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T. S. Balaiah
Biography
Tirunelveli S. Balaiah (August 22, 1914 – July 22, 1972) was a Tamil film actor best known for playing supporting roles in the Tamil film industry. He was introduced to the cine field by directorEllis R. Dungan in Sathi Leelavathi (1936), along with MGR, N.S.Krishnan and M.K. Radha. He was one of the very few actors who excelled as a villain, as well as in character roles and comic roles. Among his villain roles, Ambikapathy (1937), Madurai Veeran (1956), Hello Mr. Zamindar, andThiruvilayadal (1965) were classics. Balaiah also excelled in comedy roles in movies such asKavalai Illatha Manithan (1960), Kaadhalika Neramillai (1964), Bama Vijayam (1967) and Thillana Mohanambal (1968). Actor Sivaji Ganesan had once mentioned that Balaiah was his most admired actor.
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Ray Walston
Biography
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Ray Walston (December 2, 1914 – January 1, 2001) was an American stage, television and film actor best known as the title character on the 1960s situation comedy My Favorite Martian. In addition, he was also known for his role as high school teacher Mr. Hand in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Judge Henry Bone on the drama series Picket Fences.
Description above from the Wikipedia article Ray Walston, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
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Patsy Parsons
Biography
From Wikipedia
Patricia Parsons (June 9, 1931 – October 26, 2006), better
known as Patsy Parsons, sometimes credited as Patsy Lee Parsons, was an
American character actress who appeared in about a dozen films beginning in
1937.
She was born in Parkersburg, W.Va,. but moved to Hollywood
at age 5. She began acting at age 6, and mostly did child roles, notably in
Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942), starring James Cagney. But she is perhaps best
remembered for one of her few adult roles, as the evil space tyrant
"Cleolanthe" on the TV show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger in 1954.
Like many former child stars, Parsons had difficulty finding
good adult roles. She retired shortly after leaving Rocky Jones, Space Ranger,
making one last TV appearance on Science Fiction Theater in 1956. She was still
only in her mid-20s when she stopped acting.
Parsons had a busy post-entertainment career in California
as the wife of banker and community activist Solon Soteras. As Pat Soteras, she
worked at Pepperdine University and raised three children, Alexander,
Nickoletta and Anthony. She also wrote a weekly column for the Malibu Times. In
her later years, she was most remembered for her work with the Agoura/Oak Park/
Conejo Valley Chamber of Commerce where, as its executive director, she
increased membership eightfold.
In memory of her work with the chamber, the Patricia Soteras
scholarship fund was established.
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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
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Jim Cummings
Biography
Jim Cummings is a Los Angeles-based producer, writer, director, and actor.
Born on October 31, 1986 in New Orleans, he started his film career with multiple short films, including the 2016 short film THUNDER ROAD, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival. He later adapted it into a feature film of the same name, which won the Grand Jury Prize at the SXSW Film Festival in 2018. His next feature, THE WOLF OF SNOW HOLLOW, was released in 2020 to critical acclaim. He also co-directed a feature film with longtime collaborator PJ McCabe with 2021's THE BETA TEST, which screened at festivals such as the Berlin International Film Festival and the Tribeca Film Festival.
He's had numerous appearances in other films such as the surreal comedy GREENER GRASS and the horror film HALLOWEEN KILLS. He's also appeared in hit shows like Hulu's THE HANDMAID'S TALE and FX's DAVE.
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Shelley Duvall
Biography
Shelley Alexis Duvall (born July 7, 1949) is an American actress and producer known for her portrayals of distinct, often eccentric characters. She is the recipient of several accolades, including a Cannes Film Festival Award, a Peabody Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards.
Born in Texas, Duvall had no acting experience growing up in Houston. She was an honor student in school and sold perfumes at a department store, but being an actress never crossed her mind. Duvall recently quit a short stint studying science at a local college, when she was discovered by Robert Altman's crew at a party. Altman was impressed with her upbeat presence and cast her in Brewster McCloud (1970). Despite her hesitance towards becoming an actress, she continued to work with Altman, appearing in McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) and Thieves Like Us (1974). It was her involvement in Thieves that solidified her desire to pursue acting. Her breakthrough came with Altman's cult film Nashville (1975), and she earned widespread acclaim with the drama 3 Women (1977), as the self-absorbed Millie Lammoreaux, for which she won Best Actress at Cannes. That same year she appeared in a supporting role (as a reporter for Rolling Stone) in Woody Allen's satirical romantic comedy Annie Hall (1977) and hosted Saturday Night Live.
