MARC HANNIBAL - Actor and singer

Actor and singer Marc Hannibal died in Salem, Oregon, on July 23, 2011.  He was 80.  He was born Frank Charles Hannibal, Jr. in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1931.  He joined the Harlem Globetrotters in 1954, and toured with them for two years.  He began performing as a singer in the 1960s, recording two albums and headlining nightclubs across the country.  He also guest starred in episodes of such television series as "Ironside", "The Name of the Game", "Mission: Impossible", "Columbo", "McMillan & Wife", "McCloud", "Switch", and "Kojak".  He appeared in the tele-films "The Brotherhood of the Bell" (1970), "A Death of Innocents" (1971), and "The Strangers in 7A" (1972). Hannibal was featured in several films during his career including "The Grasshopper" (1969), "Airport" (1970), "The Man From O.R.G.Y." (1970), "Fools" (1970), "Three Fantastic Supermen" (aka "Super Stooges vs. The Wonder Women") (1975) as Moog, the African Superhero, and "Deliver Us From Evil" (1977).

　

YEKATERINA GOLUBEVA - Russo-French Actress

Russian actress Yekaterina Golubeva died in Paris, France, on August 14, 2011.  She was 44.  Golubeva was born in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Russia, on October 9, 1966.  She began her film career in the mid-1980s, and was originally billed as Katia Golubeva.  She was married to Lithuanian film director Sharunas Bartas, who directed her in "Three Days" (1991) and "Few of Us" (1996).  She moved to Paris after her divorce from Bartas in the 1990s, where she appeared in Claire Denis' "I Can't Sleep" (1994), Leos Carax's "Pola X' (1999) with Guillaume Depardieu, "Twentynine Palms" (2002), and "The Intruder" (2004).

LEONARD HARRIS - "Taxi Driver"'s Senator Palantine

Drama critic Leonard Harris, who was featured in the 1976 film "Taxi Driver", died of complications from pneumona in Hartford, Connecticut, on August 28, 2011. He was 81.  Harris was born in the Bronx, New York, on September 27, 1929. He graduated from City College, and began his career writing obituaries and book reviews for "The Hartford Courant" in 1955. He began working for the CBS television affliate in New York as a drama and culture critic in 1966. Harris was cast as Senator Charles Palantine in Martin Scorsese’s 1976 film "Taxi Driver" - whose Presidential campaign indirectly inspired Robert DeNiro's Travis Bickle on his violent urban rampage. He was also featured as the Mayor in the 1980 film "Hero At Large" starring John Ritter. Harris was the author of several books including the thriller "The Masada Plan".

 

JUNPEI TAKIGUCHI - Japanese Anime Voice Actor

 

 

Uranai Baba from Dragon Ball

Japanese voice actor Junpei Takiguchi died of stomach cancer in Japan on August 29, 2011. He was 80.  He was born Kohei Takiguchi in Chiba Prefecture, Japan, on April 17, 1931. He was a leading voice actor from the early 1960s, working on such anime productions as "Goku no Daiboken" (1967), "Mazinger Z" (1972), "Gatchaman" (1973), "Time Bokan" (1975), "Treasure Island" (1978), "Unico: Black Cloud White Feather" (1979), "Lupin the 3rd" (1977), "The Ultraman" (1979), "Tomb of Dracula" (1980), "Fumoon" (1980), "Space Cruiser Yamato III" (1980), "Lucy of the Southern Rainbows" (1982), "Urusei Yatsura" (1982), "Don Dracula" (1982), "Cat's Eye" (1983), "Fist of the North Star" (1986), "Dragon Ball" as Uranai Baba, Saichourou and others from 1987, "Genji Tsushin Agedama", "One Piece" (2001) as Commodore Nelson, "Lupin III: Alcatraz Commection" (2001), "Cyborg 009: The Cyborg Soldier" (2002), ".hack//Roots" (2006) as Phyllo, "Princess Resurrection" (2007), "D. Gray-Man" (2006) as Millennium Earl, and "Yatterman" (2008) as Dokurobee. He also narrated the railroad travel program "Burari Tochu Gesha no Tabi" fron 1992 to 2011.

