Cynthia Strother, the singer and songwriter who teamed with her younger sister Kay as The Bell Sisters, a popular teenage act that found overnight success in the 1950s with their very first song, “Bermuda,” has died. She was 88.
Strother died Friday of heart failure at a hospice facility in Las Vegas, her nephew Rex Strother told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Bell Sisters, who recorded for RCA from 1951-55, performed often on radio shows hosted by the likes of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope and on such television programs as The Johnny Carson Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Mickey Mouse Club.
The pair also appeared in the 1953 big-screen musicals Cruisin’ Down the River, starring Dick Haymes, and Those Redheads From Seattle, starring Rhonda Fleming.
The eldest of seven kids — their dad, Gene, was an electrician for an aviation company — Cynthia Sue Strother was born on Oct. 4, 1935, in Harlan County,...
Strother died Friday of heart failure at a hospice facility in Las Vegas, her nephew Rex Strother told The Hollywood Reporter.
The Bell Sisters, who recorded for RCA from 1951-55, performed often on radio shows hosted by the likes of Bing Crosby and Bob Hope and on such television programs as The Johnny Carson Show, The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Mickey Mouse Club.
The pair also appeared in the 1953 big-screen musicals Cruisin’ Down the River, starring Dick Haymes, and Those Redheads From Seattle, starring Rhonda Fleming.
The eldest of seven kids — their dad, Gene, was an electrician for an aviation company — Cynthia Sue Strother was born on Oct. 4, 1935, in Harlan County,...
- 2/20/2024
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago – In his humility, Norman Lear liked to express that he was “just another version of you.” In our humanity, we are different renderings, but all related, as the titan of TV philosophically said. Norman Lear died at his home in Los Angeles on December 5th, 2023. He was 101 years old.
In 2015, Lear was lecturing at the Art Institute of Chicago, and I was privileged to get the opportunity to talk to him for a brief but significant amount of time. If the goal is to seek truth, there is no better guru. As an influencer on our times, Norman Lear is a cultural juggernaut, yet his humility is a driving force of his connection to his fellow humans, and he lived to connect to others.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Photo credit: Music Box Films
Lear is the embodiment of television history, having worked in the medium since its advent in the 1950s.
In 2015, Lear was lecturing at the Art Institute of Chicago, and I was privileged to get the opportunity to talk to him for a brief but significant amount of time. If the goal is to seek truth, there is no better guru. As an influencer on our times, Norman Lear is a cultural juggernaut, yet his humility is a driving force of his connection to his fellow humans, and he lived to connect to others.
Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You
Photo credit: Music Box Films
Lear is the embodiment of television history, having worked in the medium since its advent in the 1950s.
- 12/9/2023
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Norman Lear, the groundbreaking TV producer who smashed boundaries with politicized sitcoms such as All in the Family, helped diversify network television with shows The Jeffersons and Good Times, and used the half-hour comedy to address social issues and taboo, hot-button topics, died Tuesday at his Los Angeles home. He was 101. Lear’s rep, Lara Bergthold, confirmed his death to The New York Times.
“Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him,” his family wrote in a statement. “He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning,...
“Norman lived a life in awe of the world around him,” his family wrote in a statement. “He marveled at his cup of coffee every morning,...
- 12/6/2023
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
The Notebook Primer introduces readers to some of the most important figures, films, genres, and movements in film history.Artists and Models.By rights, Martin and Lewis should have the kind of cultural footprint renders them permanent household names: the status that turns artists into Halloween costumes, as archetypal as cartoon characters and ancient gods. For ten years, from 1946 to 1956, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis were a double act, and accurately describing how popular they were sounds like gross exaggeration. They were so big that the only fitting comparisons are to rock stars—and not just any rock stars, but Elvis Presley, or The Beatles. “For ten years after World War II, Dean and I were not only the most successful show-business act in history,” Jerry Lewis wrote with his trademark humility in Dean and Me: A Love Story (1984), “—we were history.” Their live shows were pandemonium. They reportedly made eleven million dollars in 1951 alone.
- 10/23/2023
- MUBI
NBC’s landmark “Your Show of Shows” won its second consecutive best variety program statuette at the primetime Emmy Awards held Feb. 5, 1953 at the old Hotel Statler hosted by Art Linkletter. The 90-minute live program had strong competition- “Arthur Godfrey and His Friends” (CBS); “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (NBC); “The Jackie Gleason Show” (CBS) and “The Toast of the Town” (CBS).
Other winners that evening included another landmark series, CBS’ “I Love Lucy” which was named best situation comedy with NBC’s “Robert Montgomery Presents” receiving best dramatic program honors. CBS’ “What’s My Line? claimed the title of best audience participation, quiz or panel show. NBC’s “Dragnet” was the recipient of the best mystery, action or adventure program. Ktla’s “Time for Beany” won best children’s program, while Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now” (CBS) received the Emmy for public affairs program.
On the acting front, Oscar-winners...
Other winners that evening included another landmark series, CBS’ “I Love Lucy” which was named best situation comedy with NBC’s “Robert Montgomery Presents” receiving best dramatic program honors. CBS’ “What’s My Line? claimed the title of best audience participation, quiz or panel show. NBC’s “Dragnet” was the recipient of the best mystery, action or adventure program. Ktla’s “Time for Beany” won best children’s program, while Edward R. Murrow’s “See It Now” (CBS) received the Emmy for public affairs program.
On the acting front, Oscar-winners...
- 3/21/2023
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
Christopher Walken’s filmography abounds with eye-catching performances in excellent movies. The actor began performing as a small child, setting him on a unique path to stardom. Walken has been working consistently for decades, a feat the actor credits to his and his wife’s decision not to have kids.
Christopher Walken began his acting career as a child Christopher Walken on Jun. 21, 2019, in Paris, France | Stephane De Sakutin/Afp via Getty Images
Christopher Walken was born Ronald Walken in Queens, New York, on Mar. 31, 1943. His parents, Rosalie and Paul, wasted no time introducing their son to the performing arts. According to Biography, Walken began taking dance lessons when he was only 3.
