JANET CARROLL - Tom Cruise's Mother in Risky Business - Dead at 71

Actress Janet Carroll, who was featured as Tom Cruise’s mother in her film debut in 1983’s "Risky Business", died on May 22, 2012. She was born in Chicago on December 24, 1940. She appeared frequently on stage, film, and television from the early 1980s. Her film also credits include "Secret Admirer" (1985), "The Killing Time" (1987), "Astronomy" (1988), "Memories of Me" (1988), "The Platnuim Triangle" (1989), "Family Business" (1989), "Talent For the Game" (1991), "Born to Be Wild" (1995), "Destiny Turns on the Radio" (1995), "Timemaster" (1995), "Ugly Naked People" (1999), "Forces of Nature" (1999), "The Omega Code" (1999), "All You Need" (2001), "Changing Hearts" (2002), "Enough" (2002), "The Marriage Undone" (2002), "The Substitute Waiter" (2004), "Confession" (2005), "Living ‘til the End" (2005), "Beyond the Quest" (2007), "(Untitled)" (2009), and "What Happens Next" (2011). Carroll was also featured in the tele-films "Chicago Story" (1981), "Getting Physical" (1984), "The Right of the People" (1986), "Samaritan: The Mitch Snyder Story" (1986), "Bluffing It" (1987), "Sharing Richard" (1988), "When He’s Not A Stranger" (1989), "Daughters of Privilage" (1991), "One Special Victory" (1991), "Betrayed: A Story of Three Women" (1995), and "Christmas Spirit" (2011). Her other television credits include episodes of "The Devlin Connection", "Knight Rider", "Spencer", "Alice", "Cagney & Lacey", "Double Dare", "Mary", "The Twilight Zone", "You Again?", "Hill Street Blues", "The Golden Girls", "Designing Women", "A Year in the Life", "227", "Buck James", and "21 Jump Street". She was featured as Carol Danzig in the series "The Bronx Zoo" from 1987 to 1988, and appeared in the recurring role of anchorman Jim Dial’s wife, Doris, in "Murphy Brown" from 1990 to 1996. She was Gary, Al Bundy’s boss at the shoe store, in "Married with Children" from 1994 to 1997, and was Marion Shaw in "Melrose Place" from 1993 to 1997. She also appeared in episodes of "L.A. Law", "Jake and the Fatman", "Quantum Leap", "The Boys", "The Famous Teddy Z", "Mancuso, FBI", "Glory Days", "Life Goes On", "Empty Nest", "Pacific Station", "Reasonable Doubts", "The Hat Squad", "The Mommies", "Boy Meets World", "Matlock", "The Bonnie Hunt Show", "Coach", "Pacific Blue", "Touched By An Angel", "The Closer", "Living in Captivity", "Maggie", "Cupid", "Frank Leaves For the Orient", "7th Heaven", "Time of Your Life", "3rd Rock From the Sun", "Beverly Hills, 90210", "The Norm Show", "Dead Last", "Ally McBeal", "Pasadena", "Judging Amy", "Still Standing", "Scrubs", "Brothers & Sisters", "Six Degrees", "The Clown Project", and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit".

FREDERICK E. SMITH - Author of "Devil Doll" (1964) & the 633 Squadron Series

British author Frederick E. Smith died of a heart attack in Bourneouth, England, on May 15, 2012.  He was 93.  His 1951 short story about a diabolical ventriloquist was adapted for the 1964 horror film "Devil Doll" starring Bryant Haliday.  Smith's experiences while serving in the Royal Air Force inspired his 1956 novel "633 Squadron", which was adapted for a film starring Cliff Robertson in 1964.  He later penned several spin-off from 1975's "Operation Rhine Maiden" through 2007's "Operation Safeguard".  He was the author of numerous other books including "Of Masks and Minds" (1954), "Laws Be Their Enemy" (1955), "Lydia Trendennis" (1957), "The Sin and the Sinners" (1958), "The Grotto of Tiberius" (1961), "The Other Cousin" (1962) and "Temptation Isle" under the pseudonym David Farrell, "The Devil Behind Me" (1962), "The Dark Cliffs" (1962), "The Storm Knight" (1966), "A Killing for the Hawks" (1966), "Strange Enemy" (1967) again as Farrell, "The Wider Sea of Love" (1969), the 1970 novelization of the film "Waterloo", "See How We Run" (1972), three novelizations of the television series "The Persuaders!" in 1972, "The Tormented" (1974), "Saffron's War" (1975), "Saffron's Army" (1977), "Saffron's Trials" (1996), "The War God" (1980), "The Obsession" (1984), "Rage of the Innocents" (1986), "A Meeting of Stars" (1987), "In Presence of my Foes" (1988), and "Years of the Fury" (1989). He published two volumes of memoirs, "A Youthful Absurdity" (2011) and "An Author's Absurdities" (2012).

