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1-13 of 13
- Michael Sundin was an English actor, puppeteer, dancer, and trampolinist from Low Fell, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear. He was better known as one of the presenters of the children's program "Blue Peter" from 1984 to 1985. He was fired under controversial circumstances.
Sundin initially became known as a champion trampolinist. He reportedly won five British titles and one world title in trampolining tournaments. He decided to follow a career in show business, making his stage debut in a 1980 version of the Christmas pantomime "Jack and the Beanstalk".
Sundin found work as both an actor and a dancer. From 1982 to 1983, he portrayed the acrobatic kitten Bill Bailey in the musical "Cats" (1981). The musical was loosely based on the poetry collection "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats" (1939) by T. S. Eliot, and depicted sentient cats competing for a chance at rebirth.
In 1984, Sundin was hired as in-suit performer for the dark fantasy film "Return to Oz" (1985). The film was a loose adaptation of the fantasy novels "The Marvelous Land of Oz" (1904) and "Ozma of Oz" (1907) by L. Frank Baum. Sundin was chosen to portray the sentient robot Tik-Tok, one of the film's main characters. He operated the character's body, while Tim Rose remotely-operated the head and Sean Barrett voiced the character. While Sundin was preparing for this role, his casting attracted considerable press attention. Television producer Biddy Baxter invited him to audition for a position as one of the presenters of "Blue Peter". Sundin passed the audition, and was chosen to replace Peter Duncan. His debut episode was broadcast in September 1984.
Sundin made his last appearance as a television presenter in late June 1985. His contract was not renewed following the end of the season. The production team claimed that Sundin "had little rapport with the viewers", but Baxter also reported that both parents and viewers had complained that Sundin was too effeminate. The press had recently outed Sundin as a gay man, which was thought to be the undeclared reason for his firing. Biddy Baxter later claimed in an interview that Sundin was fired because "children didn't like him", not because of his sexuality. The controversy over the perceived discrimination was covered in the tabloid press.
After portraying Tik-Tok "Return to Oz", Sundin was chosen to portray the March Hare in the drama film "Dreamchild" (1985). In the film, the elderly Alice Liddell finds herself becoming the center of attention at the centenary of Lewis Carroll's birth. Her memories of her long-gone friend and potential suitor are juxtaposed with hallucinations of meeting both a ghostly Carroll and the characters from Wonderland.
Sundin subsequently had his last film appearance in the adventure film "Lionheart" (1987). In the film, a group of orphans attempt to join the crusading army of Richard the Lionheart, King of England (1157-1199, reigned 1189-1199), while evading a slave trader who wants to sell them as slaves. The film combined events from the Third Crusade (1189-1192) and the Children's Crusade (1212).
Sundin fell ill in 1988, and was hospitalized in 1989. In July 1989, he died at the Newcastle General Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne. He was only 28-years-old at the time of his death, and he was the first among the presenters of "Blue Peter" to die. The British press initially attributed his death to liver cancer. Later press reports indicated that Sundin had contracted the virus HIV/AIDS, and died due to the infection. - Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Hailing from Show Low, Arizona and born as Daniel Scott Deublein in 1972, Dan Deublein began his career as a theatre major at Arizona State University. Performing in several plays and being cast in local television spots, he made his way out to Los Angeles to further his career as an actor. Within two months of his arrival, Dan had booked a national commercial with golfer Greg Norman for Cobra Golf Clubs. Soon to follow was a slew of television roles and independent films.
In 2005, Dan left the entertainment industry to pursue a degree in medicine.- Sarah Elena Koch was born on 20 August 1985 in Braunschweig, Low Saxon, Germany. Sarah Elena is an actor, known for Todespolka (2010), Sachertorte (2022) and Das Traumschiff (1981). Sarah Elena has been married to Samuel Koch since 26 August 2016.
- Actor
- Director
- Additional Crew
Jeremy Ambler was born on 29 July 1985 in Low Moor, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and director, known for Pro Wrestlers vs Zombies (2014), Family Property Backwoods Killing Spree (2009) and The Jealous Husband (2008). He was previously married to Carey Wiles-Ambler.- Jack Rigney was born on 3 September 1901 in Lowe, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for Get Smart (1965) and The Wild Wild West (1965). He died on 24 April 1974 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Editor
- Editorial Department
Blanche Sewell was born on 27 October 1898 in Lowe, Oklahoma, USA. She was an editor, known for The Wizard of Oz (1939), Grand Hotel (1932) and The Pirate (1948). She was married to Leon Warren Bourgeau. She died on 2 February 1949 in Burbank, California, USA.- Composer
- Music Department
- Writer
Alex Glasgow was born on 14 October 1935 in Low Fell, Gateshead, County Durham, England, UK. He was a composer and writer, known for Flambards (1979), The Virgin and the Gypsy (1970) and Trinity Tales (1975). He was married to Paddy Wallace. He died on 13 May 2001 in East Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Ned Sherrin was born on 18 February 1931 in Low Ham, Somerset, England, UK. He was a producer and director, known for Not So Much a Programme, More a Way of Life (1964), That Was the Week That Was (1962) and Orlando (1992). He died on 1 October 2007 in Chelsea, London, England, UK.- MontanaBlack was born on 2 March 1988 in Buxtehude, Low Saxon, Germany. He is an actor, known for Knossi: Alge (2020), Teammates on Tour (2022) and Chatgeflüster (2021).
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Harald Vogel was born on 21 June 1941 in Otterberg, Low Saxony, Germany. He is an actor and assistant director, known for The American Friend (1977), Moses und Aron (1975) and The Marquise of O (1976).- Vic Wakeling was born on 18 June 1943 in Low Westwood, County Durham, England, UK. He was married to Sue. He died on 15 May 2017 in the UK.
- Nick Buntin was born on 15 May 1989 in Show Low, Arizona, USA. He is an actor, known for Dead on Set (2017).
- Alben Barkley was born on 24 November 1877 in Lowes, Kentucky, USA. He was married to Elizabeth Jane Rucker and Dorothy Brower. He died on 30 April 1956 in Lexington, Virginia, USA.