In the 1980s, Duvall became famous for her leading roles, which include Olive Oyl in Altman's live-active feature version of Popeye (1980) and in Stanley Kubrick's horror film The Shining (1980) as Wendy Torrance. She initially received negative reviews for her performance in the latter, but received widespread acclaim for it in the decades following its release. She appeared in Terry Gilliam's fantasy film Time Bandits (1981), the short comedy horror film Frankenweenie (1984) and the comedy Roxanne (1987). She ventured into producing television programming aimed at children in the latter half of the 1980s, notably creating and hosting the programs Faerie Tale Theatre (1982–1987) and Tall Tales & Legends (1985–1987).
In 1988, Shelley founded Think Entertainment, a production company focused on bringing quality educational content to children. The company, which dissolved in 1993, produced Nightmare Classics (1989), Mother Goose Rock 'n' Rhyme (1990), Bedtime Stories (1992), and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (1994).
Duvall sporadically worked in acting throughout the 1990s, notably playing supporting roles in Steven Soderbergh's thriller The Underneath (1995) and The Portrait of a Lady (1996), directed by Jane Campion. She also appeared in more children's movies like Suburban Commando (1991), Frogs (1992), and Casper Meets Wendy (1998). In addition to TV and film, Duvall recorded two albums Sweet Dreams (1991) and Merry Christmas (1991), and wrote It's a Bird's Life (1993), a 3DO video game. Amidst all this, the 1994 Northridge earthquake destroyed Duvall's Studio City home and she relocated to Texas to be closer to family.
Her last performance was in Manna from Heaven (2002), after which she retired from acting. Duvall for many years kept out of the public media, keeping her personal life generally private; however, her health issues earned significant media coverage.
After a 20-year hiatus from acting, Duvall is set to return in an upcoming horror film titled, The Forest Hills (2023).
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Bobby 'Wheezer' Hutchins
Biography
Robert E. Hutchins was born March 29th, 1925, in Tacoma, Washington. He was born to James Hutchins and Olga Hutchins (nee Roe). Robert was a very outgoing boy with a charming personality, because friends persuaded James and Olga to go to a Hollywood photographer and get his picture taken. The photographer was impressed by Robert's intelligence, and asked to take a few feet of film of him. The results were so good that the film ended up in the projection room at Hal Roach Studios. Hal Roach decided the boy would be a good addition to his "Our Gang" short films, and signed him to a five year contract.
On his first day at the studio, Robert didn't have an identity for his part in the movies, and he was running around so much that he began to wheeze. Such led to the coining of the 'Wheezer' name, one he carried for the rest of his time in Our Gang. Robert played the perky, tag-along little brother that was always anxious to be part of the mischief that the gang was getting into. He played such a part in both the silent films and the talkies.
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Steve Forrest
Biography
A ruggedly handsome action man of the 1960's and 70's, Steve Forrest began his screen career as a small part contract player with MGM. A brother of star Dana Andrews, he was born William Forrest Andrews, the youngest of thirteen children. His father was a Baptist minister in Huntsville, Texas. In 1942, Steve enlisted in the U.S. Army, rose to the rank of sergeant and saw action at the Battle of the Bulge. Following his demobilisation, he visited his brother in Hollywood and came to the conclusion that acting wasn't a bad way to make a living (having already done some work as a movie extra). He went on to study in college at UCLA, eventually graduating in 1950 with a B.A. Honours Degree in theatre arts. He then served a brief apprenticeship as a carpenter, prop boy and set builder at San Diego's La Jolla Playhouse, where he was discovered by resident actor Gregory Peck and given a small part as a bellboy in the cast of the summer stock production of "Goddbye Again". A subsequent screen test led to a contract with MGM and resulting employment as second leads, brothers of the titular star, toughs and outlaws. His first proper recognition was being awarded 'New Star of the Year' by Golden Globe for his role in So Big (1953), a drama based on a Pulitzer prize-winning novel by Edna Ferber.