JEROME ROSS - Television Writer - Way Out & The Outer Limits

Television writer Jerome Ross died on February 11, 2012. He was 101. Ross was born in New York City on February 10, 1911.  He became a leading writer in the early days of television, penning episodes of such series as “The Philco Television Playhouse”, “Mister Peepers”, “Robert Montgomery Presents”, “Medallion Theatre”, “The Star and the Story”, “Appointment with Adventure”, “Goodyear Television Playhouse”, “Matinee Theatre”, “The Ford Television Theatre”, “The Alcoa Hour”, “Studio One”, “General Electric Theater”, “Perry Mason”, “The Untouchables”, “Way Out” (the episode "20/20"), “Armstrong Circle Theatre”, “Naked City”, “The Defenders”, “Saints and Sinners”, “The DuPont Show of the Week”, “Breaking Point”, “The Outer Limits” ("The Man with the Power" episode starring Donald Pleasence), “Arrest and Trial”, “Kraft Suspense Theatre”, “Dr. Kildare”, “The Fugitive”, “Alfred Hitchcock Hour”, “The Bing Crosby Show”, “The Long, Hot Summer”, “Mission: Impossible”, “Felony Squad”, “Mannix”, “The Mod Squad”, “Hawaii 5-O”, “Marcus Welby, M.D.”, “The Paper Chase”, and “Young Maveick”. 

JAMES ISAAC - Director of "Friday the 13th"'s "Jason X" and "Pig Hunt"

Film director and visual effects supervisor James Isaac died of blood cancer on May 6, 2012, at age 51.  Isaac was born on June 5, 1960.  He began working in films in the early 1980s, helping create creatures for "Star Wars VI: Return of the Jedi" (1984), "Gremlins" (1984), "Enemy Mine" (1985), "House II: The Second Story" (1987), and "DeepStar Six" (1989).  He worked on several films for director David Cronenberg including "The Fly" (1986), "Naked Lunch" (1991), and "eXistenz" (1999).  He was also a special effects supervisor for Chris Walas Inc. on the films "Look Who's Talking Too" (1990) and "Virtuosity" (1995).  He made his directorial debut with 1989's "The Horror Show" starring Lance Henriksen and Brion James.  He also helmed the 10th film in the "Friday the 13th" franchise, "Jason X", in 2001, and directed the horror films "Skinwalkers" (2006) and "Pig Hunt" (2008).

BRUCE HOWARD - Television Writer Who Scripted the U.S. Version of "King Kong vs. Godzilla"

Television writer Bruce Howard in Studio City, California, on January 30, 2012. He was 86.  Howard was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 6, 1925.  He began his career as a stand-up comic, performing in the Catskills.  He began writing for television in the early 1960s, scripting many episodes of “The Red Skelton Hour”, which earned him an Emmy nomination.  He also wrote the U.S. version of the 1962 Japanese monster-mass “King Kong vs. Godzilla”.  He also penned cartoon segments for “Beetle Bailey” and “Snuffy Smith and Barney Google”.  He was a prolific television writer for the next 25 years, scripting episodes of “My Favorite Martian”, “Broadside”, “Valentine’s Day”, “The Lucy Show”, “McHale’s Navy”, “It’s About Time”, “Gilligan’s Island”, “The Beatles” cartoon series, “Good Morning, World”, “The Andy Griffith Show”, “The Flying Nun”, “The Mothers-In-Law”, “I Dream of Jeannie”, “The Doris Day Show”, “That Girl”, “Arnie”, “Love, American Style”, “The Brady Bunch”, “The Partners”, “Dusty’s Trail”, “The Jeffersons”, “One Day at a Time”, “What’s Happening!!”, “Alice”, “Good Times”, “The Love Boat”, “Too Close For Comfort”, “The Dukes of Hazzard”, “Trapper John, M.D.”, and “Punky Brewster”. 

JOEL GOLDSMITH - Film & TV Composer - from Star Trek to Stargate

 Film and television composer Joel Goldsmith died of cancer at his home in Hidden Hills, California, on April 29, 2012.  He was 54.  He was born in Los Angeles on November 19, 1957, the son of Oscar-winning composer Jerry Goldsmith.  He began his career working with Richard Band on the science fiction films "Laserblast" (1978) and "The Day Time Ended" (1980).  He scored Ulli Lommel's 1983 film "Olivia".  He worked with his father on several films including "Runaway" (1984), "Hoosiers" (1986), and "Star Trek: First Contact" (1996).  Goldsmith also scored the films "Island of Blood" (1982), "The Man with Two Brains" (1983), "Hollywood Hot Tubs" (1984), "Banzai Runner" (1987), "Watchers" (1988), "Moon 44" (1990), "The Rift" (1990), "Instant Karma" (1990), "Across the Tracks" (1991), "Blue Desert" (1991), "Ramona!" (1991), "Brotherhood of the Gun" (1991), "A Woman, Her Men, and Her Futon" (1992), "Maniac Cop 3: Badge of Silence" (1993), "Joshua Tree" (1993), "Shootfighter: Fight to the Death" (1993), "Little Miss Millions" (1993), "Man's Best Friend" (1993), "Bad Blood" (1994), "Midnight Man" (1995), "One Good Turn" (1996), "Shiloh" (1996), "Kull the Conqueror" (1997), "Shadow of Doubt" (1998), "American Dragons" (1998), "Shiloh 2: Shiloh Season" (1999), "Diamonds" (1999), "Thank Heaven" (2006), and "War of the Dead" (2011).  He composed for television's "H.E.L.P." (1990), "Super Force" (1991-1992), "The Untouchables" (1993-1994), "Hawkeye" (1994-1995), "Rattled" (1996), "Vampirella" (1996), "The Outer Limits" (1997), "Inferno" (1998), "Monster!" (1999), "Diagnosis Murder" (1998-1999), "Chameleon 3: Dark Angel" (2000), "At Any Cost" (2000), "Witchblade" (2000-2002), "Helen of Troy" (2003), "Haunting Sarah" (2005), "Fatal Desire" (2006), and "Sanctuary" (2008-2009).  Goldsmith was also the chief composer for the television series "Stargate SG-1", "Stargate: Atlantis", and "SGU Stargate Universe", and scored several video games including "Tom Clancy SSN" and "Tour of Duty 3".