GUALTIERO JACOPETTI - Italian Shockumentary Pioneer Director of "Mondo Cane"

Italian filmmaker Gualtiero Jacopetti, who co-directed the 1962 shockumentary classic "Mondo Cane", died at his home in Rome on August 17, 2011.  He was 91.  Jacopetti was born in Barga, Italy, on September 4, 1919. He worked as a journalist and magazine editor from the 1940s, and made newsreels before moving to feature films. He teamed with Paolo Cavara and Franco Prosperi to create "Mondo Cane" ("A Dog’s World") which depicted shocking customs and activities from around the globe. Similar productions soon followed, including "Women of the World" (1963) and "Mondo Cane 2" (1963). Jacopetti also made the 1966 film "Africa Addio" ("Goodbye, Africa"). He reteamed with Prosperi to make 1971’s "Goodbye Uncle Tom", which featured the two filmmakers travelling back in time to chronicle slavery in the United States.

ANN MUFFLY - Star of George Romero's "Season of the Witch"

Actress Ann Muffly died in Providence Point, Pennsylvania, on August 15, 2011.  She was 85.  She was born Ann Little in West Virgina on May 23, 1926.  She began her career on stage in the Pittsburgh area, where she worked in radio and locakl television.  She was featured as Shirley Randolph in George Romero’s 1972 film “Season of the Witch” (aka “Hungry Wives”). She was also seen in Romero’s “Knightriders” (1981), and was the voice of Lenora Castonmeyer in the “They’re Creeping Up On You” segment of “Creepshow”(1982).

 TOM HENNESY - Actor and Stuntman Featured as the Gill Man on Land in "Revenge of the Creature"

Actor and stuntman Tom Hennesy died in Malibu, California, on May 23, 2011.  He was 87.  Hennesy was born in Los Angeles on August 4, 1923.  He worked primarily as a stuntman in the 1950s and 1960s on such films as “Jack and the Beanstalk” (1952), “The High and the Mighty” (1954), “It Should Happen To You” (1954), “The Caine Mutiny” (1954), “Prince of Players” (1955), “The Road to Denver” (1955), “The Long Gray Line” (1955), the 1955 sequel to "Creature from the Black Lagoon", “Revenge of the Creature”, “Blood Alley” (1955), “The Ten Commandments” (1956), “The Buccaneer” (1958), “North to Alaska” (1960), “The Man Who Shot Liberty Vallance” (1962), "Stagecoach” (1966), “The War Wagon” (1967), and “The Green Berets” (1968).  Hennesy performed stunts in many films with actor John Wayne and had his largest role in as the gentle giant, Mr. Sweet, in 1971’s “Big Jake”.  He also appeared on television as Clint Walker’s stunt double for the western series “Cheyenne” in the 1950s.   His other television credits include episodes of  “The Further Adventures of the Spin and Marty”, “26 Men”, "Gunsmoke", and Boris Karloff's “Thriller” as the spectral figure in the episode “The Return of Andrew Bentley”.               

NOEL COLLINS - British Character Actor

British actor Noel Collins died in England after a long battle with lung cancer on August 15, 2011.  He was 74.  Collins appeared frequently on television from the late 1960s, with roles in “New Scotland Yard”, “When the Boat Comes In”, “Within These Walls”, “Enemy at the Door”, “Pennies From Heaven”, “Accident”, and “A Question of Guilt”.  He starred as Sergeant George Parrish in the BBC police series “Juliet Bravo” from 1980 to 1985, and was landlord Pat Rowlinson in the “Battlefield” segment of “Doctor Who” in 1989.  He was featured in a handful of films, including Andy Millgan's “The Rats Are Coming! The Werewolves Are Here!” (1972) and “Never Never Land” (1980).

