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1-8 of 8
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
The son of a circuit-riding Methodist preacher in rural Alabama, Pat Buttram became one of America's best-known comic entertainers. He left Alabama a month before his 18th birthday to attend the 1933 Chicago World's Fair. An announcer from radio station WLS was on hand to interview members of the crowd and settled on Pat as a typical visitor from the South. The interview that followed was anything but typical. Pat made a hit with his hilarious observations on the fair and was immediately offered a job with the station. This led to a long and happy association with the popular "National Barn Dance" radio program. During those years Pat met Gene Autry, who took a liking to the young comic and later brought him to Hollywood to replace Smiley Burnette, who had found other work while Gene served in WWII. Together Pat and Gene made many western films and a television series, The Gene Autry Show (1950), which aired from 1950 until 1956. They remained close friends until Pat's death in 1994.
In 1952 Pat married actress Sheila Ryan, whom he had met on the set of Mule Train (1950). Over the next 40 years Pat prospered in radio, films and television, making stand-up appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) (aka "The Ed Sullivan Show") and lending his vocal talents to many animated television shows and films, including several Walt Disney features. In the early 1960s he revealed a flair for dramatic acting when Alfred Hitchcock tapped him for roles in two The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) episodes. His big television break came in 1965 with the role of "Mr. Haney" in the long-running CBS comedy Green Acres (1965). Throughout his career Pat was in constant demand as a toastmaster and after-dinner speaker, where his agile and sophisticated wit belied his "countrified" appearance. In 1982 Pat founded the Golden Boot Awards to honor actors, directors, stunt people and other industry professionals who have made significant contributions to the western film genre. Proceeds from the annual event are donated to the Motion Picture Health and Welfare Fund.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jack Prince, whose birth name was John Upchurch, was trained in singing at an early age.
Prince appeared on Broadway in the 1950s in main and understudy/replacement roles in at least three musicals: "Guys and Dolls" (1950-1953), as "Nicely Nicely Johnson", "Lil' Abner" (1956-1958) as "Marryin' Sam", and "Destry Rides Again" (1959-1960) as Tom Destry's sidekick "Wash."
It was in "Destry," in which Prince sang two songs, that he made the acquaintance of Andy Griffith, who had the title role (and who earned a Tony nomination for his performance). When "The Andy Griffith Show" started on TV in the early 1960's, Griffith asked Prince to appear in a few episodes. Prince, who first appeared in two minor roles on the show, was best-known, and is best-remembered today, for his role of Rafe Hollister." Griffith wanted Prince to have a larger role in the series, but Prince declined, feeling that it would take him away from what was then a successful singing career.
Prince continued to perform in the theater and work the nightclub circuit. Not much can be found about him during the 1970s and 1980s. His last known appearance was on TNN's "Nashville Now!" in September of 1991, which was a reunion of many of "The Andy Griffith Show" cast members. Prince received a standing ovation for the two songs he sang.
Prince is interred at Hillside Memorial Park in Redlands, California.- Edward Duke was educated at British private schools, Balcombe Place and Stonyhurst College. His expulsion from Stonyhurst was in the tradition of other luminaries Charles Laughton and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. When his father was posted in Japan as a cultural diplomat, Duke studied Kabuki Theatre, which became his biggest influence. Before embarking on the usual rounds of regional Theatre, Duke trained at the Arts Educational School of London. In the West End, he was also seen in Why Not Stay for Breakfast? Peg of My Heart (as Alaric), and Filumena (directed by Franco Zeffirelli). In 1980 the Society of West End Theatre voted Edward Duke "Most Promising Newcomer" for his conception and adaptation of "Jeeves Takes Charge" by P.G. Wodehouse. His one-man Jeeves show was directed by Gillian Lynne and opened at London's Fortune Theatre in September of 1980, and subsequently played in Canada, Australia, and Taiwan. In the U.S. his show played in Cleveland, San Francisco, Washington, D.C., and ran two seasons in New York, where he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. His proudest moment came when he was invited to perform the play privately for Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother - who was an avid Wodehouse fan. While at the height of his powers he was stricken with AIDS, which he referred to as his "dreaded inconvenience." His parents predeceased him and a sister and three brothers survived him. The theatre lost a clever, bright, young talent a few months before his fortieth birthday. Thankfully he left behind the memory of full houses laughing at his brilliant comedic performances. His legacy lives on in audio book versions of Wodehouse plays.
- Additional Crew
Larry N. Howard was born on 13 September 1940 in Fort Worth, Texas, USA. He is known for JFK (1991) and Beyond 'JFK': The Question of Conspiracy (1992). He died on 8 January 1994 in Arlington, Texas, USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Make-Up Department
Composer, conductor, pianist and arranger who gave his first piano concerto at the Brooklyn Academy of Music at age 12. He conducted the New York Opera Comique, the Federal Grand Opera Project and the Federal Gilbert and Sullivan Project, the St. Louis Municipal Opera, and the Delaware Philharmonic. He directed the music for the Broadway production of Oklahoma!; Annie Get Your Gun; Inside U.S.A.; Miss Liberty; Call Me Madam; Wish You Were Here; New Faces of 1956; Happy Hunting; Oh Captain; Redhead; Mr. President; and The Girl Who Came to Supper.- Jan Pyjor was born on 13 June 1935 in Free City of Danzig [now Gdansk, Pomorskie, Poland]. He was an actor, known for Psy (1992), Tanie pieniadze (1986) and Zloty pociag (1986). He died on 8 January 1994 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Gregory Osborne was born on 4 December 1954 in Kentucky, USA. He was an actor, known for The Nutcracker (1977), Shadow Dancing (1988) and Live from Lincoln Center (1976). He died on 8 January 1994 in Newport Beach, California, USA.
- Harvey Haddix was born on 18 September 1925 in Medway, Ohio, USA. He died on 8 January 1994 in Springfield, Ohio, USA.