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Wallace Gusler
Biography
Wallace Gusler is a native Virginian who grew up in Fort Lewis Hollow at the foot of Fort Lewis Mountain in Roanoke, County. Living practically in the shadow of Andrew Lewis’s French and Indian War fort could have been what sparked Wallace’s interest in the frontier and longrifles but it wasn’t. Despite their name, Fort Lewis School largely ignored this local history. Instead it was the “arrowheads” that he found in plowed fields that inspired Wallace’s fascination first with Indians, then with the Virginia frontier. In about 1954 Wallace’ father, Lester Gusler, decided to replace a family longrifle burned in a house fire years earlier. He purchased a full-stocked, iron-mounted, .32 caliber, squirrel rifle and, when he had trouble getting the old percussion rifle to fire, Wallace asked if he could try it. Mr. Gusler handed it over and, as they say, “the rest is history.” While many events come together to shape the direction of a person’s life, having that rifle to shoot and hunt with had a huge influence on Wallace and this writer, who was at the time his neighbor.
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John Friedrich
Biography
John Friedrich (b. March 15, 1958, California) is an American film actor. A talented and enigmatic character actor of the 1970s and early 1980s, John Friedrich is probably best known for his portrayal of Joey Capra in The Wanderers (1979), Philip Kaufman's film adaption of Richard Price's novel. A familiar face on television throughout the '70s, Friedrich made guest starring appearances on the police drama series, Baretta, and The Streets of San Francisco. He also had a strong supporting role in the John Travolta telefilm, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. In 1984 Friedrich played the lead role of Marshall Weatherly in The Paper Chase episode "Not Prince Hamlet". In 1978, he appeared in the much-criticized disco film, Thank God It's Friday. The year later he was cast as Joey in The Wanderers. In 1982, he worked alongside James Woods in the prison drama, Fast-Walking, in which he portrayed a gay convict called "Squeeze." Another of Friedrich's most recognizable roles was as Frank Cleary, the oldest of the Cleary brothers, in the 1983 mini-series, The Thorn Birds; based on the novel by Colleen McCullough. In both The Thorn Birds, and Friedrich's final film release, The Final Terror, he worked with the British actress Rachel Ward. After working in The Thorn Birds, Friedrich ended his film career. The Final Terror, which was filmed in 1980 under the title Three Blind Mice, was released (after Friedrich's retirement) due to the popularity of its female leads: Rachel Ward and Daryl Hannah. At the peak of his career with The Thorn Birds; Friedrich retired to New Mexico, married, started a family, and began a career as a financial consultant.[1] He also became something of a cult icon as his films developed a cult following. Rumors persisted about him, including one recurring myth that he was working as a live-in gardener for his Wanderers co-star, Ken Wahl,[2] who had gone on to success in the television series Wiseguy. There has also been confusion between the film actor, and an Australian criminal and former government official of the same name who committed suicide in 1991. At least one website, listing actors (Answers.com) has claimed that the actor and the criminal, John Friedrich, are one and the same.[3] In 2007, Friedrich resurfaced when he appeared on stage at the University of Hawai'i to discuss his films with UH professor, Marc Moody. During this stage appearance, Friedrich shared anecdotes of his decade-long career and commented that he would like to return to acting, to "complete that chapter" in his life.[4]
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Philippe Vuillemin
Biography
Philippe Vuillemin (born 1958 in Marseilles, France) is a French cartoonist.
His father was inspector for music royalties organization Sacem who along with his son travelled around the country to collect fees. Vuillemin, between 11 and 15 years old, spent time away from his Marseilles birthplace in Corsica and Orléans. He subsequently recalled he "got horny for the first time at 13 years old over a story by Crumb.” At 18 he went to Paris, where he shaved his head and joined a punk rock band, while unloading trucks six hours a day.