He and his brothers, Kenneth and Glenn, eventually found work as extras on TV shows after making Rockefeller Center a frequent hangout. Walken’s most significant adolescent role was in a sketch with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis...
Christopher Walken began his acting career as a child Christopher Walken on Jun. 21, 2019, in Paris, France | Stephane De Sakutin/Afp via Getty Images
Christopher Walken was born Ronald Walken in Queens, New York, on Mar. 31, 1943. His parents, Rosalie and Paul, wasted no time introducing their son to the performing arts. According to Biography, Walken began taking dance lessons when he was only 3.
He and his brothers, Kenneth and Glenn, eventually found work as extras on TV shows after making Rockefeller Center a frequent hangout. Walken’s most significant adolescent role was in a sketch with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis...
- 3/20/2023
- by Sam Hines
- Showbiz Cheat Sheet
So, what do the 4th Primetime Emmy Awards, which took place Feb. 18, 1952, have in common with the 2022 edition?
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
The stars of the No. 1 TV series, CBS’ “I Love Lucy,” were the hosts of the Emmy ceremony, which was telecast in Los Angeles on Kcea, now known as Kabc. And it was the first time that the Emmys embraced national television networks. Previously, nominations and awards were bestowed on projects that were produced or aired in Los Angeles.
This year, Amy Poehler’s valentine of a film, “Lucy and Desi,” not only received strong reviews but six Emmy nominations including Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and directing for Poehler. The Amazon Prime doc won two: writer Mark Monroe and composer David Schwartz.
Traveling back to the 1952, the ceremony took places at venerable nightclub, the Cocoanut Grove. It must have been a short show because only seven awards were handed out.
Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.
The stars of the No. 1 TV series, CBS’ “I Love Lucy,” were the hosts of the Emmy ceremony, which was telecast in Los Angeles on Kcea, now known as Kabc. And it was the first time that the Emmys embraced national television networks. Previously, nominations and awards were bestowed on projects that were produced or aired in Los Angeles.
This year, Amy Poehler’s valentine of a film, “Lucy and Desi,” not only received strong reviews but six Emmy nominations including Best Documentary or Nonfiction Special and directing for Poehler. The Amazon Prime doc won two: writer Mark Monroe and composer David Schwartz.
Traveling back to the 1952, the ceremony took places at venerable nightclub, the Cocoanut Grove. It must have been a short show because only seven awards were handed out.
- 9/7/2022
- by Susan King
- Gold Derby
ABC has enlisted celebrity assistance from Jennifer Aniston, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Poehler and Octavia Spencer as they come together to celebrate TV legend Norman Lear in the upcoming special, “Norman Lear: 100 Years of Music and Laughter.”
The one-night-only celebration honoring the life and legacy of the famed producer features intimate conversations, special performances and surprise reunions that pay homage to the man behind some of television’s greatest stories in celebration of his 100th birthday.
“I’ve always believed music and laughter have added time to my life. I’ve seen a lot throughout my 100 years, but I would’ve never imagined America having a front-row seat to my birthday celebration,” said Lear.
Additional talent and performances will be revealed at a later date.
Born in 1922, the Connecticut native has come to be recognized as a screenwriter, award-winning mega-producer and philanthropist. His most recent credits include his time as executive...
The one-night-only celebration honoring the life and legacy of the famed producer features intimate conversations, special performances and surprise reunions that pay homage to the man behind some of television’s greatest stories in celebration of his 100th birthday.
“I’ve always believed music and laughter have added time to my life. I’ve seen a lot throughout my 100 years, but I would’ve never imagined America having a front-row seat to my birthday celebration,” said Lear.
Additional talent and performances will be revealed at a later date.
Born in 1922, the Connecticut native has come to be recognized as a screenwriter, award-winning mega-producer and philanthropist. His most recent credits include his time as executive...
- 8/25/2022
- by BreAnna Bell
- Variety Film + TV
Within the first decade of his acting career, John Ritter played roles on over 20 TV series, including “The Waltons,” “M*A*S*H,” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” In 1977, he landed his first regular lead part as Jack Tripper on ABC’s “Three’s Company,” which went on to rank as one of the top 10 programs for six of its eight seasons. As a young chef sharing an apartment with two women, Ritter received three Best Comedy Actor Emmy nominations and triumphed on his final outing in 1984.
Ritter’s first bid came in 1978, the same year that “Three’s Company” earned its only Best Comedy Series nomination. At 29, he was the category’s third youngest nominee, but has since fallen to 10th place. Of the seven younger actors who have added their names to the list in the last four decades, two were nominated before turning 16.
The television academy has recognized the work of...
Ritter’s first bid came in 1978, the same year that “Three’s Company” earned its only Best Comedy Series nomination. At 29, he was the category’s third youngest nominee, but has since fallen to 10th place. Of the seven younger actors who have added their names to the list in the last four decades, two were nominated before turning 16.
The television academy has recognized the work of...
- 8/22/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Within the first decade of his acting career, John Ritter played roles on over 20 TV series, including “The Waltons,” “M*A*S*H,” and “The Mary Tyler Moore Show.” In 1977, he landed his first regular lead part as Jack Tripper on ABC’s “Three’s Company,” which went on to rank as one of the top 10 programs for six of its eight seasons. As a young chef sharing an apartment with two women, Ritter received three Best Comedy Actor Emmy nominations and triumphed on his final outing in 1984.
Ritter’s first bid came in 1978, the same year that “Three’s Company” earned its only Best Comedy Series nomination. At 29, he was the category’s third youngest nominee, but has since fallen to 10th place. Of the seven younger actors who have added their names to the list in the last four decades, two were nominated before turning 16.
The television academy has recognized the work of...
Ritter’s first bid came in 1978, the same year that “Three’s Company” earned its only Best Comedy Series nomination. At 29, he was the category’s third youngest nominee, but has since fallen to 10th place. Of the seven younger actors who have added their names to the list in the last four decades, two were nominated before turning 16.
The television academy has recognized the work of...
