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1-16 of 16
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Ron Masak (MAY-SACK) was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of a salesman/musician (Floyd Lewis Masak, of Bohemian Czech descent), and a mother (Mildred Alice Rudy, of Irish descent), who was a merchandise buyer. Ron attended Chicago City College, and studied theater at both the CCC and the Drama Guild. He made his acting debut with the Drama Guild in Chicago in Stalag 17 in 1954.
During the course of his career, he starred in 25 feature films and guest starred in some 350 television shows. Perhaps the most beloved character was that of Sheriff Mort Metzger on Murder, She Wrote (1984). He was seen and heard in hundred of television and radio commercials. He was nicknamed the "King of Commercials" by columnist James Bacon.
Trained in the classics, he proved to be equally at home on stage or screen with Shakespeare or slapstick. He played everything from Stanley Kowalski in 'A Streetcar Named Desire' and Sakini in 'Teahouse of the August Moon' to Will Stockdale in 'No Time For Sergeants', and Antony in 'Julius Caesar'. As further proof of his versatility, in one production of 'Mr. Roberts', he played Ensign Pulver, and, in another production, he portrayed the title character himself.
In his hometown of Chicago, he was resident leading man at The Candlelight Dinner Playhouse from 1962 to 1966, never missing a single performance. The U.S. Army provided Masak with a platform from which to display his all-around talents for performing, writing and directing. In 1960-61, he toured the world doing vocal impressions in the all-Army show entitled 'Rolling Along' and never missed a show.
Masak continued to demonstrate his range of talent in such films as Ice Station Zebra, Daddy's Gone A-Hunting, Tora! Tora! Tora!, A Time For Dying, Harper Valley PTA, Cops & Roberts and The Man From Clover Grove. It was during Clover Grove that Ron added credits as a lyric writer, as he wrote and sang the title song. He played his first big screen villain starring in No Code of Conduct. Among his many television roles, he starred as Charley Wilson on Love Thy Neighbor, as Count Dracula on The Monkees, and was submitted for an Emmy nomination for one of his ten appearances on Police Story. He was seen on Magnum P.I., Webster, The Law and Harry McGraw, and Columbo. His movies of the week include The Neighborhood, In the Glitter Palace, Pleasure Cove, Once An Eagle, and Nightmare in Chicago.
His variety work included emceeing hundreds of shows for, among others, Kenny Rogers, Diahann Carroll, Alabama, Billy Crystal, The Steve Garvey Classics, Tony Orlando, The Lennon Sisters, Trini Lopez, Marilyn McCoo, Billy Davis, Connie Stevens, as well as the Michael Landon Classics and the Beau Bridges Classics.
Masak starred in Second Effort (with Vince Lombardi), Time Management (with James Whitmore), How to Control Your Time (with Burgess Meredith), and Ya Gotta Believe (with Tommy Lasorda, which Masak wrote and directed). He was a sought-after motivational speaker. He traveled across the USA as spokesman for a major brewing company and for 15 years was the voice of the Vlasic Pickle stork. Masak played Lou Costello in commercials for Bran News, McDonald's, and Tropicana Orange Juice. Frequently seen on the talk and game show circuit, he was a celebrity panelist on such game shows as Password, Tattletales, Crosswits, Liar's Club, Showoffs and Match Game. He was a regular panelist on To Tell the Truth.
He devoted his time and energy working with many charities. For eight years, he was the LA host for the Jerry Lewis Telethon and recipient of MDA's first Humanitarian of the Year Award. He served as field announcer for the Special Olympics in support of Special needs children, and was named Man of the Year by Volunteers Assisting Cancer Stricken Families. In addition, he contributed time to work with Multiple Sclerosis, Cystic Fibrosis, and Breast Cancer awareness groups and hosted charity golf tournaments for among others, Childhelp USA, for whom he was a worldwide ambassador.
He and his wife Kay had six children and ten grandchildren.- YPC Rayyy was born on 15 January 2004. He was an actor, known for YPC Rayyy: Intro (2019), YPC Rayyy x Yung Lik: Big Steppas (2020) and Yung Lik feat. YPC Rayyy: Studio VIbes (2020). He died on 20 October 2022 in Norfolk, Virginia, USA.
