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1-15 of 15
- Lilia Sofer was born on November 28, 1896, to Catholic Katharina Skala and Jewish Julius Sofer , in Vienna, Austria. Julius Sofer worked as a manufacturer's representative for the Waldes Kohinoor Company. Lilia had two sisters: Lisl (later known as renowned dance-therapy pioneer Elizabeth Polk); and Felicitas ("Lizi"--pronounced "Litzi"), an infant nurse. All three sisters adopted their mother's Gentile maiden name of "Skala" and emigrated to the United States.
Lilia Skala would become a star on two continents. In pre-World War II Austria she starred in famed Max Reinhardt's stage troupe, and in post-war America she would become a notable award-worthy matronly character star on Broadway and in films. Forced to flee her Nazi-occupied homeland with her Jewish husband, Louis Erich Pollak (who also adopted his mother-in-law's Gentile maiden name of "Skala") and two young sons in the late 1930s, Lilia and her family managed to escape (at different times) to England. In 1939, practically penniless, they emigrated to the USA, where she sought menial labor in New York's garment district. She quickly learned English and worked her way back to an acting career, this time as a sweet, delightful, thick-accented Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy nominee.
She broke through the Broadway barrier in 1941 with "Letters to Lucerne", followed by a featured role in the musical "Call Me Madam" with Ethel Merman. In the 1950s, she did an extensive tour in "The Diary of Anne Frank" as Mrs. Frank, and performed in a German-language production of Kurt Weill's "The Threepenny Opera". Lilia became a familiar benevolent face on TV in several early soap operas, including Claudia: The Story of a Marriage (1952).
She won her widest claim to fame, however, as the elderly chapel-building Mother Superior opposite Sidney Poitier in Lilies of the Field (1963), for which she won both Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. That led to more character actress work in films, most notably as the dog-carrying Jewish lady in the star-studded Ship of Fools (1965) and as Jennifer Beals's elderly friend in Flashdance (1983). On TV she played Eva Gabor's Hungarian mother in Green Acres (1965) and earned an Emmy nomination for her work in the popular miniseries Eleanor and Franklin (1976)).
She continued filming into her 90th year. Her final film work, occurring in the 1980's, went on to include a touching role as Hanna Long in the hit musical Flashdance (1983), plus parts in Testament (1983), House of Games (1987) and Men of Respect (1990). A few years later, on December 18, 1994, Lilia died of natural causes in Bay Shore (Long Island), New York, a few weeks after her 98th birthday. - Gloria Marshall was born on 27 August 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for Roadracers (1959), Science Fiction Theatre (1955) and Sea Hunt (1958). She was married to Warren Gamble, Warren Lockwood Gamble, David O'Meara and Lynn Stalmaster. She died on 18 December 1994 in Bermuda Dunes, California, USA.
- Producer
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Don Fedderson was born on 16 April 1913 in Beresford, South Dakota, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for Who Do You Trust? (1956), Family Affair (1966) and Date with the Angels (1957). He was married to Yvonne Lime and Tido Fedderson. He died on 18 December 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Heinz Bernard grew up as a Jewish child in Nuremburg in Nazi Germany. He attended a school in Furth which was the only Jewish school allowed to operate in the region. Henry Kissinger's father taught Biology at the school and Henry was in the year above Heinz at school. Following a parliamentary question directed at the Home secretary by the MP Josiah Wedgewood, Heinz and his mother were granted transit visas to pass through England and join his uncles who had migrated to the USA. At the age of 15, Heinz Bernard was sent to England by his mother who meant to join him a few days later. On the day she planned to leave Germany, war broke out trapping her on the continent. She caught the last Orient Express to Vladivostok a few days later and eventually reached the USA. Heinz remained trapped in England and learned English by sitting in cinemas watching movies. He eventually joined a home for Jewish orphans run by exiles from the German communist party where he organized weekly plays. Heinz worked a variety of low paid jobs, including as a rabbit skinner and a waiter saving enough money to attend the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts (RADA) in London. After the war Heinz's mother informed him that he was adopted. A real brother and sister had reached Palestine before the war and now made contact with him. Heinz went on the run a legendary Communist Party affiliated theater in London (Unity Theater) and staged the first productions of Brecht in the English language. Heinz left the Communist Party in the fifties after anti-Semitic plotting by Stalin and the invasion of Hungary. Following the death of his Israeli brother in the sixties, Heinz decided to emigrate to Israel. He acted the part of the Rabbi in the West End production of Fiddler on the Roof to raise money for the move. In Israel he became a legend on account of his performances in English teaching television programs, "Neighbours" (written by his wife Nettie) and "Here We Are", broadcast four times a week on the single national TV channel for over fifteen years. After ten years in Israel Heinz returned to England where he had to restart his career. He continued to work until his death of a rare blood disease in 1995.