- 8/22/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Thirteen years after winning his only Emmy for a “Ford Star Jubilee” production of “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,” Lloyd Nolan received a second nomination for his work on the first season of NBC’s “Julia.” The titular Julia Baker, played by Diahann Carroll, was the first Black female lead character in TV history who was not employed as a servant. The widowed single mother worked as a nurse under Nolan’s Dr. Morton Chegley for the entirety of the show’s three-season run.
“Julia” earned four Emmy nominations in its first year, including ones for Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Actress (Carroll), and Best Comedy Guest Actor (Ned Glass). At age 66, Nolan established himself as the oldest contender in the history of the Best Comedy Actor category. He held onto that position for six years and then stayed in second place for another four decades. Since 2015, he has been steadily...
“Julia” earned four Emmy nominations in its first year, including ones for Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Actress (Carroll), and Best Comedy Guest Actor (Ned Glass). At age 66, Nolan established himself as the oldest contender in the history of the Best Comedy Actor category. He held onto that position for six years and then stayed in second place for another four decades. Since 2015, he has been steadily...
- 8/20/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Thirteen years after winning his only Emmy for a “Ford Star Jubilee” production of “The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial,” Lloyd Nolan received a second nomination for his work on the first season of NBC’s “Julia.” The titular Julia Baker, played by Diahann Carroll, was the first Black female lead character in TV history who was not employed as a servant. The widowed single mother worked as a nurse under Nolan’s Dr. Morton Chegley for the entirety of the show’s three-season run.
“Julia” earned four Emmy nominations in its first year, including ones for Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Actress (Carroll), and Best Comedy Guest Actor (Ned Glass). At age 66, Nolan established himself as the oldest contender in the history of the Best Comedy Actor category. He held onto that position for six years and then stayed in second place for another four decades. Since 2015, he has been steadily...
“Julia” earned four Emmy nominations in its first year, including ones for Best Comedy Series, Best Comedy Actress (Carroll), and Best Comedy Guest Actor (Ned Glass). At age 66, Nolan established himself as the oldest contender in the history of the Best Comedy Actor category. He held onto that position for six years and then stayed in second place for another four decades. Since 2015, he has been steadily...
- 8/20/2022
- by Matthew Stewart
- Gold Derby
Irma Kalish, a prolific comedy writer who blazed trails for women in television with a career that stretched from radio to 1980s sitcoms, died Monday in Woodland Hills due to complications from pneumonia. She was 96.
Kalish worked on a wide range of series, from “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island” to “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” She was also an active member of the Writers Guild of America West and had a long tenure as a board member and as vice president. She spent 20 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund and she was an early president of Women in Film.
Kalish was a partner in life and work with her husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, for seven decades until his death in 2016 at age 95. The two got their start together in radio as writers for “The Martin & Lewis Show” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
Kalish worked on a wide range of series, from “My Favorite Martian” and “Gilligan’s Island” to “All in the Family,” “Maude” and “The Bob Newhart Show.” She was also an active member of the Writers Guild of America West and had a long tenure as a board member and as vice president. She spent 20 years on the board of the Motion Picture and Television Fund and she was an early president of Women in Film.
Kalish was a partner in life and work with her husband, Austin “Rocky” Kalish, for seven decades until his death in 2016 at age 95. The two got their start together in radio as writers for “The Martin & Lewis Show” starring Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis.
- 9/6/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Norman Lear will receive the Carol Burnett Award at the 78th Annual Golden Globe Awards, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association announced today. The pioneering TV creator of All in the Family, Good Times and many other classic sitcoms, becomes the third-ever recipient on the honor.
Lear will accept the award during the Golden Globes telecast on Sunday, Feb. 28, 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et live on NBC.
“Norman Lear is among the most prolific creators of this generation,” said HFPA President Ali Sar. “His career has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era, throughout which his progressive approach addressing controversial topics through humor prompted a cultural shift that allowed social and political issues to be reflected in television. His work revolutionized the industry and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is honored to name him as the 2021 Carol Burnett Award recipient.”
The Carol Burnett Award is presented annually for outstanding...
Lear will accept the award during the Golden Globes telecast on Sunday, Feb. 28, 5 p.m. Pt/8 p.m. Et live on NBC.
“Norman Lear is among the most prolific creators of this generation,” said HFPA President Ali Sar. “His career has encompassed both the Golden Age and Streaming Era, throughout which his progressive approach addressing controversial topics through humor prompted a cultural shift that allowed social and political issues to be reflected in television. His work revolutionized the industry and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association is honored to name him as the 2021 Carol Burnett Award recipient.”
The Carol Burnett Award is presented annually for outstanding...
- 1/28/2021
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
Equality California, the nation’s largest statewide LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, announced today that it will honor entertainment icon Norman Lear with the Ally Leadership Award during its first-ever statewide “Golden State Equality Awards” virtual celebration on Sunday, September 13.
The award will be presented by international superstars Gloria Estefan and Rita Moreno. The award-winning singers and actresses are friends of Lear’s and are featured in his hit reboot of “One Day At A Time,” which was just added to CBS’s fall lineup. Moreno also received the Ally Leadership Award at Equality California’s 2019 San Francisco Equality Awards. Director/Producer Sam Feder, Producer Amy Scholder, and Executive Producer Laverne Cox will accept the Equality Visibility Award on behalf of the groundbreaking Netflix Original Documentary Disclosure. Also announced, Rufus Wainwright will join the star-studded list of performers, and comedian Tig Notaro, actor Zachary Quinto, “How to Get Away With Murder” star Conrad Ricamora,...
The award will be presented by international superstars Gloria Estefan and Rita Moreno. The award-winning singers and actresses are friends of Lear’s and are featured in his hit reboot of “One Day At A Time,” which was just added to CBS’s fall lineup. Moreno also received the Ally Leadership Award at Equality California’s 2019 San Francisco Equality Awards. Director/Producer Sam Feder, Producer Amy Scholder, and Executive Producer Laverne Cox will accept the Equality Visibility Award on behalf of the groundbreaking Netflix Original Documentary Disclosure. Also announced, Rufus Wainwright will join the star-studded list of performers, and comedian Tig Notaro, actor Zachary Quinto, “How to Get Away With Murder” star Conrad Ricamora,...