RUTH FOSTER - Character Actress in 1966's "Cyborg 2087" and "Dimension 5"

Actress Ruth Foster, who was best known for her recurring role as Melinda Foster on the television series "Little House on the Prairie", died on May 12, 2012.  She was 92.  She was born on January 29, 1920.  She began her show business career as a child, performing as a dancer in traveling dance troupe.  She became a featured performer at with the Latin Quarter Show, and appeared on television in episodes of "Four Star Revue", "Ben Casey", and "Bonanza".  She also had small roles in the science fiction films "Cyborg 2087" (1966) with Michael Rennie and "Dimension 5" (1966) with Jeffrey Hunter.  She was featured in the recurring role of Melinda Foster on "Little House on the Praire" from 1974 to 1983, and in the subsequent tele-films "Little House: Bless All the Dear Children" (1984) and "Little House: The Last Farewell" (1984).  She was also seen in an episode of "Highway to Heaven" in 1989.

JOHN FABIAN - British Actor in Enemy from Space & The Haunted Strangler

British actor turned television production manager John Fabian died in England on April 11, 2012.  He was 84.  Fabian was born in Wolverhampton, England, on May 19, 1927.  He became involved in theater and began his career on stage in the late 1940s at Birmingham Rep.  He was also featured in the films “Trottie True” (1949), “The Spider and the Fly” (1949), “Appointment In London” (1953), “Passing Stranger” (1954), “The Night My Number Came Up” (1955), “The Cockleshell Heroes” (1955), “A Town Like Alice” (1956), and “A Question of Adultry” (1958).  He appeared in small roles in the science fiction & horror films “Enemy From Space” (aka “Quatermass II”) (1957), “The Haunted Strangler” (1958), and “First Man Into Space” (1959).  He was also seen on television productions of “The Boy With a Cart” (1951), “To Live In Peace” (1951), “Henry V” (1951), “The Barretts ofWimpole Street” (1951), “The Life and Death of King John” (1952), and “Cinderella” (1958).  His other television credits include episodes of “The Count of Monte Cristo”, “Assignment Foriegn Legion”, “White Hunter”, “Ivanhoe”, and “The Vise”.  Fabian moved behind the camaras, where he directed episodes of “Panorama”, “Dr. Finlay’s Casebook”, “Z-Cars”, “Compact”, and “The Newcomers”.  He became an assistant producer on the drama program “The Onedin Line” and was a production manager or associate producer on the series “Warship”, “The Bucceneer”, “Secret Army”, Juliet Bravo”, “Angels”, “Morgan’s Boy”, “Trainer”, and “Howards’ Way”.  He also worked on Dutch films, directing action sequences.  He retired from the BBC in 1987.

ERNIE CHAN - Conan Comic Book Artist

Filipino-American comic book artist Ernie Chan, who was best known for his work on Marvel's "Conan the Barbarian" series, died of cancer on May 16, 2012, at age 71. He was born in The Philippines on July 27, 1940. He began working in comics at Marvel in the early 1970s, and was soon inking for John Buscema on "Conan the Barbarian" and Sal Buscema on "The Incredible Hulk". Originally known as Ernie Chua, he also illustrated such titles as "Doctor Strange", "Kull the Destroyer", "Spectacular Spider-Man", "Master of Kung Fu", and "Power Man". He also worked at DC in the 1970s and 1980s, where he was co-creator of "Claw the Unconquered" in 1975. He was cover artist on numerous series and drew the "Batman" title for several years. He became a U.S. citizen in 1976 and reclaimed his family name, Ernie Chan. He later worked as an artist and designer for video games and animated productions including "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest" in the mid-1990s. He largely retired in 2002, but had been involved in illustrating the adult-oriented webcomic "The Vat" in recent years.

