworld U.S.A.," "Let No Man Write My Epitaph," "The Young One," "Up Periscope," "Kismet," "Carmen Jones," "Bright Victory," "The Harlem Globetrotters" and "The Jackie Robinson Story."

In addition to his work on "Starsky and Hutch," Mr. Hamilton's other TV credits include "The Love Boat," "Battlestar Galactica," "That's My Mama," "Police Story," "Sanford and Son," "All in the Family," "The Bold Ones," "The Name of the Game," "The Virginian," "Judd for the Defense," "Tarzan," "Cimarron Strip," "Ironside," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Ben Casey," "The Twilight Zone," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Jungle Jim" and "General Electric Theater."

DONALD WESTLAKE Died Dec. 31, 2008

Oscar-nominated writer and novelist Donald Westlake died of a heart attack at age 75. Mr. Westlake received an Oscar nomination for his adapted screenplay for "The Grifters." Mr. Westlake wrote over 100 books under various pseudonyms. Many of his novels were turned into feature films. His novel "The Hunter" was filmed twice. First by director John Boorman as the 1967 classic "Point Blank." Lee Marvin starred as a single-minded bank robber out to get what was taken from him by double-crossing partners. It is one of the best crime films of the 60s. Mel Gibson took over the role for the 1999 version "Payback." While that film has its advocates, Mel Gibson is no Lee Marvin.

Donald Westlake wrote the award-winning horror film "The Stepfather." His characters were used in two sequels. The movie provided actor Terry O'Quinn with the role of his career. Mr. Westlake's novel was the basis for the hilarious 1970s heist caper "The Hot Rock." Mr. Westlake adapted his own novel to the screen for "Cops & Robbers," another fun 70s heist film. "The Outfit" with Robert Duvall was a cool crime film with similarities to "Point Blank" and "Don Siegel's "Charlie Varrick." Mr. Westlake's comedy "The Bank Shot" starred George C. Scott. That movie was the subject of my very first film review for my highschool newspaper, the Central Warrior. Other credits include "Ripley Under Ground," "A Slight Case of Murder," "Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery," "Slayground," "Jimmy the Kid," "The Split" and "The Busy Body."

BRAD SULLIVAN Died Dec. 31, 2008

Character actor Brad Sullivan died at age 77. He was one of those I know his face, but not his name actors. Brad Sullivan saw extensive combat serving his country in the US Army during the Korean War. Mr. Sullivan appeared in 50 films and TV shows. He turned in a menacingly memorable performance as Nick Nolte's abusive father in "The Prince of Tides." Mr. Sullivan played Al Capone's accountant in Brian DePalma's "The Untouchables." His character came to a sticky end along with Charlie Martin Smiths G-Man character as they were ambushed in an elevator. Brad Sullivan was a regular on the TV series "Ill Fly Away" and "Nothing Sacred." In addition to his film and TV work, Mr. Sullivan was a prolific stage actor. He appeared in six Broadway plays including the original production of "Working" and revivals of "On the Waterfront" and "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial." Mr. Sullivan received a Drama Desk Award nomination for "Working."

His many film and TV credits include "Law & Order," "NYPD Blue," "In the Line of Duty: Blaze of Glory," "Canadian Bacon," "The Jerky Boys," "Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit," "Teamster Boss: The Jackie Presser Story," "In the Line of Duty: Manhunt in the Dakotas," "Guilty by Suspicion," "True Colors," "The Abyss," "Dead Bang," "The Equalizer," "Funny Farm," "Tin Men," "Miami Vice," "Ghost Story," "The Island," "Slap Shot" and "The Sting."