SYBIL JASON - Child Star of the 1930s

Sybil Jason, a leading child actress in the 1930s, died of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in Northridge, California, on August 23, 2011.  She was 83.  She was born Sybil Jacobson in Cape Town, South Africa, on November 23, 1929.  She learned to play the piano by the age of 2, and was soon performing before audiences.  She moved to England as a child, where she appeared regularly at nightclubs in London.  She made her film debut in 1935’s “Barnacle Bill”, and was subsequently signed to a Hollywood contract with Warner Bros., as a possible rival to Shirley Temple.  She was featured in the films “Little Big Shot” (1935), “I Found Stella Parish” (1935), “The Singing Kid” (1936) with Al Jolson, “The Great O’Malley” (1937) with Pat O’ Brien and Humphrey Bogart, and “Comet Over Broadway” (1938).  Warner declined to renew her contract and her final films were at 20th-Century Fox in supporting roles to Shirley Temple.  She was Becky in 1939’s “The Little Princess” and was Angela Berlingot in the 1940 fantasy “The Blue Bird”. Jason penned her autobiography, “My Fifteen Minutes: An Autobiography of a Child Star of the Golden Era of Hollywood”, in 2005.

MICHAEL SHOWERS - Star of HBO's "Treme" - Found Dead in Mississippi River

Actor Michael Showers was found dead in the Mississippi river near New Orleans on August 24, 2011.  He had been missing for two days, after going to New Orleans’ French Quarter with a friend.  Shower was best known for his role as Captain John Guidry on the HBO cable series “Treme” in 2011.  He was also seen in the films “Blink” (2007), “Immortally Yours” (aka "Kiss of the Vampire") (2009), “The Collector” (2009), “Tekken” (2010), “The Resident” (2011), “The Tree of Life” (2011),  and “Colombiana” (2011).  Showers was also featured in episodes of “The Vampire Diaries” and “Breaking Bad”. 

REZA BADIYI - Prolific Television Director

Iranian-American television director Reza Badiyi died in a Los Angeles hospital on August 20, 2011.  He was 81.  Badiyi was born in Arak, Iran, on April 17, 1930.  He trained at the Iranian Academy of Drama, and came to the United States in 1955 to work in film.  He worked as a camaraman for such directors as Robert Altman and Sam Pekinpah, and was assistant director on the films “The Delinquents” (1957) and “Carnival of Souls” (1962).  He made his directorial debut with the 1963 short “Censorship: A Question of Judgement?”.  He was a prolific television director from the 1960s, helming episodes of “Get Smart”, “Mission: Impossible”, “Mod Squad”, “The Magician”, “The Six Million Dollar Man”, “Man from Atlantis”, “Holmes and Yoyo”,  “Cliffhangers: Stop Susan Williams”, “The Incredible Hulk”, “The Phoenix”, “Bring ‘Em Back Alive”, “The

Adventures of Superboy”, “Dinosaurs”, “Dark Justice”, “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine”, “Nowhere Man”, “Viper”, “Baywatch Nights”, “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, “La Femme Nikita”, “Mortal Kombat: Conquest”, “Sliders”, “Early Edition”, and “She Spies”.  Badiyi also directed the tele-films “The Eyes of Charles Sand” (1972), “The Girl Who Saved the World” (1979), and “Eye of the Stalker” (1995).   He was credited by the Director’s Guild of America for directing the most hours of television.

LESLIE BROOKS - 1940s Leading Lady

Actress Leslie Brooks, who appeared in numerous films in the 1940s, died in Sherman Oaks, California, on July 1, 2011. She was 88. She was born Virginia Leslie Gettman in Lincoln, Nebraska, on July 13, 1922.  She began her career in the films in the early 1940s, with small roles in “Ziegfeld Girl” (1941), “The Body Disappears” (1941), “The Man Who Came to Dinner” (1942), and “Yankee Doodle Dandy" (1942), “The Talk of the Town” (1942).  She graduated to more substantial roles playing second leads and femme fatales in the “You Were Never Lovelier” (1942), “Underground Agent” (1942), “The Man Who Dared” (1946), “The Secret of The Whistler” (1946), “The Corpse Came C.O.D.” (1947), and “The Cobra Strikes” (1948) before retiring from the screen.