RONAN O'CASEY - "Trollenberg Terror" star & Vanessa Redgrave's ill-fated lover in "Blowup"

Canadian-born actor Ronan O'Casey died in Los Angeles on April 12, 2012.  He was born in Montreal, Canada, on June 15, 1922, the son of poet Michael Casey and actress Margaret Sheehy.  He began performing on stage with his mother's theatrical company in Montreal as a child.  He continued his career as an actor in theatrical productions in Ireland and England, and was seen frequently in British films and television productions from the late 1940s.  O'Casey was featured in the films "Give Us This Day" (1949), "The Mudlark" (1950), "Escape by Night" (1953), "Three Steps to the Gallows" (1953), "Double Exposure" (1954), "Tonight's the Night" (1954), "Murder on Approval" (1955), "Tiger by the Tail" (1955), "1984" (1956) as Rutherford, "Reach for the Sky" (1956), "Satellite in the Sky" (1956), "Bitter Victory" (1957), "Blind Spot" (1958), "Inn for Trouble" (1960), "Blowup" (1966) as Vanessa Redgrave's murdered lover,

Dead - in Blowout

 "Feelings" (1976), and "The Double Exposure of Holly" (1976).  O'Casey appeared in television productions of "The Front Page" (1948), "Willie the Squouse" (1954), "The Voices" (1955), "The Trollenberg Terror" (1956) (which was filmed by Hammer several years later and released in the U.S. as "The Crawling Eye"), "Come Read Me a Riddle" (1956), "The Wooden Dish" (1957), "All My Sons" (1958), and "The Town Has Turned to Dust" (1960).  He was featured as Jeff Rogers in "The Larkins from 1958 to 1963, and was the Chief in "The New Forest Rustlers" in 1966.  O'Casey was associate producer for Terry Southern's 1969 comic fantasy "The Magic Christian", starring Ringo Starr and Peter Sellers.  He was married to actress Louie Ramsay from 1956 until 1979.  O'Casey moved to the United States the following year, where he married writer Carol Tavris,  He continued his acting career, appearing in the 1986 tele-film "Beverly Hills Madam", and in episodes of "Dallas", "The A-Team", "L.A. Law", "Shell Game", "Easy Street", "Hotel", "ABC Afterschool Specials", "Sledge Hammer!", "Santa Barbara", and "Falcon Crest".  His later film credits include "The Protector" (1985), "The Beverly Hillbillies" (1993), and "The Drop Off" (2007).







PATRICIA BRESLIN - Leading Lady in Homicidal and Twilight Zone

Actress Patricia Breslin died after a long illness in a Baltimore, Maryland, hospital on October 12, 2011. She was 80.  Breslin was born in New York City on March 17, 1931. She began her career on the New York stage and made her television debut as Juliet in a 1949 production of Romeo and Juliet". She also appeared in episodes of "The Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse", "Broadway Television Theatre" in a 1952 production of "Rebecca", "Kraft Theatre", "Suspense", "Hallmark Hall of Fame", "Armstrong Circle Theatre", "The Mask", "Studio One", "The Web", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "The Best of Broadway" in "Arsenic and Old Lace" in 1955, "Justice", "Appointment with Adventure", "Schiltz Playhouse", and "Alcoa Theatre". She starred as Mandy Miller on the comedy series "The People’s Choice" with Jackie Cooper from 1955 to 1958. She continued to appear in such series as "Maverick", "The Millionaire", "The Rifleman", "The Rebel", "The New Breed", "Tales of Wells Fargo", "Adventures in Paradise", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Thriller", "Bonanza", "Stoney Burke", "Saints and Sinners", "Perry Mason", "Twilight Zone" guest starring with William Shatner in the 1960 episode "Nick of Time", "The Dick Powell Theatre", "Dr. Kildare", "The Greatest Show on Earth", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", and "The Virginian". She starred as Laura Brooks in the prime-time soap opera "Peyton Place" from 1964 to 1965, and was Nurse Meg Bentley on the daytime soap "General Hospital" in 1966. She appeared in several films including "Go, Man, Go!" (1954), "Andy Hardy Comes Home" (1958), the William Castle thriller "Homicidal" (1961) as Miriam, Webster, and "I Saw What You Did" (1965). She married NFL team owner Art Modell in 1969, and returned from acting. She and her husband were active in the arts and philanthropy in Cleveland where he owned the Cleveland Browns. She continued her philanthropic endeavors when Modell moved his football team to Baltimore in 1996.

COBINA WRIGHT, JR - Charlie Chan Star

Actress Cobina Wright, Jr., who starred in a handful of films in the early 1940s, died in Solvang, California, on September 1, 2011. She was 90.  Wright was born in New York City on August 14, 1921. Her mother was society columnist Cobina Wright, Sr., who pushed her daughter into a career in show business. She worked as a model and performed on radio. She was also featured in the films "Small Town Deb" (1941), "Murder Among Friends" (1941), "Moon Over Miami" (1941), "Accent on Love" (1941), "Charlie Chan in Rio" (1941), "Week-End in Havana" (1941), "Right to the Heart" (1942), "Footlight Serenade" (1942), and "Something to Shout About" (1943). She married Palmer Beaudette in 1941, and soon retired from show business to raise a family. She was widowed when Beaudette died in 1968.

MARILYN NASH - Chaplin Leading Lady

with Chaplin

 

Actress Marilyn Nash, who was Charles Chaplin’s leading lady in the 1947 film "Monsieur Verdoux", died on October 8, 2011. She was 84.  Nash was born in Detroit, Michigan, in October of 1926. She met Chaplin while visiting Los Angeles in the late 1940s, and he cast her as Girl in "Monsieur Verdoux". Nash made only one further film, the 1951 sci-fi feature "Unknown World". She also appeared in episodes of "Hopalong Cassidy" and "Medic", and performed in numerous stage productions. Her first husband was screenwriter and producer Philip Yordan. She later was featured in the 2007 documentary "Spine Tingler! The William Castle Story", about the exploitation film legend who had been a friend of her and her husband.