- 9/10/2020
- Look to the Stars
Julie Adams, the actress best-known for starring in the 1954 monster horror film “The Creature From the Black Lagoon, has died. She was 92.
Adams died Sunday in Los Angeles, according to her official website.
“The Shape of Water” director Guillermo del Toro paid tribute to the actress, writing, “I mourn Julie Adams passing. It hurts in a place deep in me, where monsters swim.”
During her storied career, Adams appeared in 50 films and even more television episodes. Along with “Creature From the Black Lagoon, which catapulted her film career, she starred alongside Elvis Presley in 1965’s “Tickle Me,” worked with Dennis Hopper in 1971’s “The Last Movie,” and appeared with Jimmy Stewart in “Bend in the River.” Her other movie roles include “Francis Joins the Wacs,” “The Private War of Major Benson,” “Mississippi Gambler,” “Bright Victory,” and “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.”
Born Betty May Adams on Oct. 17, 1926 in Waterloo, Iowa, Adams...
Adams died Sunday in Los Angeles, according to her official website.
“The Shape of Water” director Guillermo del Toro paid tribute to the actress, writing, “I mourn Julie Adams passing. It hurts in a place deep in me, where monsters swim.”
During her storied career, Adams appeared in 50 films and even more television episodes. Along with “Creature From the Black Lagoon, which catapulted her film career, she starred alongside Elvis Presley in 1965’s “Tickle Me,” worked with Dennis Hopper in 1971’s “The Last Movie,” and appeared with Jimmy Stewart in “Bend in the River.” Her other movie roles include “Francis Joins the Wacs,” “The Private War of Major Benson,” “Mississippi Gambler,” “Bright Victory,” and “Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.”
Born Betty May Adams on Oct. 17, 1926 in Waterloo, Iowa, Adams...
- 2/4/2019
- by Rebecca Rubin
- Variety Film + TV
Miriam Nelson, who worked extensivley as a choreographer during Hollywood’s golden age, died on Aug. 12 at her home in Beverly Hills, Calif., according to her longtime friend James Gray. She was 98.
Nelson was the choreographer for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Jolson Story,” “Picnic,” “Hawaii,” “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” and “The Apartment.” She also appeared as an actress in “Double Indemnity,” “Cover Girl,” “The Jolson Story,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’,” and “Pillow Talk.” Nelson choreographed the dancers on the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, two Academy Awards and two Super Bowl halftime shows.
Nelson was widely known for her enthusiasm for dancing. John Wayne once shouted to a group taking a break on set as she walked by, “Run for the hills, fellas! Or Miriam will make you dance!”
She was born Miriam Lois Frankel on Sept. 21, 1919, in Chicago and began tap dancing at a very young age.
Nelson was the choreographer for “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” “The Jolson Story,” “Picnic,” “Hawaii,” “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice,” and “The Apartment.” She also appeared as an actress in “Double Indemnity,” “Cover Girl,” “The Jolson Story,” “Breakfast at Tiffany’,” and “Pillow Talk.” Nelson choreographed the dancers on the opening day of Disneyland in 1955, two Academy Awards and two Super Bowl halftime shows.
Nelson was widely known for her enthusiasm for dancing. John Wayne once shouted to a group taking a break on set as she walked by, “Run for the hills, fellas! Or Miriam will make you dance!”
She was born Miriam Lois Frankel on Sept. 21, 1919, in Chicago and began tap dancing at a very young age.
- 8/20/2018
- by Dave McNary
- Variety Film + TV
Kent McCray, producer of the classic Little House on the Prairie series, died of natural causes on June 3 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 89 years old.
As native Hartford, Conn., McCray’s career spanned more than 50 years. He was born on June 7, 1928, and is the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray, who was an executive with the NBC Radio Network as well as Dorothy Baldwin McCray who was a singer and a musician.
After graduating from Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire — where his love of storytelling grew — he studied theater arts at the University of Hartford under Dr. Elemer Nagy. After receiving his diploma in 1948 he worked for the Central City Opera Association in Colorado and then went on to build his television career in Los Angeles.
He was a production coordinator on the All-Star Revue and The Colgate Comedy Hour at NBC and then worked for...
As native Hartford, Conn., McCray’s career spanned more than 50 years. He was born on June 7, 1928, and is the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray, who was an executive with the NBC Radio Network as well as Dorothy Baldwin McCray who was a singer and a musician.
After graduating from Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire — where his love of storytelling grew — he studied theater arts at the University of Hartford under Dr. Elemer Nagy. After receiving his diploma in 1948 he worked for the Central City Opera Association in Colorado and then went on to build his television career in Los Angeles.
He was a production coordinator on the All-Star Revue and The Colgate Comedy Hour at NBC and then worked for...
- 6/4/2018
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
“Little House on the Prairie” producer Kent McCray died of natural causes in Los Angeles on Sunday. He was 89.
McCray was born on June 7, 1928, the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray — an executive with the NBC Radio Network — and singer Dorothy Baldwin McCray. A Hartford, Conn., native, McCray found his passion for entertainment early on during his time at the Kimball Union Academy prep school in New Hampshire. While at Kimball, McCray built sets, directed, acted, and sang in several school theatrical productions.
Three years after graduating from the University of Hartford, McCray began his television career at NBC in L.A. as a production coordinator on the “All Star Revue” and “The Colgate Comedy Hour.” Other assignments followed quickly, including “The Red Skelton Show,” “The Ralph Edwards Show,” “This Is Your Life,” and “You Bet Your Life” starring Groucho Marx.
When NBC announced its shift away from live television into filmed entertainment,...
McCray was born on June 7, 1928, the second son of Thomas Chapman McCray — an executive with the NBC Radio Network — and singer Dorothy Baldwin McCray. A Hartford, Conn., native, McCray found his passion for entertainment early on during his time at the Kimball Union Academy prep school in New Hampshire. While at Kimball, McCray built sets, directed, acted, and sang in several school theatrical productions.
