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.