CHARLES NAPIER - Star Trek Hippie & Hannibal Lecter Victim

Veteran character actor Charles Napier, whose career ranged from "hero" in Russ Meyer's sexploitation classics, to Hannibal Lecter's victim in "Silence of the Lambs", died in a Bakersfield, California, hospital on October 5, 2011. He was 75. Napier was born in Scottsville, Kentucky, on April 12, 1936. He began his career in the late 1960s, and was noted for his roles in such cult exploitation classics as "Cherry, Harry & Raquel!" (1970), "Beyond the Valley of the Dolls" (1970), and "Supervixens" (1975) for director Russ Meyer. His numerous film credits also include "The Hanging Jake Ellis" (1969), "The Seven Minutes" (1971), "Love and Kisses" (1971), "Moonfire" (1973), "Thunder and Lightning" (1977), "Handle With Care" (1977), "Last Embrace" (1979), "The Blues Brothers" (1980) as dim-witted country singer Tucker McElroy, "Melvin and Howard" (1980), "Wacko" (1982), "China Lake" (1983), "In Search of a Golden Sky" (1984), "Swing Shift" (1984), "Rambo: First Blood Part II" (1985) as the villain Murdock, "Instant Justice" (1986), "Something Wild" (1986), "The Night Stalker" (1987), "Camping del Terrore" (1987), "Deep Space" (1988), "Married to the Mob" (1988), "Hit List" (1989), "Alien from the Deep" (1989), "One Man Force" (1989), "The Last Match" (1990), "Cop Target" (1990), "After the Condor" (1990), "Dragonfight" (1990), "Ernest Goes to Jail" (1990), "Miami Blues" (1990), "Future Zone" (1990), "Maniac Cop 2" (1990), "The Grifters" (1990), "Killer Instinct" (1991), "Under Surveillance" (1991)

 "The Silence of the Lambs" (1991) as Hannibal Lecter victim Lt. Bill Boyle, "Indio 2 - La Rivolta" (1991), "Soldier’s Fortune" (1991), "Lonely Hearts" (1991), "Frogtown II" (1992), "Center of the Web" (1992), "Mean Tricks" (1992), "Eyes of the Beholder" (1992), "National Lampoon’s Loaded Weapon 1" (1993), "Skeeter" (1993), "Philadelphia" (1993) as Judge Garnett, "Silent Fury" (1994), "Body Shot" (1994), "To Die, To Sleep" (1994), "Silk Degrees" (1994), "Raw Justice" (1994), "Savage Land" (1994), "Fatal Choice" (1995), "Felony" (1995), "Hard Justice" (1995), "Ripper Man" (1995), "3 Ninjas Knuckle Up" (1995), "Jury Duty" (1995), "Ballistic" (1995), "Alien Species" (1996), "Billy Lone Bear" (1996), "Expert Witness" (1996), "Original Gangstas" (1996), "The Cable Guy" (1996), "No Small Ways" (1997), "Macon County Jail" (1997), "Riot" (1997), "Austin Powers: International Man of Mystery" (1997), "Steel" (1997), "Centurion Force" (1998), "Armstrong" (1998), "Second Chances" (1998), "Beloved" (1998), "Los Gringos" (1999), "Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me" (1999), "The Big Tease" (1999), "Pirates of the Plain" (1999), "Lima: Breaking the Silence" (1999), "Never Look Back" (2000), "Cypress Edge" (2000), "Very Mean Men" (2000), "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" (2000), "The Thief and the Stripper" (2000), "Forgive Me Father" (2001), "The Hunter’s Moon" (2001), "Down ‘n Dirty" (2001), "Extreme Honor" (2001), "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" (2002) as the voice of Roy, "Dinocroc" (2004), "The Manchurian Candidate" (2004), "Lords of Dogtown" (2005), "Suits On the Loose" (2005), "The Kid & I" (2005), "Annapolis" (2006), "Your Name Here" (2008), "bgFATLdy" (2008), "One-Eyed Monster" (2008), "The River Bridge" (2008), "Shadowheart" (2009), "Life Blood" (2009), and "The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard" (2009). Napier appeared frequently on television from the 1960s. He was featured as Adam, an alien hippie, in the 1969 "Star Trek" episode "The Way to Eden". he was also seen in episodes of "Mannix", "Hogan’s Heroes", "Mission: Impossible", "Kojak", "The Streets of San Francisco", "Baretta", "The Rookies", "Black Sheep Squadron", "Delvecchio", "The Rockford Files", "The Oregon Trail" as Luther Sprague in 1977, "Starsky and Hutch", "B.J. and the Bear" in the recurring role of Hammer, "Walking Tall", "Concrete Cowboys", "Private Benjamin", "The Incredible Hulk", "Seven Brides For Seven Brothers", "Knight Rider", "Simon & Simon", "CHiPs", "Tales of the Gold Monkey", "Dallas" in the recurring role of Carl Daggett, "Gun Shy", "The Dukes of Hazzard", "Night Court", "Wiz Kids", "The A-Team", "Street Hawk", the sci-fi western "Outlaws" as Wolfson Lucus in 1986, "Guns Of Paradise", "L.A. Law", "The Golden Palace", "Renegade", "Coach", "Rebel Highway", "Murder, She Wrote", "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman", "Hudson Street", "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine", "Pacific Blue", "George & Leo", "Party of Five", "The Magician", "Walker, Texas Ranger", "Roswell", "Diagnosis Murder", "The Practice", "Son of the Beach", "The 4400", "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation", "Monk", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and "Cold Case". He also appeared in the tele-films "Alien Attack" (1976), "Ransom for Alice!" (1977), "Big Bob Johnson and His Fantastic Speed Circus" (1978), "Gridlock" (1980), "The Blue and the Gray" (1982), "The Outlaws" (1984), "The Cartier Affair" (1984), "The Incredible Hulk Returns" (1988), "War and Remembrance" (1989), "Treacherous Crossing" (1992), "John Carpenter Presents Body Bags" (1996), " Max Is Missing" (1995), "Trash" (2003), and "Fielder’s Choice" (2005). Napier was also a popular voice actor in animated productions, with roles in "The Critic" as Duke Phillips, "The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest", "Jumanji", "Superman" as General Hardcastle, "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command", "Men in Black: The Series" as Zed, "God, the Devil and Bob", "The Legend of Tarzan", "The Mummy: Secrets of the Medjai", "Justice League", "The Simpsons", "The Batman", "Squidbillies", "Ned’s Declassified", "School Survival Guide", and "Archer". His autobiography, "Square Jaw and Big Heart", was released earlier in 2011.