JOHN BOSWALL - British Character Actor Feature as Wyvern in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" Films

fr. 1984

British character actor John Boswall died in South Woodchester, Gloucestershire, England, on June 6, 2011.  He was 91.  Boswall was born in England on May 2, 1920.  He served with the British military in Burma during World War II.  He appeared frequently in stage, film and television from the early 1970s.  He was featured such series as “Paul Temple”, “Agatha Christie’s Piorot”, "Sapphire and Steel", “Murder Most Horrid”, “Virtual Murder”, “Covington Cross”, and “The Secret World of Michael Fry”.   His other television credits include productions of  “Lady Killer” (1973), “Edward the King” (1975), “The Hound of the Baskervilles” (1982), “The Return of the Native” (1994), and Terry Pratchett's "Hogfather" as the Chair of Indefinite Studies.  He was featured as Emmanuel Goldstein - the presumed leader of the opposition to Big Brother - in Michael Radford's 1984 film version of George Orwell's dystopian novel "1984". Boswall was best known in recent years for his role as Wyvern in the films “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003) and “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006), as Wyvern, a crew member of the Flying Dutchman, whose body had largely merged with the ship during his time with Davy Jones.

CHRISTOPHER NEAME - Hammer Films Production Manager

Christopher Neame, who was a production manager for Hammer Films during their horror heyday in the 1960s and early 1970s, died in Provence, France, on June 12, 2011.  He was 68.  He was born in Windsor, England, on December 24, 1942, the son of director and cinematographer Ronald Neame.  He began working in films in the early 1960s before joining Hammer Films as a production manager during their horror film heyday.  His credits include “Dracula, Prince of Darkness” (1965), “Rasputin, the Mad Monk” (1965), “Frankenstein Created Woman” (1967), “Five Million Years To Earth” (aka “Quatermass and The Pit”) (1967), “The Anniversary” (1968), “The Devil Rides Out” (1968), “Frankenstein Must be Destroyed” (1969), “The Beast In The Cellar” (1970), “Blood From the Money’s Tomb” (1971), “Fear In The Night” (1972), “Demons of the Mind” (1972), “Blueblood” (1973), the sexy sci-fier “The Love Factor” (aka “Zeta One”) (1973) which he also scripted, and “Frankenstein and the Monster From Hell” (1974).  He also worked in television from the late 1970s as a producer for such series as “Danger UXB” and “Q.E.D.”  (Note: He is not the actor of the same name who appeared in several Hammer horrors in the early 1970).

JOHN WOOD - Veteran British Character Actor

British character actor John Wood died in England on August 6, 2011.  He was 81. Wood was born in Derbyshire, England, on July 5, 1930.  He began performing on stage at Jesus College, Oxford, where he was studying law in the 1950s.  He appeared frequently on stage, films and television from the early 1950s.  Wood was seen in episodes of  “Tales of Mystery”, “Saki”, “Out of the Unknown”, “The Avengers”, “Doomwatch”, and “The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles".  He also appeared frequently in films throughout his career with roles in “The Mouse on the Moon” (1963), “Somebody Killed Her Husband” (1978), “WarGames” (1983), “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (1985), “Ladyhawke” (1985), “Lady Jane” (1986), “The Madness of King George” (1994), “Richard III” (1995) as King Edward IV, and “Sabrina” (1995) as Sabrina’s father, “Jane Eyre” (1996).  He was the only actor to have appeared in the 1960s television series "The Avengers" (other than Patrick MacNee) that resurfaced in the 1998 film version, appearing in the role of Trubshaw.  He was also seen in the films , “Mad Cows” (1999), “The Little Vampire” (2000), “Chocolat” (2000), “The Rocket Post” (2004), and “The White Countess” (2008). 

