Trending

Popular people

Sean Connery

Biography

Sir Thomas Sean Connery (August 25, 1930 – October 31, 2020) was a Scottish actor and producer who 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 31 October 2020, it was announced that Connery had died at the age of 90. Description above from the Wikipedia article Sean Connery, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia
Read more

Yvan Chiffre

Biography

Yvan Chiffre (3 March 1936 – 27 September 2016) was a French director, producer, and stunt coordinator. He is the father of Philippe Chiffre, Romain Chiffre and the grand father of César Chiffre. He was the stunt coordinator of Thunderball and Triple Cross by Terence Young, Is Paris Burning? by René Clément, Z by Costa Gavras, Hotel Paradiso by Peter Glenville. He was also the official stunt double of Jean Marais and Alain Delon, was stunt man on the Longest Day, and stunt double of Cary Grant in Charade, Sterling Hayden in Poppies Are Also Flowers, Eddie Constantine in Lucky Jo and many others... He also contributed to major French films like Zorro by Duccio Tessari, La Grande Vadrouille by Gérard Oury, Le Cercle Rouge by Jean-Pierre Melville, and more than 200 others. In 1992, he published an autobiography A l'ombre des stars, about his stuntman life. In 2014, he received in Paris the UNESCO prize. In 2017, the Academy Award, Oscars In Memoriam honors Yvan Chiffre for his life achievement. Source: Article "Yvan Chiffre" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Read more

Martin L. Demaine

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Martin L. (Marty) Demaine (born 1942) is an artist and mathematician, the Angelika and Barton Weller artist in residence at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Demaine attended Medford High School in Medford, Massachusetts. After studying glassblowing in England, he began his artistic career by blowing art glass in New Brunswick in the early 1970s. The Demaine Studio, located in Miramichi Bay and later at Opus Village in Mactaquac, was the first one-man glass studio in Canada, part of the international studio glass movement. Demaine's pieces from this period are represented in the permanent collections of half a dozen major museums including the Canadian Museum of Civilization and the National Gallery of Canada. Since joining MIT, Demaine has begun blowing glass again, as an instructor at the MIT Glass Lab; his newer work features innovative glassblowing techniques intended as a puzzle to his fellow glassblowers. Martin Demaine is the father of MIT Computer Science professor and MacArthur Fellow Erik Demaine; in 1987 (when Erik was six) they together founded the Erik and Dad Puzzle Company which distributed puzzles throughout Canada. Erik was home-schooled by Martin, and although Martin never received any higher degree than his high school diploma, his home-schooling catapulted Erik to a B.S. at age 14 and a Ph.D. and MIT professorship at age 20, making him the youngest professor ever hired by MIT. The two Demaines continue to work closely together and have many joint works of both mathematics and art, including three pieces of mathematical origami in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art, New York; their joint mathematical works focus primarily on the mathematics of folding and unfolding objects out of flat materials such as paper and on the computational complexity of games and puzzles. Martin and Erik are also featured in the movie Between the Folds, a documentary on modern origami. Demaine is a citizen of both Canada and the United States. Description above from the Wikipedia article Martin Demaine, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Read more

Yu Ishino

Biography

is a retired Japanese female professional wrestler, who famously wrestled for Stardom. Yu was trained by Sendai Girls' Pro Wrestling. He joined in April 2008 after his junior high school graduation. He had an exhibition match against Ryo Mizunami on July 27th, 2008. He made her official debut on August 24th, 2008 against Chikayo Nagashima. In 2010, he changed her ring name from Yukari Ishino to Kagetsu. In 2015, He left Sendai Girls and became freelance. In April 2016, He debuted for Stardom as a member of Oedo Tai. On June 16, 2016, he teamed with Kyoko Kimura to capture the Goddess of Stardom Championship. The team held the titles until December 22nd, 2016, when they were defeated by Yoko Bito and Kairi Hojo. The team recaptured the titles on June 21, 2017 from Hiroyo Matsumoto and Jungle Kyona. e took a break from wrestling on April 13, 2017, but returned on June 11th, 2017. He then became an official member of the Stardom roster on November 1st, 2017. He also became the leader of Oedo Tai in 2017. On June 9th, 2018, He captured the World of Stardom Championship from Toni Storm. On May 13th, 2022, Ishino came out as a transgender man in a video posted in his channel where he announced that he changed his name from "Yukari" to "Yu" Ishino.
Read more

