Ruth Warrick: In show business for nearly seven decades, actress Ruth Warrick is best remembered for two disparate roles: Charles Foster Kane’s genteel wife in Orson Welles’ 1941 classic Citizen…
Actress Carol Lynley: Why the dramatic career downturn? The 1970s were a problematic decade for Hollywood film actresses; still, it’s hard to understand why her post-The Poseidon Adventure movies mostly…
Actress Ann Sothern enjoyed a belated (second) career peak: In the late 1940s, the former Maisie franchise star was seen in a cluster of A productions – admittedly, not always…
Howard Keel in Dallas with Donna Reed: late 20th-century mainstream resurgence of two former Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer stars. On Season 8 (1984–1985) of CBS’s hit TV soap Dallas (1978–1991), 1950s MGM contract…
Blake Edwards: Director of the Pink Panther movies – and Julie Andrews’ husband for more than four decades – was at his best handling polished comedies and a couple of…
Olivia de Havilland in ‘The Heiress.’ Olivia de Havilland vs. Warner Bros. (See previous post: “Olivia de Havilland Turns 99: Warner Bros. Legal Fight Changed U.S. Labor Law.”) In 1942,…
Abe Vigoda dead or alive? The Godfather actor became a pop celebrity in the U.S. following greatly exaggerated reports of his death. ‘The Godfather’ actor Abe Vigoda dead at 94:…
‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’: Critics’ Choice Awards Best Picture nomination controversy. Critics’ Choice Awards: Everybody is a nominee Your U.S.-based awards group, all-encompassingly named the Critics’ Choice Awards, wants…
Marjorie Lord actress ca. early 1950s: Mother of Oscar-nominated performer. Actress Marjorie Lord: Best remembered for long-running hit TV series ‘Make Room for Daddy’ Stage, film, and television actress Marjorie…
Jackie Collins’ sex novel The Bitch became a sex movie starring sexy sister Joan Collins. Author Jackie Collins dead at 77: Surprisingly few film & TV adaptations of her bestselling…
Yvonne Craig: Batgirl a.k.a. Barbara Gordon in cult TV series. Batgirl Yvonne Craig dead at 78: Also featured in ‘Star Trek’ episode & Elvis Presley movies Yvonne Craig, best known…
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. with Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer. ‘The Man from U.N.C.L.E.’ box office: Bigger domestic flop than expected? Before I address the box office debacle of Warner…
Jerry Weintraub produced The Karate Kid 1984 with Ralph Macchio. Jerry Weintraub: ‘The Karate Kid’ & ‘Ocean’s Eleven’ producer dead at 77 Former talent agent turned film and television producer…
Ron Moody in Mel Brooks’ ‘The Twelve Chairs:’ The ‘Doctor Who’ that never was. Ron Moody: ‘Doctor Who’ was biggest professional regret (See previous post: “Ron Moody: From Charles Dickens…
Nicholas Kallsen: Brad Pitt Glory Days co-star. Brad Pitt Glory Days co-star Nicholas Kallsen dead at 48 Nicholas Kallsen, who was featured opposite Brad Pitt in the short-lived television series…