Around 1977, Vuillemin began his work in the field of comics with short stories published in L'Écho des savanes, Hara-Kiri, and Charlie Mensuel. From his start, he was drawing in "bold and rough lines", similar to the style of Jean-Marc Reiser or even Jack Davis. This being the opposite of the ligne claire ("clear line") of cartoonists such as Hergé, critics called it ligne crade ("filthy line"), a term Vuillemin characterized as bêta ("stupido").
In the 1980s, he worked for L'Hebdo of Switzerland, Zoulou magazine, and other publications.
In 1988, Vuillemin published the comic series Hitler = SS on a Jean-Marie Gourio scenario. Both artists were subsequently indicted for "complicity in racial injury" and tried at the 17th correctional tribunal of Paris. They were represented by high-profile criminal lawyer Thierry Lévy who'd previously defended members of terrorist group Action directe . The two defendants received a symbolic penalty of 1 franc but the work was banned in its serial version, while the integral, album version was prohibited to minors and not allowed to be exhibited anywhere.
In 1995, Vuillemin won the Grand Prix of the city of Angoulême, a decision that angered jury member Belgian cartoonist and Lucky Luke creator Morris who left the award ceremony in protest.
In 2015, he joined the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.
Vuillemin starred in René Féret's 1985 drama The Mystery of Alexina. He also acted in Claude Confortès' Paulette, la pauvre petite milliardaire (Paulette, the poor little millionairess), which featured other cartoonists as well, such as Gébé, Georges Pichard, Georges Wolinski, Siné, and Willem.
Source: Article "Philippe Vuillemin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
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Tony Winward
Biography
Tony Winward is a North East–based photographer from Middlesbrough, known for his passion for railways and transport photography. Since picking up a camera in the early 2010s, he has built a large and distinctive portfolio capturing locomotives, heritage railways, and the industrial landscapes of the region. His work is regularly shared online through platforms like Flickr, YouTube, and social media, where his detailed, atmospheric images have gained a loyal following and have even been featured by regional broadcasters. Blending creativity with a lifelong enthusiasm for trains, Tony has become a familiar and respected figure within the local rail-enthusiast and photography communities.
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Sean Connery
Biography
Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020) was a Scottish actor and producer. He won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards (one being a BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award), and three Golden Globes, including the Cecil B. DeMille Award and a Henrietta Award. Connery was the first actor to portray the character James Bond in film, starring in seven Bond films (every film from Dr. No to You Only Live Twice, plus Diamonds Are Forever and Never Say Never Again), between 1962 and 1983. In 1988, Connery won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in The Untouchables. His films also include Marnie (1964), Murder on the Orient Express (1974), The Man Who Would Be King (1975), A Bridge Too Far (1977), Highlander (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for Red October (1990), Dragonheart (1996), The Rock (1996), and Finding Forrester (2000).
Connery was polled in a 2004 The Sunday Herald as "The Greatest Living Scot" and in a 2011 EuroMillions survey as "Scotland's Greatest Living National Treasure". He was voted by People magazine as both the “Sexiest Man Alive" in 1989 and the "Sexiest Man of the Century” in 1999. He received a lifetime achievement award in the United States with a Kennedy Center Honor in 1999. Connery was knighted in the 2000 New Year Honours for services to film drama.
On October 31, 2020, Connery died at the age of 90.
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Corey Parker
Biography
Corey Parker (July 8, 1965 – March 5, 2026) was an American actor and acting coach. He grew up in and around the theater. A native of New York City, he began working as an actor at age 5 and training at the age of 14 with teachers from the Actors Studio. He graduated from the High School of Performing Arts in Manhattan. He has appeared on every major network — with leading roles on ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, UPN, and supporting roles on PBS, BBC, HBO, MTV, USA. He has worked at Paramount, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers, Miramax, Lorimar, and Viacom. Corey is a member of the Ensemble Studio Theater in New York and Los Angeles, and has worked with Chicago's Steppenwolf Theater Company, with Joe Papp at the Public Theater, and has a long list of productions in which he has appeared in New York and at the Mark Taper in Los Angeles.