Three years after graduating from the University of Hartford, McCray began his television career at NBC in L.A. as a production coordinator on the “All Star Revue” and “The Colgate Comedy Hour.” Other assignments followed quickly, including “The Red Skelton Show,” “The Ralph Edwards Show,” “This Is Your Life,” and “You Bet Your Life” starring Groucho Marx.
When NBC announced its shift away from live television into filmed entertainment,...
- 6/4/2018
- by Ellis Clopton
- Variety Film + TV
Part of the Jerry Lewis tribute A Mubi Jerrython.Jerry Lewis's rise to stardom almost perfectly coincides with the rise of television as the dominant entertainment medium of the post-war era. 1946, the first year a somewhat consistent network schedule emerged in the U.S., with several hours of daily programming, Lewis teamed up with Dean Martin, and they almost immediately started gaining success as a nightclub comedy double act. Two years later, Martin and Lewis started appearing on television and quickly established themselves as a steady presence there, too. To skip through the patchy archive of Lewis's early television appearances on YouTube and elsewhere means encountering a comedian, who entered the limelight almost fully formed (and often much more fully formed than the medium he appeared in), but who also seemed to feel constrained by the opportunities given to him almost from the start. Lewis and television were not a perfect match,...
- 1/10/2018
- MUBI
Las Vegas – For Jerry Lewis, the “King of Comedy” wasn’t just a mere nickname, but an apt description for his long career and influence. He went from being the most popular entertainer of an era, to notable and studied filmmaker, to charity spokesperson and finally to comic legend. Jerry Lewis died in Las Vegas on August 20th, 2017. He was 91.
When the gawky 19 year-old Lewis met the suave singer Dean Martin in 1946, little did they know that they would become the most popular act in America for several years. Their box office draw was white-hot, so much so that neither of them could keep up with the blur of what happened to them. They eventually broke up at the height of their fame in 1956, during which Martin famously said, “Jer, when I look at you, all I see is a dollar sign.” The second phase of Lewis’s career would be about his prolific filmmaking,...
When the gawky 19 year-old Lewis met the suave singer Dean Martin in 1946, little did they know that they would become the most popular act in America for several years. Their box office draw was white-hot, so much so that neither of them could keep up with the blur of what happened to them. They eventually broke up at the height of their fame in 1956, during which Martin famously said, “Jer, when I look at you, all I see is a dollar sign.” The second phase of Lewis’s career would be about his prolific filmmaking,...
- 8/21/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
7:15 Pm Pt -- The White House has issued a statement on the death of Jerry Lewis, saying ... "Jerry Lewis kept us all laughing for over half a century, and his incredible charity work touched the lives of millions. Jerry lived the American Dream -- he truly loved his country, and his country loved him back. Our thoughts are with his family today as we remember the extraordinary life of one our greatest entertainers and humanitarians.
- 8/20/2017
- by TMZ Staff
- TMZ
Chicago – Norman Lear is one of the greatest TV creators of the 20th Century, and beyond. The producer was a titan of 1970s television, with shows like “All in the Family,” “Good Times,” “Maude” and “Sanford and Son.” He is the topic of a new film documentary, “Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You.”
Lear is the embodiment of television history, having worked in the medium since its advent in the 1950s. He began with partner Ed Simmons, writing for shows like the “Ford Star Revue” and “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, he produced television that was common at the time – star oriented and non-controversial – while also writing and producing movie satire like “Divorce, American Style” and “Cold Turkey,” with partner Bud Yorkin. In the late 1960s, he began to work on a pilot called “Justice for All,” featuring a bigoted character named “Archie Justice.
Lear is the embodiment of television history, having worked in the medium since its advent in the 1950s. He began with partner Ed Simmons, writing for shows like the “Ford Star Revue” and “The Colgate Comedy Hour” (with Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis). Throughout the 1950s and ‘60s, he produced television that was common at the time – star oriented and non-controversial – while also writing and producing movie satire like “Divorce, American Style” and “Cold Turkey,” with partner Bud Yorkin. In the late 1960s, he began to work on a pilot called “Justice for All,” featuring a bigoted character named “Archie Justice.
- 8/1/2016
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
The film and television director, producer and writer died of natural causes at his Bel Air Home. He was 89.
Yorkin was born in the coal mining town of Washington, Pennsylvania on February 22 1926 and after serving in the Navy embarked on a career as a camera engineer for NBC.
He became a stage manager and then writer, working on NBC’s variety showcase The Colgate Comedy Hour. He moved into directing that show and then directed stints on programmes such as The Spike Jones Show and Light’s Diamond Jubilee.
Film director credits include Love Hurts, Twice In A Lifetime, Arthur 2: On The Rocks, The Thief Who Came To Dinner, Start The Revolution Without Me, Inspector Clouseau, Divorce American Style and Come Blow Your Horn.
He also served as executive producer on Blade Runner and played a role as producer in bringing to fruition the sequel, which is set to begin shooting next summer.
His credits...
Yorkin was born in the coal mining town of Washington, Pennsylvania on February 22 1926 and after serving in the Navy embarked on a career as a camera engineer for NBC.
He became a stage manager and then writer, working on NBC’s variety showcase The Colgate Comedy Hour. He moved into directing that show and then directed stints on programmes such as The Spike Jones Show and Light’s Diamond Jubilee.
Film director credits include Love Hurts, Twice In A Lifetime, Arthur 2: On The Rocks, The Thief Who Came To Dinner, Start The Revolution Without Me, Inspector Clouseau, Divorce American Style and Come Blow Your Horn.
He also served as executive producer on Blade Runner and played a role as producer in bringing to fruition the sequel, which is set to begin shooting next summer.
His credits...
- 8/18/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Streaming video is a godsend if you want to catch up with recent seasons of TV series. But what's a TV fan to do who wants to stream older shows? Netflix has very little from before the millennium, and Amazon Prime has very little from before 1990.