BETTY LUSTER - MST3000's Mr. B Natural

Dancer Better Luster died in Florida on May 25, 2011. She was 89.  She was born on April 27, 1922. She began performing with a dance troupe in the late 1930s, and was featured in a small role on Broadway in a 1940 production of Irving Berlin’s "Louisiana Purchase". She was a hostess for the 1950 television gameshow "Sing It Again", and was a regular performer on the variety series "Seven at Eleven". She returned to Broadway in "The Wayward Saint" in 1955. She became best known for her title role in 1957’s "Mr. B Natural" as a hep pixie who encourages high school students to pursue music in an educational short sponsored by a musical instrument manufacturer. The short achieved fame when it was included in a 1991 episode of "Mystery Science Theater 3000". Luster retired from show business in the late 1950s.

ANDREW LASZLO - Star Trek V Cinematographer

 

Cinematographer Andrew Laszlo died in Montana on October 7, 2011. He was 85.  Laszlo was born in Papa, Hungary, on January 12, 1926. He began working as a camera apprentice at a Budapest film studio prior to World War II. He and his family were sent to a Nazi concentration camp during the war, and he was the only survivor. He came to the United States in 1947 and worked as a freelance photographer. He served in the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a combat photographer during the Korean War. Laszlo produced industrial films before becoming a camera operator and cinematographer for television in the late 1950s, working on such series as "The Phil Silvers Show", "Naked City", and "Coronet Blue". He made his feature film debut as cinematographer for 1964’s "One Potato, Two Potato", and filmed the 1966 documentary "The Beatles at Shea Stadium". He also photographed the films "You’re a Big Boy Now" (1966), "The Night They Raided Minsky’s" (1968), "Popi" (1969), "The Out of Towners" (1970), "Lovers and Other Strangers" (1970), "The Owl and the Pussycat" (1970), "Jennifer on My Mind" (1971), "To Find a Man" (1972), "Class of ‘44" (1973), "Cool Red" (1976), "Thieves" (1977), "Somebody Killed Her Husband" (1978), "The Warriors" (1979), "The Funhouse" (1981), "Southern Comfort" (1981), "I, the Jury" (1982), "First Blood" (1982), "Streets of Fire" (1984), "Thief of Hearts" (1984), "That’s Dancing!" (1985), "Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins" (1985), "Poltergeist II: The Other Side" (1986), "Innerspace" (1987), "Star Trek V: The Final Frontier" (1989), "Ghost Dad" (1990), and "Newsies" (1992). He also filmed the television productions "Teacher, Teacher" (1969), "Back Water Gold" (1970), "The Man Without a Country" (1973) which earned him an Emmy Award nomination, "Miracle on 34th Street" (1973), "Hunters of the Reef" (1978), "The Dain Curse" (1978), "Top of the Hill" (1980), the 1980 mini-series "Shogun" earning another Emmy nomination, "Thin Ice:" (1981), and "Love Is Forever" (1983).