From the mid-1950's, the rangy, 6-foot-3 actor became much in-demand on TV, beginning with classic early anthology and western series, interspersed with occasional appearances on the big screen (notably, in The Longest Day (1962) and as Joan Crawford's lover/attorney Greg Savitt in Mommie Dearest (1981)). In addition to numerous guest roles, he was regularly featured in series like Gunsmoke (1955), Dallas (1978) (as Wes Parmalee, who believes himself to be lost Ewing patriarch Jock) and Murder, She Wrote (1984). Already from the mid-60's, he decided to pick his assignments more carefully. In order to shed his image as the perpetual bad guy, he had relocated his family to England to star as antique-dealer-cum-undercover intelligence agent John Mannering in BBC's The Baron (1966). He followed this by another starring role as the stoic, tough Lieutenant Dan 'Hondo' Harrelson in the short-lived ABC police drama series S.W.A.T. (1975), possibly his best-remembered role. Steve later lampooned his screen personae in the satirical Amazon Women on the Moon (1987).
In private life, Steve Forrest was known as a skilled golfer, lover of football and (according to 1970's newspaper articles) as a dedicated amateur beekeeper.
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Dorothy Sebastian
Biography
From Wikipedia
Dorothy Sebastian (April 26, 1903 – April 8, 1957) was an American film and stage actress.
Sebastian was born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama. In her youth, she aspired to be a dancer and a film actress. Her family frowned on both ambitions, however, so she fled to New York at the age of 15. Upon her arrival in New York City, Sebastian's southern drawl was thick enough to "cut with a knife". She followed around theatrical agents before returning at night to a $12-a-month room, after being consistently rejected.
Sebastian's first contact in Hollywood was Robert Kane, who gave her a film test at United Studios. She performed in George White's Scandals and later co-starred with Joan Crawford and Anita Page for a popular series of MGM romantic dramas including Our Dancing Daughters (1928) and Our Blushing Brides (1930). Sebastian also appeared in 1929's Spite Marriage, wherein she was cast opposite her then-lover Buster Keaton.
By the mid-1930s, Sebastian was semi-retired from acting after marrying Hopalong Cassidy star William Boyd. After their 1936 divorce, she returned to acting appearing in mostly bit parts. Her last onscreen appearance was in the 1948 film The Miracle of the Bells.
Sebastian married actor William Boyd in December 1930 in Las Vegas, Nevada. They began a relationship after meeting on the set of His First Command in 1929. They divorced in 1936.
In 1947, Sebastian married Miami Beach businessman Harold Shapiro to whom she remained married until her death.
On April 8, 1957, Sebastian died of cancer at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. She is buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
For her contribution to the motion picture industry, Dorothy Sebastian has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6655 Hollywood Blvd.
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Pascal Atuma
Biography
Pascal Atuma is a Canadian/Nigerian actor, screenwriter, film producer, film director, and comedian. Born in Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria to a large family of seven, Pascal moved to the United States in 1995 after attending Government College Umuahia and the University of Port Harcourt in Rivers State, Nigeria. He initially tried pursuing a career as a civil engineer before switching gears and pursuing a career in the entertainment industry.
In 2002, he graduated from the Kim Dawson Acting College in Dallas, Texas, and dabbled in theater before relocating to Hollywood. With the help of fellow Nigerian writer/producer/director Michael Ajakwe Jr., Pascal made a successful transition into Los Angeles' highly competitive world of entertainment. Under the tutelage of his mentors -- Michael Ajakwe Jr., and his godfather in the business Ayuko Babu, who is the founder and executive director of the Pan African Film Festival -- Pascal has blossomed into a creative and talented professional.
Today, Pascal is a quintuple threat as a comedian-turned-actor, writer, producer and director added to his credits. As a director, he's helmed most of his seven movie productions - that is, "The Trace" (coming soon), "Who Is the Man?" "Okoto the Messenger," "My American Nurse" and its sequel, "My American Nurse 2." His breakout directorial debut, "My American Nurse," premiered in the United States at the 2006 Pan African Film Festival. Its sequel, My American Nurse 2, also premiered at the Pan African Film Festival. As an actor, he's starred in many of his own productions, as well as other Nollywood projects, including "Through the Glass," "The Other Side of Love," "Faithfulness" and "Secret Past."
With each of his projects, Pascal makes the rounds on the film-festival circuit. Five of his films have been official selections of the Pan African Film Festival and four in Black Harvest International Festival of Film and Video. "My American Nurse 2," was released into the North American market (USA and Canada) in 2010 and quickly became a top selling African movie in the States and Canada. His other films "Only in America" and "Hurricane in the Rose Garden" were released worldwide by Maverick Entertainment. In 2007, Hurricane in the Rose Garden received an honorable mention in the Pan African Film Festival. Pascal Atuma served as a keynote speaker at UCLA's Fifty Years of African Writing: Novels, Filmmaking, Criticism Seminar on February 14, 2011.
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