That's not a knock; the big streaming services know their market. Still, it's worth remembering that Amazon's initial appeal as a bookseller was it's long-tail catalog, the notion that comprehensiveness was worthwhile because somebody somewhere would want that obscure or ancient title, that the markets for all those titles were collectively significant and worth catering to, and that the Internet had at last made it easier to connect those customers with what they wanted.
But until the big streaming services step into the long-tail breach, Shout Factory TV (at shoutfactorytv.com) is ready to make a home there. The boutique streaming service, which is free and requires no subscription,...
That's not a knock; the big streaming services know their market. Still, it's worth remembering that Amazon's initial appeal as a bookseller was it's long-tail catalog, the notion that comprehensiveness was worthwhile because somebody somewhere would want that obscure or ancient title, that the markets for all those titles were collectively significant and worth catering to, and that the Internet had at last made it easier to connect those customers with what they wanted.
But until the big streaming services step into the long-tail breach, Shout Factory TV (at shoutfactorytv.com) is ready to make a home there. The boutique streaming service, which is free and requires no subscription,...
- 2/20/2015
- by Gary Susman
- Moviefone
Sixty years ago, long before he started making movies, Woody Allen moved to Hollywood to write for television. Over the next decade, he worked on such programs as The Colgate Comedy Hour and The Sid Caesar Show. Now, after all his time as one of the most recognized and prolific American auteurs in cinema, he's returning to the small screen. It's a very different medium, though, then when Allen was starting out, and the outlet for his new project is a prime example (no pun intended). Amazon Studios has snatched the filmmaker to develop a series for the online retailer's growing -- and now award-winning -- original-content division. And he's set to write and direct every episode of its first season. This series is due next year, for streaming on...
Read More...
Read More...
- 1/13/2015
- by Christopher Campbell
- Movies.com
The Wasteland:
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
Television is a gold goose that lays scrambled eggs;
and it is futile and probably fatal to beat it for not laying caviar.
Lee Loevinger
When people argue over the quality of television programming, both sides — it’s addictive crap v. underappreciated populist art — seem to forget one of the essentials about commercial TV. By definition, it is not a public service. It is not commercial TV’s job to enlighten, inform, educate, elevate, inspire, or offer insight. Frankly, it’s not even commercial TV’s job to entertain. Bottom line: its purpose is simply to deliver as many sets of eyes to advertisers as possible. As it happens, it tends to do this by offering various forms of entertainment, and occasionally by offering content that does enlighten, inform, etc., but a cynic would make the point that if TV could do the same job televising fish aimlessly swimming around an aquarium,...
- 7/22/2013
- by Ricky
- SoundOnSight
She was the hard working mom, Ann Romano, to many of us who grew up with her on TV. Actress Bonnie Franklin, who played Romano in the sitcom "One Day at a Time," died Friday from pancreatic cancer at her home. She was 69 years-old. The Santa Monica, CA. native was surrounded by her family and friends. A child star, Franklin appeared on television at age nine, in "The Colgate Comedy Hour," and made her Broadway debut in 1970 in "Applause." The comedy "One Day at a Time," which ran on CBS from 1975 to 1984, made her a household name. Franklin received multiple Golden Globe and Emmy nominations for her work on the series.
- 3/1/2013
- by April Neale
- Monsters and Critics
Bonnie Franklin, the Golden Globe- and Emmy-nominated actress who played Ann Romano in the CBS hit sitcom "One Day at a Time," died Friday at her home. She was 69. News broke in September that Franklin had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. She was surrounded by family and friends at the time of her death, an individual familiar with the situation told TheWrap Born in Santa Monica, Calif., in 1944, Franklin first appeared on television at age nine, in "The Colgate Comedy Hour," and made her Broadway debut in 1970 in "Applause." She...
- 3/1/2013
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
He has spent his life creating memorable and menacing characters. The actor tells Sean O'Hagan why he hates horses, loves Hollywood's honesty and won't leave his hotel in London
It was Mickey Rourke who came closest to capturing Christopher Walken's singular aura. "You were always like this strange being from another place," Rourke told Walken when the two came together recently for a feature in Interview magazine. "There was something 'outer space' about you."
Though Walken, now 69, has mellowed somewhat since he first crossed paths with Rourke on Michael Cimino's ill-fated epic, Heaven's Gate, in 1980, that description still seems apt. It's to do with his sense of detachment: the odd mix of preternatural calm and underlying menace that he exudes onscreen. Like the late Dennis Hopper, but in a more understated way, Walken has spent the best part of his career playing extreme characters of one kind or another,...
It was Mickey Rourke who came closest to capturing Christopher Walken's singular aura. "You were always like this strange being from another place," Rourke told Walken when the two came together recently for a feature in Interview magazine. "There was something 'outer space' about you."
Though Walken, now 69, has mellowed somewhat since he first crossed paths with Rourke on Michael Cimino's ill-fated epic, Heaven's Gate, in 1980, that description still seems apt. It's to do with his sense of detachment: the odd mix of preternatural calm and underlying menace that he exudes onscreen. Like the late Dennis Hopper, but in a more understated way, Walken has spent the best part of his career playing extreme characters of one kind or another,...
- 12/2/2012
- by Sean O'Hagan
- The Guardian - Film News
TV comedy writer Jack Elinson, whose career stretched over 50 years, died Thursday at his home in Santa Monica. He was 89. His numerous credits as writer during the 1950s included the series All-Star Revue, The Colgate Comedy Hour, The Duke, The Jimmy Durante Show, Hey, Jeannie!, The Johnny Carson Show, and The Real McCoys. During the 1960s, The Danny Thomas Show (aka Make Room for Daddy), The Andy Griffith Show, Hogan’s Heroes, Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (producer), Run, Buddy, Run (producer), and That Girl (producer). He wrote and served as producer on many series in the ’70s, such as Good Times (producer), and One Day at Time (executive producer), as well as The Doris Day Show (producer), Arnie and the animated sitcom Wait Till Your Father Gets Home. During the ’80s, his work included The Facts of Life (executive producer) and 227, the Marla Gibbs-starring comedy series which...