DAVID HESS - Last House on the Left Arch-Villain

Actor and songwriter David Hess died on October 8, 2011. He as 69.  Hess was born in New York City on September 19, 1942. He began his career as a singer songwriter in the 1950s under the name David Hill. He for worked Shalimar Music where he penned such songs as "Start Movin’" for Sal Mineo, "Rockin’ Shoes" for the Ames Brothers, and several tunes for Elvis Presley. He wrote and recorded "Speedy Gonzales" under the name David Dante in 1962. He joined Mercury records later in the decade, where he wrote the rock opera "The Naked Carmen". He made his film debut in Wes Craven’s 1972 horror classic "The Last House on the Left", starring as the vile killer Krug Stillo. He also composed the soundtrack for the film. He worked frequently in Europe in the 1970s, and continued to be seen in such films as "Montana Trap" (1976), "The Swiss Conspiracy" (1976), "The Naked Prey" (1977), "Avalanche Express" (1979), "House on the Edge of the Park" (1980),

 "Swamp Thing" (1982) as Ferret, "White Star" (1983), "Armed and Dangerous" (1986), "Let’s Get Harry" (1986), "Camping del Terrore" (1987), "SindromeVeneziana" (1989), "Omicidio a Luci Blu" (1991), "Buck ai Confini del Cielo" (1991), "Jonathan Degli Orsi" (1995), "Nutcracker" (2001), "Zombie Nation" (2004), "Zodiac Killer" (2005), "The Absence of Light" (2006), "Used" (2007), "Go Together" (2007), and "Smash Cut" (2009). Hess was also seen in the tele-film "21 Hours at Munich" (1976), "Jacqueline Susann’s Valley of the Dolls" (1981), "Sadat" (1983), "Ocean" (1989), and "A Fatal Assignment" (1991). His other television credits include episodes of "Baretta", "Knight Rider", "Manimal", "The Fall Guy", "The A-Team", "Noi Siamo Angeli", and "Royal Pains". He also continued his music career, releasing two albums in the 2000’s.



APRIL DERLETH - Arkham House Heir



with brother Walden



The Arkham House Logo

April Derleth, the president and co-owner of Arkham House publishers, died at the family home in Saul City, Wisconsin, on March 21, 2011. She was 56.  She was born on August 9, 1954, the daughter of horror author and Arkham House co-founder August Derleth. Arkham House was founded by Derleth and Donald Wandrei in 1939, and developed a cult following by publishing many of the early works of H.P. Lovecraft and other horror authors. Derleth ran the company until his death in 1971. April graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1977, and took over as president and CEO of Arkham in 1994. She and her brother, Walden, were co-owners of the publishing house, which also served to keep her father’s works in print.

GEORGE BAKER - Leading British Actor in Return of the Fly, I, Claudius and The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

British actor George Baker, who starred as Chief Inspector Wexford in the television series "The Ruth Rendell Mysteries" for over a decade, died of complications from pneumonia and a stroke on October 7, 2011. He was 80.  Baker was born in Varna, Bulgaria, where his father was an English businessman and diplomat, on April 1, 1931. He began his career on stage performing in repertory theater while in his teens. He toured with the Old Vic in the 1950s. He also began a long film career, with roles in "The Intruder" (1953), "The Ship the Died of Shame" (1955), "The Dam Busters" (1955), "The Woman For Joe" (1955), "The Extra Day" (1956), "The Feminine Touch" (1956), "Hell in Korea" (1956), "These Dangerous Years" (1957), "No Time For Tears" (1957), "The Moonraker" (1957), "Tread Softly Stranger" (1958), "Sword of Lancelot" (1963) as Sir Gawaine, "The Finest hours" (1964), the 1965 sci-fi thriller "Curse of the Fly" as Martin Delambre, "Mister Ten Per Cent" (1967), "You Only Live Twice" (1967), "Justine" (1969), "Goodbye, Mr. Chips" (1969), the 1969 James Bond film "On Her Majesty’s Secret Service", "The Executioner" (1970), "A Warm December" (1973), "Three For All" (1975), "The Spy Who Loved Me" (1977), "Intimate Games" (1978), "The Thirty Nine Steps" (1978), "ffolkes" (1979), "Hopscotch" (1980), "Out of Order" (1987), "For Queen and Country" (1988), and "Back to the Secret Garden" (2001). He frequently appeared on television throughout his career with roles in productions of "The Willful Widow" (1956), "Doomsday For Dyson" (1958), "The Truth About Melandrinos" (1958), "Nick of the River" (1959) as Detective Inspector Nick Nixon, "Rupert of Hentzau" (1964), "Curtain of Fear" (1964), "The Master" (1966), "The Queen and Jackson" (1966), "Candida" (1971), "I, Claudius" (1976) as Tiberius, "Vintage Murder" (1977), "Colour Scheme" (1977), "Ngaio Marsh’s Opening Night" (1977), "Bird Fancier" (1983), "The Secret Adversary" (1983), "Goodbye Mr. Chips" (1984), "We’ll Support You Evermore" (1985), "A Woman of Substance" (1985), "If Tomorrow Comes" (1986), "At Bertram’s Hotel" (1987), "The Canterville Ghost" (1987), "Journey’s End" (1988), "Johnny and the Dead" (1995), and "Little Lord Fauntleroy" (1995).