Anneke Wills

Biography

Anneke Wills is a British actress famous for playing Polly, the swinging sixties companion to the first and second Doctor in Doctor Who from 1966 to 1967. Other roles include Evelyn in the ITC drama The Strange Report (1969-1970) and guest appearances in The Avengers and Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased). Film roles include Anne in Some People (1962) and Angela in The Pleasure Girls (1965). From 1962 to 1979 she was married to Michael Gough but has subsequently twice remarried. The father of her first child was Anthony Newley, who left her for Joan Collins. In 1970 Wills effectively gave up acting to be a full time mum. Following her divorce from Gough, she left the UK in 1980 and lived in various places in the 16 years afterwards, including in Laos, Vietnam and India in the early 1980s, in the USA from 1983–1986, and in Canada from 1986–1996. She returned to live in the UK in 1996 and is a popular figure on the Doctor Who convention circuit. She has returned sporadically to acting for Doctor Who themed productions and has published three volumes of her memoirs: Self Portrait (2007), Naked (2009), and In Focus (2012).
Read more

AJ Lee

Biography

April Jeanette Mendez (or better known by her ring name: AJ Lee) is an American professional wrestler. She works for WWEunder the ring name AJ Lee, where she is the current WWE Divas Champion. Before signing with WWE, Mendez performed for several Northeast-based independent promotions as Miss April, including Women Superstars Uncensored (WSU), where she held the WSU Tag Team Championship once. After signing with the WWE in 2009, AJ was part of the third season of NXT in 2010, placing third in the competition. In 2012, after being involved in several relationships with wrestlers feuding over the WWE Championship and World Heavyweight Championship (CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, Dolph Ziggler, John Cena and Kane) while also becoming Raw General Manager for almost three months, AJ was named WWE's "Diva of the Year". At the Payback pay-per-view in June 2013, Lee won her first WWE Divas Championship by defeating her former best friend Kaitlyn. A self-professed "nerd" and a "tomboy". WWE adapted Mendez's comics and video game fandom to her on-screen character, endorsing her as different from the typical women in the WWE and promoting her as the "Geek Goddess".
Read more

Joanna Merlin

Biography

Joanna Merlin (born Joann Ratner; July 15, 1931) was an American actress and casting director who has worked with Stephen Sondheim and starred in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof. She has written two acting guides and is a faculty member of New York University's graduate acting program. In recent years, she has become known for her recurring role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Judge Lena Petrovsky. Joann Ratner, who later took her mother's maiden name, was born in Chicago, Illinois, to Toni Merlin and Harry Ratner, a Jewish grocer. Her family also included her older sister Harriet Glickman (1926-2020) who would go on to gain recognition for having helped persuade Charles Schulz to add a black character to his Peanuts strip. Merlin first acted on stage at age 11, joining a community theatre production, Too Many Marys. Merlin graduated from UCLA and later studied under Michael Chekhov, learning his world-renowned acting technique. She has been described as the last student of Michael Chekhov who is still alive and teaching. Merlin made her first screen appearance in Cecil B. DeMille's film The Ten Commandments in 1956. Five years later, she made her Broadway debut in Becket before playing Tzeitel in Harold Prince's production of Fiddler on the Roof. She left the cast of Fiddler on the Roof before the end of its tour to take care of her two small children but Harold Prince gave her the opportunity to become involved in casting with a more flexible schedule. Company was the first musical for which Merlin served as the casting director. She was also in charge of casting for such plays as Follies, Evita and Sweeney Todd. In 1986, she served as casting director for the John Carpenter film, Big Trouble in Little China. After making appearances in several feature films, including the movie Fame, in which she played Miss Olivia Berg, a classical dance teacher; Merlin appeared in the NBC crime drama Law & Order in 1992 as a defense attorney. Like many actors from that show, she went on to play other characters in the Law & Order franchise - another defense attorney in the original show and a more recurring role as Judge Lena Petrovsky, a judge who was very stern, by-the-book, and has scolded or sanctioned, at various times, ADAs Casey Novak (Diane Neal) and Alexandra Cabot (Stephanie March) and Detective (now Lieutenant) Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay), in its first spin-off Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In the latter role, she appeared in every season between the years 2000 and 2011. In 2001, Joanna Merlin wrote Auditioning: An Actor-Friendly Guide and in 2007, shared her knowledge of the theatre industry in the instructional video Master Classes in the Michael Chekhov Technique. She teaches in New York University's graduate acting program at the Tisch School of the Arts and in 1999, founded the Michael Chekhov Association where she teaches acting workshops. Source: Article "Joanna Merlin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Read more