- 11/22/2011
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Jack Elinson, a veteran TV comedy writer and producer, died Thursday of natural causes at his Santa Monica home, the Writers Guild of America, West announced Monday. He was 89. Elinson, who cut his teeth writing jokes for Walter Winchell's newspaper column, rose to prominence in the 1950s working on such Golden Age fare as "The Jimmy Durante Show," "The Johnny Carson Show" and "The Colgate Comedy Hour." The following decade saw him writing for series including "The Danny Thomas Show," "The Andy Griffith Show," "Hogan's Heroes," "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C." and...
- 11/22/2011
- by Tim Kenneally
- The Wrap
DVD Playhouse—April 2011
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
- 4/6/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
DVD Playhouse—April 2011
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
By
Allen Gardner
Hereafter (Warner Bros.) Clint Eastwood’s spiritual thriller follows a trio of characters whose seemingly disparate paths converge: Matt Damon as a blue collar Joe who tries to fight against his psychic powers that see “the other side,” Cecile de France as a journalist who somehow survives the tsunami that crushed Indonesia, and a London schoolboy (Frankie and George McLaren) who seeks answers after losing his twin brother. Like all of Eastwood’s films, the narrative construction is tight as a drum, with solid work by all involved. That said, “solid” would have to be the operative word to describe the proceedings here, as well as “unremarkable” and “uninvolving” on an emotional level. Perhaps we expect too much when we see Clint’s name on a film these days, but that’s the flip side of being one of the best. Blu-ray/DVD combo pack.
- 4/6/2011
- by The Hollywood Interview.com
- The Hollywood Interview
American director best known for Bonnie and Clyde, he focused on disillusioned outsiders
Arthur Penn, who has died aged 88, was one of the major figures of Us television, stage and film in the 1960s and 70s when the three disciplines actively encouraged experimentation, innovation and challenging subject matter. "I think the 1960s generation was a state of mind," he said, "and it's really the one I've been in since I was born." He will be best remembered for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a complex and lyrical study of violent outsiders whose lives became the stuff of myth.
The film, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, and based on the exploits of the bank-robbing Barrow Gang in the 1930s, became a cause celebre. It was praised and attacked for its distortion, bad taste and glorification of violence in equal measure. Newsweek's critic, Joseph Morgenstern, retracted his initial view of the film's violence,...
Arthur Penn, who has died aged 88, was one of the major figures of Us television, stage and film in the 1960s and 70s when the three disciplines actively encouraged experimentation, innovation and challenging subject matter. "I think the 1960s generation was a state of mind," he said, "and it's really the one I've been in since I was born." He will be best remembered for Bonnie and Clyde (1967), a complex and lyrical study of violent outsiders whose lives became the stuff of myth.
The film, starring Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway, and based on the exploits of the bank-robbing Barrow Gang in the 1930s, became a cause celebre. It was praised and attacked for its distortion, bad taste and glorification of violence in equal measure. Newsweek's critic, Joseph Morgenstern, retracted his initial view of the film's violence,...
- 9/29/2010
- by Sheila Whitaker
- The Guardian - Film News
Arthur Penn, the director of the polarizing "Bonnie and Clyde" whose films often flew in the face of American mythology, died Tuesday, one day after his 88th birthday.
Daughter Molly Penn said her father died of congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home. Longtime friend and business manager Evan Bell said Wednesday that Penn had been ill for about a year.
A product of the golden era of live television and an accomplished theater director, Penn's work on "The Miracle Worker" earned him an Emmy nomination in 1957, a Tony in 1959 and an Oscar nom in 1962. At one time, Penn had five hits running simultaneously on Broadway.
Penn was one of a group of directors -- including John Frankenheimer, Sidney Lumet and Norman Jewison -- whose films were intelligent glimpses into politics, morals and social institutions. Often, they were met with controversy.
His movies debunked the allure of the gunman, the...
Daughter Molly Penn said her father died of congestive heart failure at his Manhattan home. Longtime friend and business manager Evan Bell said Wednesday that Penn had been ill for about a year.
A product of the golden era of live television and an accomplished theater director, Penn's work on "The Miracle Worker" earned him an Emmy nomination in 1957, a Tony in 1959 and an Oscar nom in 1962. At one time, Penn had five hits running simultaneously on Broadway.
Penn was one of a group of directors -- including John Frankenheimer, Sidney Lumet and Norman Jewison -- whose films were intelligent glimpses into politics, morals and social institutions. Often, they were met with controversy.
His movies debunked the allure of the gunman, the...
- 9/29/2010
- by By Duane Byrge
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
In his 30-year career, Kevin Pollak has appeared in more than 60 films and created indelible roles in such modern classics as A Few Good Men and The Usual Suspects. His Internet awakening occurred in 2009, when he started his Streamy Award winning weekly talk show Kevin Pollak Chat Show backed by Jason Calacanis (Mahalo). He ventured into the world of Web video with his acclaimed original Web series Vamped Out (it was his directorial debut and he wrote and starred in it as well). Vamped Out returns for season 2 on Babelgum this fall. In a series of interviews about his projects, Pollak shares the story of his evolution and what he loves about this new entertainment medium.
Fast Company: How did Kevin Pollak Chat Show start?
Kevin Pollak: About a year ago, I was visiting Jason Calacanis at Maholo's offices. He was doing a live streaming thing with his disciples,...
Fast Company: How did Kevin Pollak Chat Show start?
Kevin Pollak: About a year ago, I was visiting Jason Calacanis at Maholo's offices. He was doing a live streaming thing with his disciples,...
- 8/16/2010
- by David Lidsky and Patrick J. Sauer
- Fast Company
The man who virtually owns Fox Sunday nights, Seth MacFarlane, will be joining Carrie Underwood in what is seemingly Fox's attempt to revive the variety show genre. Didn't anybody learn the lesson of Rosie O'Donnell?
The show is called Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show. It'll be broadcast on November 8th and be commercial-free thanks to Microsoft (who will be promoting Windows 7). The special will be a mix of animated and live performances. I've seen Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein (the voice of Lois Griffin) perform together in Family Guy Live and they're certainly better together than anything Rosie could produce.