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Steve Richard Harris
Biography
Steve Richard Harris is an American actor. His soap debut started on the now-defunct Another World where he played Zak Wilder, the mysterious sidekick of villain Jordan Stark, from 1998-1999. He also replaced Brandon Routh as the second Seth Anderson on One Life to Live.
He has played a gardener in Sex and the City, where he had an interesting encounter with Charlotte; a uniform cop in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and a small part on Femme Fatales.
In 2001, he appeared in the independent film Ordinary Madness. He has also appeared in the New York production of Tony & Tina's Wedding, as well as numerous other stage productions at New York's Musical Theatre Works. He has appeared in several TV movies. He wrote and co-directed the short film Signal Lost.
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John Marrs
Biography
John Marrs is an American actor currently based in Tombstone Arizona. His rugged looks and ability to handle guns and horses have led to many roles in western movies. This multi-talented former lawman and soldier started out in films as a technical advisor and firearms instructor. It wasn't long before he found his way in front of the camera. Besides acting, he enjoys working on other aspect of film making. He has credits as horse wrangler, armorer, writer and assistant director, to name a few.
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Joël Jent
Biography
Joël Jent was born in Switzerland in 1983. He grew up in a Christian cult. The day he turned 18 he packed his belongings in a bag, threw it on his motorcycle and took off into an uncertain future. He pursued a program of study in film, political science and social history at University of Zurich, which he completed in 2010 (Master of Arts). He then worked briefly as a journalist. Since 2003, Joël Jent has written THE BLIND FERRYMAN (2024), EATING THE SILENCE (2021), WINDOWLESS (2019) and produced several short- and feature films (THE SAINT OF THE IMPOSSIBLE, BAGHDAD IN MY SHADOW, FACING MECCA, BON VOYAGE, IRAQI ODYSSEY). He directs documentary and fiction, i.e. EATING THE SILENCE, VIVRE LE PIANO and DÉSAMOUR and is a winner of the SSA grant (Société Suisse des Auteurs). Joël Jent is a member of the European- and the Swiss Film Academy and alumnus of IDFA Project Space (2025), IDFAcademy (2024), EsoDoc European Social Documentary (2023), the Hezayah Screenwriting Lab (2021) and Cannes Producer on the Move Program (2016). He is father to one son and works as an independent filmmaker and screenwriter in Zurich. His future is still uncertain.
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Hà Xuyên
Biography
Hà Xuyên (b. 1956, Thai Binh province) is a Vietnamese dancer, film and television actress. She is best known for her role as the spy Ngọc Mai in the film series "Saigon Rangers" (Biệt động Sài Gòn), and as Hà in "Near and Far" (Xa và gần). She was awarded the title of Distinguished Artist by the State.
In 1970, when she was in grade eight, Hà Xuyên was invited by her sister to join the Thai Binh Dance Company and became a professional solo dancer, even though she wasn't then old enough to join the payroll and had to alter her birthdate to 1954 on paper. In 1981, she met director Huy Thành and a year later was cast for the lead role in his film "Xa và gần"; the role brought her the Best Actress Award at the 8th Vietnam Film Festival in Da Nang. She continued her success with the 1986 film series "Saigon Rangers". That same year she attended the Tasken-Moscow Film Festival with the crew of "Where the Dawn Birds Sang" (Nơi bình minh chim hót). A later successful feature film she starred in was "Girl on the River" (Cô gái trên sông).
In 1997, when the City's Opera House was restored, Hà Xuyên transferred to work for the Center Art and Archives of Vietnamese Cinema, in the Film Distribution Department.
In 2001 she starred in the TV series "Three Times and Once" (Ba lần và một lần). In that same year, she was awarded the title of Outstanding Artist by the State and represented Vietnam to attend the Golden Rooster Awards in China. In 2002, she achieved recognition for her role as Tư Lê's wife in of "Heaven's Net" (Lưới trời), a very difficult role because of its minimal screen time. She continues to appear in film series from 2000 onwards.
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