 


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with wife Louie Ramsey

His other television credits include the series "The Dickie Henderson Show", "ITV Play of the Week", "Maigret", "Zero One", "It Happen Like This", "The Full Man", "Thursday Theatre", "Gideon C.I.D.", "Drama ‘65", "Undermind", "Londoners", "The Wednesday Play, "The Baron", "Half Hour Story", "The Prisoner" as the new Number Two in the 1967 premier episode, "Thirty-Minute Theatre", "Armchair Theatre", "ITV Playhouse", "Harry Worth", "The Sex Game", "Kate", "Paul Temple", "Doomwatch", "Up Pompeii!", "The Goodies", "Fraud Squad", "The Persuaders!", "The Main Chance", "The Man Outside", "New Scotland Yard", "The Fenn Street Gang", "Some Mothers Do ‘Ave "Em", "The Protectors", "Bowler" as Stanley Bowler in 1973, "Zodiac", "Dial M for Murder", "Survivors", "Spy Trap", "Hudson & Halls", "Z Cars", "Get Some In !", "Softly, Softly: Task Force", "Three Piece Suite", "Empire Road", "Square Mile of Murder", "Lady Killers", "Doctor Who" as Login in the 1980 "Full Circle" serial, "Jackanory Playhouse", "Crown Court", "Goodbye Darling", "The Gentle Touch", "Q.E.D.", "The Chinese Detective", "Triangle" as David West from 1982 to 1983, "Spyship", "Hart to Hart", "Marjorie and Men", "Dead Head", "Robin of Sherwood" in the recurring role of Sir Richard of Leaford, "Screen Two", "The Charmer", "Bergerac", and "Minder". Baker starred as Detective Chief Inspector Reg Wexford on "Ruth Rendell Mysteries" from 1987 through 2000, and was Godfrey Eagan on "No Job for A lady" from 1990 to 1991. His later television credits include episodes of "Randall & Hopkirk (Deceased)", "Coronation Street", "Midsomer Murders", "MI-5" (aka. "Spooks" ), "Heartbeat", and "New Tricks". His third wife, actress Louie Ramsey, played his wife Dora on the "Ruth Rendell Mysteries". She died earlier in 2011.

The Dead Zone - DIANE CILENTO - Australian Leading Lady and Star of "The Wicker Man"

DIANE CILENTO - Australian Leading Lady and Star of "The Wicker Man"

Australian actress Diane Cilento, who was a leading star in British films and television in the 1960s, died on October 6, 2011. She was 78.  Cilento was born in Brisbane, Australia, on October 5, 1933, the daughter of two leading medical practitioners. She lived with her father in New York while in her teens, where she began working on stage productions. She earned a scholarship to London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in the early 1950s. She was nominated for a Tony Award in 1956 for her role as Helen of Troy in a production of Jean Giraudoux’s "Tiger at the Gates". She also appeared in the films "All Hallowe’en" (1952), "Dead on Course" (1952), "Moulin Rouge" (1952), "Meet Mr. Lucifer" (1953), "Passing Strange" (1954), "Passage Home" (1955), "The Woman for Joe" (1955), "The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp" (1956), "A Novel Affair" (1957), "Paradise Lagoon" (aka "The Admirable Crichton") (1957), "The Truth About Women" (1957), "Jet Storm" (1959), "Stop Me Before I Kill!" (1960), "The Naked Edge" (1961), and "I Thank a Fool" (1962). She was also seen on television in productions of "A Tomb with a View" (1951), "The Taming of the Shrew" (1956) for "Hallmark Hall of Fame", "Anna Christie" (1957), "The Concert" (1959), "Rain" (1960), "Vanity Fair" (1961), and "Jeannette" (1961), and episodes of "Espionage", "ITV Play of the Week", "Blackmail", "Court Martial", and "Thirty-Minute Theatre". She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Molly Seagrim in Tony Richardson’s 1963 film version of Henry Fielding’s ribald novel "Tom Jones". Cilento married James Bond star Sean Connery in 1962, and her acting career was often overshadowed by their frequently tempetuous relationship. She continued to appear in such films as "The Third Secret" (1964), "Rattle of a Simple Man" (1964), "Once Upon a Tractor" (1965), "The Agony and the Ecstasy" (1965) as Contessina de Medicini opposite Charlton Heston’s Michelangelo, "Hombre" (1967) with Paul Newman, and "Negatives" (1967). She was also body double for Mie Hama in underwater scenes in 1967’s "You Only Live Twice", starring Connery as James Bond. She was featured on British television in the 1968 "Late Night Horror" production of "The Kiss of Blood", and was Lady Sarah Bellasize in "Rogues’ Gallery" in 1969. She starred in the 1972 sci-fi film "Z.P.G." and was Hann Reitsch in "Hitler: The Last Ten Days" in 1973. She also starred in the tele-film "Spell of Evil" (1973), and episodes of "The Persuaders!" and "Affairs of the Heart". She and Connery divorced in 1973. 

 She subsequently starred as the pagan school teacher, Miss Rose, in the cult classic "The Wicker Man" (1973) starring Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward. Cilento starred as Diana Clark in the 1978 series "Tycoon", and in the television productions "Big Toys" (1980) and "For the Term of His Natural Life" (1983). She was also seen in the films "Duet for Four" (1982) and "The Boy Who Had Everything" (1985), co-starring with her son, Jason Connery. She starred as Authoritax in the 1994 series "Halfway Across the Galaxy and Turn Left". Cilento met playwright Anthony Shaffer while working on "The Wicker Man" in the early 1970s, and they married in 1985. They remained together until Shaffer’s death in 2001. She penned her autobiography, "My Nine Live", in 2006.