It's interesting how retro these planned variety shows are going. It used to be that shows like The Colgate Comedy Hour would have live sketches about their sponsors sprinkled throughout the show. I wonder how MacFarlane and company will handle shilling Windows 7. Do they even...
The show is called Family Guy Presents: Seth and Alex's Almost Live Comedy Show. It'll be broadcast on November 8th and be commercial-free thanks to Microsoft (who will be promoting Windows 7). The special will be a mix of animated and live performances. I've seen Seth MacFarlane and Alex Borstein (the voice of Lois Griffin) perform together in Family Guy Live and they're certainly better together than anything Rosie could produce.
It's interesting how retro these planned variety shows are going. It used to be that shows like The Colgate Comedy Hour would have live sketches about their sponsors sprinkled throughout the show. I wonder how MacFarlane and company will handle shilling Windows 7. Do they even...
- 10/14/2009
- by Brad Trechak
- Aol TV.
Eartha Kitt, who used her seductive purr and sultry style to charm audiences as an actress, singer and cabaret star, died Thursday of colon cancer. She was 81.
The cancer was detected about two years ago and treated, but it recurred after a period of remission. Kitt recently had been treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
"She came back strongly; she had been performing until two months ago," said Andrew Freedman, a longtime friend and publicist. "We had dates booked through 2009."
Among Kitt's hits was the Christmas tune "Santa Baby," lending poignancy to her Christmas Day death. The song went gold this year, and she received the gold record before she died, Freedman said.
Slinky and catlike, Kitt described herself as a "sex kitten": She followed Julie Newmar in the role of Catwoman on the TV series "Batman" during the 1960s.
But the seductress also could be a political provocateur.
The cancer was detected about two years ago and treated, but it recurred after a period of remission. Kitt recently had been treated at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital in New York.
"She came back strongly; she had been performing until two months ago," said Andrew Freedman, a longtime friend and publicist. "We had dates booked through 2009."
Among Kitt's hits was the Christmas tune "Santa Baby," lending poignancy to her Christmas Day death. The song went gold this year, and she received the gold record before she died, Freedman said.
Slinky and catlike, Kitt described herself as a "sex kitten": She followed Julie Newmar in the role of Catwoman on the TV series "Batman" during the 1960s.
But the seductress also could be a political provocateur.
- 12/25/2008
- by By Duane Byrge
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Actor and dancer Donald O'Connor, who wowed audiences with his "Make `Em Laugh" number in the classic musical Singin' in the Rain, died Saturday of heart failure at a retirement home in Calabasas, CA; he was 78. Born to a family of vaudeville performers, O'Connor joined the family profession as an infant and made his film debut at age 11 in the movie 1937's Melody for Two, dancing alongside two of his brothers. Juvenile roles and more vaudeville work followed, and in 1942 he signed on for a number of low-budget musicals for Universal. O'Connor gained a measure of cinematic fame and success as the human star of the first Francis the Talking Mule film, and went on to make five sequels opposite his animal co-star. His show-stopping role in Singin' in the Rain came in 1952, where he played wry musician Cosmo Brown alongside Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. When it came to the now-legendary "Make `Em Laugh" number, O'Connor said he choreographed his pratfalls and acrobatics by seeing what made two female assistants on the set laugh the most; word had it he spent three days in bed after filming the number. Other films in the 50s included I Love Melvin, Call Me Madam, There's No Business Like Show Business and Anything Goes. O'Connor won an Emmy in 1954 for his work on The Colgate Comedy Hour and starred in three different versions of The Donald O'Connor Show. In his later years, O'Connor devoted his energy to composing concert music and making nightclub and stage appearances; he appeared briefly in both Ragtime and Toys and a number of television shows in the 80s and 90s. Always handy with a one-liner, O'Connor saved one of his best for last . according to his family's brief statement, among his last words were, "I'd like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get." O'Connor is survived by his wife, Gloria Noble, and four children. --Prepared by IMDb staff...
- 9/29/2003
- WENN
Actor and dancer Donald O'Connor, who wowed audiences with his "Make `Em Laugh" number in the classic musical Singin' in the Rain, died Saturday of heart failure at a retirement home in Calabasas, CA; he was 78. Born to a family of vaudeville performers, O'Connor joined the family profession as an infant and made his film debut at age 11 in the movie 1937's Melody for Two, dancing alongside two of his brothers. Juvenile roles and more vaudeville work followed, and in 1942 he signed on for a number of low-budget musicals for Universal. O'Connor gained a measure of cinematic fame and success as the human star of the first Francis the Talking Mule film, and went on to make five sequels opposite his animal co-star. His show-stopping role in Singin' in the Rain came in 1952, where he played wry musician Cosmo Brown alongside Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. When it came to the now-legendary "Make `Em Laugh" number, O'Connor said he choreographed his pratfalls and acrobatics by seeing what made two female assistants on the set laugh the most; word had it he spent three days in bed after filming the number. Other films in the 50s included I Love Melvin, Call Me Madam, There's No Business Like Show Business and Anything Goes. O'Connor won an Emmy in 1954 for his work on The Colgate Comedy Hour and starred in three different versions of The Donald O'Connor Show. In his later years, O'Connor devoted his energy to composing concert music and making nightclub and stage appearances; he appeared briefly in both Ragtime and Toys and a number of television shows in the 80s and 90s. Always handy with a one-liner, O'Connor saved one of his best for last . according to his family's brief statement, among his last words were, "I'd like to thank the Academy for my lifetime achievement award that I will eventually get." O'Connor is survived by his wife, Gloria Noble, and four children. --Prepared by IMDb staff...
- 9/28/2003
- IMDb News
IMDb.com, Inc. takes no responsibility for the content or accuracy of the above news articles, Tweets, or blog posts. This content is published for the entertainment of our users only. The news articles, Tweets, and blog posts do not represent IMDb's opinions nor can we guarantee that the reporting therein is completely factual. Please visit the source responsible for the item in question to report any concerns you may have regarding content or accuracy.