VIC DUNLOP - Comedian Star of "Martians Go Home"

Comedian and actor Vic Dunlop died of complications from diabetes in a Glendale, California, hospital on August 13, 2011.  He was 62.  Dunlop was born in New York City on November 6, 1948.  He began his career as a comic in the early 1970s with the comedy inprov group Natural Gas that appeared regularly on “Don Kirshner’s Rock Concert”.  He was featured on television and in several films including “The Devil and Max Devlin” (1981), “Meatballs Part II” (1984), “Night Patrol” (1984),  “Martians Go Home” (1989) as the Main Martian, “Wishful Thinking” (1990), and “Breakfast of Aliens” (1993) which he also co-scripted.  Dunlop lost a leg to diabetes in 2000, but continued to perform at comedy clubs around the country until death.

JIMMY SANGSTER - Screenwriter for the Classic Hammer Horror Films of the 1950s and 1960s

British screenwriter Jimmy Sangster, who scripted many of the classic Hammer horror films of the 1950s and 1960s, died on August 19, 2011.  He was 83.  Sangster was born in North Wales on December 2, 1927.  He began working in films in the late 1940 as an assistant director on such films as “The Adventures of Jane” (1949), "Man in Black” (1949), “Dick Barton Strikes Back” (1949), “Room To Let” (1950), “Whispering Smith vs. Scotland Yard” (1952), “Spaceways” (1953), “The Saint’s Girl Friday” (1953), “Terror Street” (1953), and “Paid To Kill” (1954).  He worked as a production manager over the next several years, and also scripted Hammer's 1956 science fiction film “X The Unknown”.  He also wrote Hammer's initial forays in the realm of classic horror films, scripting “The Curse of Frankenstein” (1957), “Horror of Dracula” (1958), “The Revenge of Frankenstein” (1958), “The Snorkel” (1958), “Blood of the Vampire” (1958), “The Crawling Eye” (1958), “Jack the Ripper” (1959), “The Man Who Could Cheat Death” (1959), “The Mummy” (1959), “The Brides of Dracula” (1960), “The Hellfire Club” (1961), “The Terror of the Tongs” (1961), “The Pirates of Blood River” (1962), “Paranoiac” (1963), “The Devil-Ship Pirates” (1964), “Dracula, Prince of Darkness” (1966), “Deadlier Than the Male” (1967), and “Crescendo” (1970).   He produced and wrote the thrillers “Scream of Fear” (1961), “Maniac” (1963), “Nightmare” (1964), “Hysteria” (1965), “The Nanny” (1965) and “The Anniversary” (1968) both starring Bette Davis, and “Whoever Slew Auntie Roo?” (1972).  He wrote and directed several of Hammer’s new wave of horror film, including “The Horror of Frankenstein” (1970), “Lust For A Vampire” (1971), and “Fear In the Night” (1972).  Sangster worked in Hollywood from the early 1970s scripting the tele-films “A Taste of Evil” (1971), “Scream, Pretty Peggy” (1973), “Maneater” (1973), “Good Against Evil” (1977), “The Billion Dollar Threat” (1979), “Ebony, Ivory and Jade” (1979), and “Once Upon A Spy” (1980).  His other television credits include episodes of “Circle of Fear”/ “Ghost Story”, “The Magician”, “Banacek”, “The Six Million Dollar Man”, “Kolchak: The Night Stalker”, “Wonder Woman”, and “Beyond Belief !!”.  He also scripted the films “The Legacy” (1978), “Phobia” (1980), and “The Devil and Max Devlin” (1981).  His survivors include his wife, actress Mary Peach, star of "The Projected Man".