- Actress
- Director
- Producer
Stage, screen and radio actress Josephine Crawford Melville was born in Essex, England, of African and Jamaican ancestry to parents Edmund and Byrel Melville. She started out as a dancer, transitioning to acting in 1983. Three years later, she debuted in Moon on a Rainbow Shawl at the Theatre Royal, Stratford East, which marked the beginning of a lengthy association with that company. Her appearances in other stage productions have included Sleeping Beauty and Sinbad the Sailor. On screen from 1983, Melville had a small role in the motion picture Empire State (1987). She made guest appearances in Pie in the Sky (1994) and The Bill (1984) , prior to her best known role as Tessa Parker in nine episodes of the long-running soap EastEnders (1985). At the time of her untimely death, Melville had completed filming for the futuristic thriller Slammer in which she had a starring role as Detective Russell. Outside of the performing arts, Melville also wrote poetry and was active in promoting both African and Caribbean culture in Essex. She was a founder of the charitable Southend-based South Essex African Caribbean Association (SEACA), whose stated aim was to "share and celebrate our culture, heritage and arts with the wider community, promoting understanding, tolerance, community, and social cohesion." Josephine Melville passed away unexpectedly backstage at the Nottingham Playhouse after playing the part of Aunt Maggie in the play Nine Night.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Lucy Simon was born on 5 May 1940 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was a composer, known for The Positively True Adventures of the Alleged Texas Cheerleader-Murdering Mom (1993), A Simple Wish (1997) and The 45th Annual Tony Awards (1991). She was married to David Levine. She died on 20 October 2022 in Piermont, New York, USA.- Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Anton Donchev was born on 14 September 1930 in Burgas, Bulgaria. He was a writer, known for The Heretics, Kaloyan (1963) and Glutnitzata (1972). He was married to Raina Vasileva and Evelina Troyanska. He died on 20 October 2022 in Bulgaria.- Eddie Caswell was born on 22 December 1940 in England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Tripods (1984), Coronation Street (1960) and Soldier and Me (1974). He was married to Ruth Caswell. He died on 20 October 2022 in (undisclosed)a1.
- Costume Designer
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Donna Wong was born on 13 October 1969 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. She was a costume designer, known for In the Shadow of the Moon (2019), Cube Zero (2004) and Shazam! (2019). She was married to Walter. She died on 20 October 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- Soundtrack
Bettye Crutcher was born on 16 September 1939 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. She died on 20 October 2022 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Krzysztof Talczewski was born on 6 April 1959 in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland. Krzysztof was a director and writer, known for Belarusian Waltz (2007), Umrzec za Warszawe (2013) and P.O.V. (1988). Krzysztof died on 20 October 2022.- Script and Continuity Department
- Additional Crew
Kati Bursi was born on 22 November 1946 in Budapest, Hungary. She is known for Mi lesz veled Eszterke? (1968), A beszélö köntös (1969) and Szép magyar komédia (1970). She died on 20 October 2022.- Music Department
- Actress
Ting Tsin was born in 1934 in Sichuan, China. She was an actress, known for Qing chun de xuan lu (1968), Kuai lo qing chun (1966) and Yan xi jiao (1963). She died on 20 October 2022 in Taiwan.- Ray's Kim EDM was an actor, known for Ray's Kim EDM: Rends le pouvoir (2022). He died on 20 October 2022 in N'Djamena, Chad.
- Barrie Damson was born on 29 January 1936 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. Barrie was married to Joan Selig. Barrie died on 20 October 2022 in Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Horst Vincon was born in 1927 in Hamburg, Germany. He was an actor and writer, known for Romeo und Julia (1957), In the Name of Innocence (1997) and Gipfeltreffen (1985). He died on 20 October 2022 in Aligse, Lower Saxony, Germany.- Atarah Ben-Tovim was born on 1 October 1940 in Abergavenny, Wales, UK. She was a writer, known for Seeing and Doing (1967) and Roy Castle Beats Time (1974). She was married to Douglas Boyd and Uriel Priwes. She died on 20 October 2022 in the UK.
- Blanche Lemco van Ginkel was born on 14 December 1923 in London, England, UK. She was married to Sandy van Ginkel. She died on 20 October 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.