Benno Sterzenbach

Biography

Benno Sterzenbach (born 3 March 1916 Osnabrück - died 13 September 1985 Feldafing) was a German cinema and theatre actor and director. His first major role on stage was Götz von Berlichingen at which he played next to Ellen Schwiers as Adelheid at the Jagsthausen festival. On television, he is mostly known for his roles in filmed theatrical adaptations: Der Richter und sein Henker (1957) by Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Der Schlaf der Gerechten (1962) by Albrecht Goes and Mirandolina (1963) by Carlo Goldoni. Suspected of espionage due to his editorial relations, he was arrested by the Gestapo in 1941, and imprisoned for a month, during which time he protested his innocence. He was eventually freed after his case was expedited. This episode was repeated in a number of his plays. With Paths in Twilight in 1948, he made his cinematic debut under the direction of Gustav Fröhlich. In 1960, he was in one of the first films by Edgar Wallace after the war: Der Rächer. In the same year, he was in Es ist soweit. In 1966, he acted alongside Heinz Reincke in one of the first German colour television series, Adrian der Tulpendieb. After acting in 1962 in Max the Pickpocket with Heinz Rühmann, in 1964 he played the role of a doctor in Flug in Gefahr, a film which started a long series of films based on plane crashes. Benno Sterzenbach found most success in the role of General Winston Woodrov Wamsler in Raumpatrouille – Die phantastischen Abenteuer des Raumschiffes Orion. After this, he was invited to series such as Die fünfte Kolonne, Derrick and The Old Fox. In France, he is best known for his role as Major Achbach in La Grande Vadrouille with Louis de Funès and Bourvil. Benno Sterzenbach has also written a number of books. Source: Article "Benno Sterzenbach" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.
Read more

Eileen Brennan

Biography

Eileen Brennan (September 3, 1932 – July 28, 2013) was an American actress who was known for her versatile performances in film, television, and theater. She was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Captain Doreen Lewis in the 1980 comedy film Private Benjamin. She also won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her role as Mrs. Hughes in the television series Newhart. Brennan was born in Los Angeles, California, and began her acting career in the theater. She made her Broadway debut in 1963 in the musical Little Mary Sunshine. She went on to appear in several other Broadway musicals, including Hello, Dolly! and Annie. Brennan made her film debut in the 1967 satire Divorce American Style. She followed this with supporting roles in the films The Last Picture Show (1971), The Cheap Detective (1978), and The First Wives Club (1996). She also starred in the films Clue (1985) and Sister Act (1992). In addition to her film and theater work, Brennan also had a successful television career. She appeared in numerous television shows, including The Mary Tyler Moore Show, The Bob Newhart Show, Cheers, and Will & Grace. She died on July 28, 2013, at the age of 80, from complications of multiple myeloma. Multiple myeloma is a type of cancer that affects plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection. Brennan was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2001. She underwent treatment, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy. She continued to work and act throughout her treatment, and she even appeared in the 2011 film The Big Year. In 2013, Brennan's health began to decline. She died on July 28, 2013, at her home in Los Angeles. She was survived by her husband, David John Lampson, and her daughter, Emily.
Read more

Christopher Lee

Biography

Christopher Lee (May 5, 1922 - June 7, 2015) was an English actor and musician. Lee initially portrayed villains and became famous for his role as Count Dracula in a string of Hammer Horror films. Other notable roles include Lord Summerisle in The Wicker Man (1973), Francisco Scaramanga in The Man with the Golden Gun (1974), Count Dooku in Star Wars episodes II and III (2002, 2005) and Saruman in The Lord of the Rings film trilogy (2001–2003). Lee considers his most important role to have been his portrayal of Pakistan's founder Muhammad Ali Jinnah in the biopic Jinnah (1998). He is well known for his deep, strong voice. Lee has performed roles in 266 films since 1948 making him the Guinness book world record holder for most film acting roles ever. He was knighted in 2009 and received the BAFTA Fellowship in 2011.
Read more