DEREK CREWE - Welsh actor in "The Tomorrow People" & "Doctor Who"

Welsh actor Derek Crewe died following a brief illness on May 16, 2011.  He was 65.  Crewe was born in Wales on June 6, 1945.  He began performing with the band The Renegades in the 1960s, before turning to acting.  He became a prolific stage performer in venues throughout Great Britian.  He also appeared frequently on television from the early 1970s, starring as Lefty in the premiere "The Tomorrow People" serials "The Slaves of Jedikiah" and "The Vanishing Earth" in 1973.  He was also featured as Synge in the 1977 "Doctor Who" serial "The Sun Makers".

EDSON STROLL - Snow White and the Three Stooges' Prince Charming,

Edson Stroll, who co-starred with the Three Stooges and ice skater Carol Heiss in the 1961 film "Snow White and the Three Stooges", died of cancer in Marina del Rey, California, on July 18, 2011.  He was 82.  Stroll was born in Chicago  on January 6, 1929.  He served in the U.S. Navy in the late 1940s, before training as an actor and singer.  He performed frequently on stage with national touring companies and appeared on Broadway and with the New York Shakespeare Festival.  He made his television debut in the late 1950s, appearing in episodes of “How To Marry a Millionaire”, “Tombstone Territory”, “Sea Hunt”, and “Men Into Space”. He guest starred in the "Twilight Zone" episodes "The Trade-Ins" and "Eye of the Beholder" in the early 1960s. He co-starred with the Three Stooges in “Snow White and the Three Stooges” (1961) and “The Three Stooges in Orbit” (1962).  He was perhaps best known for his role as Virgil Edwards on the television series “McHale’s Navy” from 1962 to 1966, and in the film spin-offs “McHale’s Navy” (1964) and “McHale’s Navy Joins the Air Force” (1965).  He continued to make occasional appearences on television with roles in “It’s About Time”, “The Lost Saucer”, “Murder, She Wrote”, “Simon & Simon”, and “Dallas”.  Stroll also worked as a marine surveyor from the late 1960s.

G.D. SPRADLIN - Veteran Character Actor

Character actor G.D. Spradlin, who was the corrupt Senator Geary in "Godfather II" and General Corman, who sends Martin Sheen on his mission to assassinate Marlon Brando's Col, Kurtz in "Apocalypse Now", died at his ranch in San Luis Obispo, California, on July 24, 2011.  He was 90.   He was born Gervase Duan Spradlin in Daylight Township, Garvin County, Oklahoma, on August 31, 1920.  He served in the Army Air Force in China during World War II.  He earned a law degree from the University of Oklahoma after the war, and became an attorney for Phillips Petroleum Co.  He became an independent oil producer in the early 1950s, and was successful enough to retire in 1960.  He began acting several years late on the local stage in Oklahoma City, where he was also an unsuccessful candidate for Mayor in 1965.  He began his acting career in earnest the following year, and appeared frequently on television in episodes of such series as “The Iron Horse”, “Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.”, “I Spy", “The Outsider", “It Takes A Thief”, “Dragnet”, “Bonaza”, “Search”, “Kung Fu”, “City of Angels”, “Columbo”, “The Greatest American Hero”, and “Dark Skies”.  He was also seen in the tele-films “Dial Hot Line” (1970), “Sam Hill: Who Killed Mr. Foster?” (1971), “Maneaters Are Loose!” (1978), James Michener’s “Space” (1985), “Dream West” (1986), “Resting Place” (1986), “Nutcracker: Money, Madness & Murder” (1987), “Carolina Skeletons” (1991), and “Riders of the Purple Sage” (1996).  Spradlin was also noted for his roles as an authority fiqure in numerous films, including “Will Penny” (1968), “Hell’s Angels ‘69” (1969), “The Formula” (1980), “Wrong is Right” (1982), “Ed Wood" (1994) as the legendary schlock director’s financier, Reverend Lemon,  “Nick of Time” (1995), and “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996).