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1-12 of 12
- A prolific character actor of imposing presence, Robert F. Simon drifted into acting via the Cleveland Playhouse, hoping that this would cure his natural propensity for shyness. After training at the Actor's Studio in New York he had a ten year run on Broadway (1942-52) in which he cut his teeth--both as actor and as stage manager--on anything from drama to musical comedy. In a roundabout way, he was even able to fulfill his original career goal of becoming a traveling salesman: as understudy to the great Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman in Arthur Miller's "Death of a Salesman".
Robert started in films in 1950, but over the years came often to be typecast in stereotypical roles of benevolent authoritarianism or grouchy executive stress. At times he drew unkind reviews from the critics. He was considerably better served by the small screen, where, for some 35 years, he became a familiar face as generals, police captains, doctors, journalists and attorneys. We may remember him most fondly as George Armstrong Custer's disapproving superior, General Alfred Terry, in Custer (1967); as the sympathetic, long-suffering father of Darrin Stephens in Bewitched (1964); or as Maynard M. Mitchell, one of the wackiest of generals ever to have served in the Korean War (or any other war), in M*A*S*H (1972). - Born in turn-of-the-century Yonkers, New York, Robert Shayne (born Robert Shaen Dawe) worked at a variety of jobs before his interests ultimately turned toward acting. He appeared in a succession of legit theater productions throughout the 1930s and even appeared in a few films, making a comedy short in New York in 1929, two features in 1934 and a comedy short shot in New York in 1937. In 1942 he signed with Warner Brothers and trekked to Hollywood, where he became a contract player at their Culver City studios. Warners starred the newly-arrived stage actor in a series of two-reel Westerns before graduating him to supporting roles in "A"-level features. In 1946 he left the studio to freelance. Several years later he got involved in the infant medium of TV, where he played the part for which he is best remembered--Inspector Henderson in the series Adventures of Superman (1952).
- Grady Stiles, Jr. came from a long line of people with ectrodactyly, or "lobster claw" syndrome. His hands were split down the middle and fused to form two-digit "claws", his feet were small flipper-like appendages and his legs were shortened. Grady was born in Pittsburgh in 1937 and inherited his condition from his father, Grady Stiles, Sr. Grady could not walk and used a wheelchair in public, but could crawl around on his incredibly powerful arms and could perform nearly any task using his "claws". He was married twice to Maria Teresa Herzog and once to Barbara Browning and had four children, two of whom, a boy and a girl, also had lobster-hands. When his eldest daughter Donna was engaged to marry a boy of whom Grady disapproved, Grady shot and killed the boy. However, Grady escaped a prison sentence on the grounds that no prison was equipped to handle his disability. Although he was very strong, he exploited his handicap in order to gain sympathy. He was given fifteen years probation, and soon after the trial re-married Mary Teresa and continued to physically abuse his family. In 1992 Mary Teresa mentioned to Grady's son-in-law, a blockhead, that "something" needed to be done about Grady's abusive behavior, and he in turn hired a neighbor to kill Grady in the family's trailer in Gibsonton. Fred Rosen's Lobster Boy offers a biography of Grady Jr. and descriptions of both trials. The remaining Stileses still reside in Gibsonton, but are private people who are, understandably, not affiliated with the sideshow. Cathy is married to carnival worker Tyrill Berry and the couple have a daughter, Misty, who was born without legs and ectrodactyly in her hand. "Little Grady" has a normal daughter, Sara. "Grady Stiles and his daughter ran a single-O with one carny where I had the side-show concession and they did better than I did with ten acts. Grady thinks the world of his daughter; if she had been normal, it would have broken his heart. He shows himself first and then charges extra to bring her out. The Stiles aren't as unique as some freaks I've seen, but the public loves them." -Joseph Hilton
- Cary Lowenstein was born on 24 May 1962 in New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Wild Orchid II: Two Shades of Blue (1991) and Red Shoe Diaries (1992). He was married to Lynn Gendron. He died on 29 November 1992 in Boca Raton, Florida, USA.
- Donald Mayo was born on 23 October 1935 in Bellflower, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Contender (1944), Queen of Broadway (1942) and The Boy from Stalingrad (1943). He died on 29 November 1992 in Alhambra, California, USA.
- Soundtrack
Paul Ryan was born on 24 October 1948 in Leeds, England, UK. He died on 29 November 1992.- Sara Tokars was born on 28 June 1953 in New York, USA. She was married to Fred Tokars. She died on 29 November 1992 in Georgia, USA.
- Costume Designer
Emilio Pucci was born on 20 November 1914 in Naples, Campania, Italy. He was a costume designer, known for Il fischio al naso (1967), What's My Line? (1950) and The Mike Douglas Show (1961). He died on 29 November 1992 in Florence, Tuscany, Italy.- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Production Manager
Raoul Ploquin was born on 30 May 1900 in Paris, France. He was a producer and production manager, known for The Sheep Has Five Legs (1954), Le diable en bouteille (1935) and La guerre des valses (1933). He died on 29 November 1992 in Louveciennes, Yvelines, France.- Thomas H. Cannan Jr. was born on 22 March 1934 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Thomas H. was a writer, known for The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962). Thomas H. died on 29 November 1992 in Ventura, California, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
Tomasz Kiesewetter was born on 8 September 1911 in Sosnowiec, Poland, Russian Empire [now Sosnowiec, Slaskie, Poland]. He was a composer, known for Trzy opowiesci (1953), Gromada (1952) and Szkice weglem (1957). He died on 29 November 1992 in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland.- Bogdan Czechak was born on 24 July 1927 in Braslaw, Wilenskie, Poland [now Braslaw, Belarus]. He was an actor, known for Przygody pana Michala (1969). He died on 29 November 1992 in Bydgoszcz, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Poland.