Heinz's name at birth was Heinz Messinger. His adopted family were called Lowenstein. After leaving RADA he worked under the professional name Harry Bernard, eventually dropping the Harry and becoming simply Heinz Bernard. - Leonard H. Stringfield was born on 17 December 1920 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He died on 18 December 1994 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
- Actress
Vivian Watson was born on 19 February 1915 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Don Reed. She died on 18 December 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Jadwiga Korczakowska was born on 6 February 1906 in Nowa Slupia, Poland, Russian Empire [now Nowa Slupia, Swietokrzyskie, Poland]. She was a writer, known for Buleczka (1973) and Przygody Joanny (1996). She died on 18 December 1994 in Otwock, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Harold Leonard was born in Ashley Down, Bristol in 1914, the fourth child of five to Clara and Frederick. His siblings were Wilfred, Edith, Kathleen and Grace. Like his mother, Clara, he was extraordinarily shy. If the front doorbell rang he would immediately run and hide behind the coats hanging in the passage and not emerge until the caller had gone.
At quite an early age he showed an interest in all things mechanical and electrical, and had a special liking for model 'steam boilers' which were advertised in a boys magazine. From Sefton Park Junior School, Harold won a scholarship to Fairfield Secondary School where, not surprisingly, his favourite subject was Chemistry and at around the age of 14, he was given a Chemistry Set.
One Guy Fawkes evening he took it outside onto the small veranda, with the intention of making his own fireworks, and was in the process of mixing two chemicals when they exploded and a huge sheet of flame caught him on the face, hands and arms; his hair, eyebrows and eyelashes were all singed. At the local doctor's surgery his burns were treated, and a complete face mask, made from white lint, covered his face, apart from two small slits for his eyes. His hands and arms were so heavily bandaged that he was unable to use them and he had to be fed by other members of the family, particularly Grace, his youngest sister.
When Harold left school he secured a job as a clerk in the offices of the General Accident Assurance Company in Bristol at 7/6 (37p) a week. A few years later he moved to the Scholastic Trading Company at the top of Union Street. His brother Wilfred was already employed there and when there was a vacancy on the 'pen counter' he recommended his younger brother for the job! Harold was soon very popular with both staff and customers with his easy friendly style.
The family attended St Bartholomew's Church next door to St Andrew's Park. Harold was in the choir. Also in the congregation was a quiet, attractive young lady named Margaret Hain. Eventually they got together and romance blossomed. They were married in 1940.
Also attending church was a gentleman by the name of Mr Darch, who was the manager of a grocery shop in nearby Gloucester Road, called J. H. Mills. He was an astute, observant person and became quite friendly with Harold, so much so that he offered him a job with the firm, which Harold accepted.
The war (World War II) was declared and Harold was called up for service with the Royal Air Force. With his knowledge of electrics and technology he was sent for training to Rutland. On conclusion of his training he was posted to Halton, Buckinghamshire, where it was soon acknowledged that here was a very capable technician and dependable person. In no time at all he was promoted to the rank of sergeant in charge of a large team of electricians; their work was vitally important and urgent. When the huge bombers (Lancasters, Wellingtons and Vulcans) returned from raids on the enemy, they would undergo every rigorous check imaginable in the shortest possible time before re-fuelling and thundering off again.
At last the war was over. Harold and Margaret were now the proud parents of four children: David, Geoff, Jean and John. Harold returned to J. H. Mills, becoming chief buyer and enjoying many trips abroad with Margaret. The firm progressed and Harold was made a director in 1955 and within a few years the first self-service shop opened in Bristol. This quickly led to supermarkets and J. H. Mills became Gateway Supermarkets. The business has been taken over a few times since then and is currently the Co-operative/Somerfield.
While living in Bristol, Harold decided to revisit his youthful passion for amateur radio and, after passing the necessary exams, was granted the call-sign of G4UZ. He helped form the Bristol Amateur Radio Club and became its Life President. He was also the regional representative of the Radio Society of Great Britain.
When Harold eventually retired, he and Margaret made their home in the village of Strete, on the outskirts of Dartmouth in South Devon. They both became active members of their local church, Harold being a Churchwarden and editor of the parish magazine. He also enjoyed his membership of the local Probus club and began an interest in wine-making, winning many prizes at local competitions. He began broadcasting on the subject for BBC Radio Devon and it was then he came to the attention of Margaret Vaughan, the presenter of a BBC TV series, Fruity Passions (1990), which became his TV debut. - Madlen Lorei was a writer, known for Unsere Leichen leben noch (1981) and Bio's Bahnhof (1978). She died on 18 December 1994.
- Teri Fejes was born on 20 September 1902 in Torontáltorda, Hungary. She was an actress, known for Kacagó asszony (1930), A tettes ismeretlen (1958) and A tartalékos völegény (1959). She died on 18 December 1994 in Budapest, Hungary.
- Phil Bengston was born on 17 July 1913 in Roseau, Minnesota, USA. He died on 18 December 1994 in San Diego, California, USA.
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Costume Designer
Mal Caplan was born on 8 March 1917 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Mal was a costume designer, known for Arabian Nights (1942). Mal died on 18 December 1994 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Ronald Julian Rudin was born on 14 November 1930 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was married to Margaret Rudin. He died on 18 December 1994 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
- Editor
- Director
- Writer
Saheb Haddad was born on 15 February 1939 in Baghdad, Iraq. He was an editor and director, known for Another Day (1978), Motaw'ie and Bahiya (1982) and Building No. 13 (1987). He died on 18 December 1994 in Baghdad, Iraq.- Henry Banks was born on 14 June 1913 in Croydon, Surrey, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Roar of the Crowd (1953) and Formula 1 (1950). He died on 18 December 1994 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.