Barry Reardon, the veteran film executive who served as Warner Bros.’ chief of theatrical distribution from 1978 to 1999, has died at age 92, the studio announced Monday.
Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and Trinity College, Reardon got his start at the printing company Litton Industries in 1957. A decade later, he made the jump to the entertainment industry with a job at Paramount Pictures as the associate to the VP of finance in their New York office.
From 1967 to 1975, he worked his way up to become the VP of marketing and distribution at Paramount before becoming the head of marketing and film procurement for General Cinemas, which at the time was America’s largest movie theater chain. He worked at General Cinemas for three years before being recruited by Warner Bros.
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Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and a graduate of College of the Holy Cross and Trinity College, Reardon got his start at the printing company Litton Industries in 1957. A decade later, he made the jump to the entertainment industry with a job at Paramount Pictures as the associate to the VP of finance in their New York office.
From 1967 to 1975, he worked his way up to become the VP of marketing and distribution at Paramount before becoming the head of marketing and film procurement for General Cinemas, which at the time was America’s largest movie theater chain. He worked at General Cinemas for three years before being recruited by Warner Bros.
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- 6/5/2023
- by Jeremy Fuster
- The Wrap
Mexican character actor Sergio Calderón, best known for playing the “head on a stick” in 1997’s “Men in Black” and Capt. Vallenueva in 2007’s “Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End,” died this morning surrounded by family, according to his spokesperson. Calderón was 77.
Although the cause of death was not publicized at press time, Calderón was previously in the hospital with a bout of pneumonia.
The actors’ other notable credits include Sergio Leone’s “Duck, You Sucker!” (1971), in which Calderón played a Mexican revolutionary. Additionally, in John Huston’s “Under the Volcano” (1984), he played a violent Mexican chief of police opposite Albert Finney.
On the television side, Calderón starred on the debut episode of NBC’s “The A-Team” in 1983, where he made a guest appearance as the flamboyant bandit Malavida Valdése. He later returned to the show in its third season as the river pirate El Cajón (translating...
Although the cause of death was not publicized at press time, Calderón was previously in the hospital with a bout of pneumonia.
The actors’ other notable credits include Sergio Leone’s “Duck, You Sucker!” (1971), in which Calderón played a Mexican revolutionary. Additionally, in John Huston’s “Under the Volcano” (1984), he played a violent Mexican chief of police opposite Albert Finney.
On the television side, Calderón starred on the debut episode of NBC’s “The A-Team” in 1983, where he made a guest appearance as the flamboyant bandit Malavida Valdése. He later returned to the show in its third season as the river pirate El Cajón (translating...
- 6/1/2023
- by Umberto Gonzalez
- The Wrap
John Beasley, an actor best known for his roles on the TV shows ‘Everwood’ and ‘The Soul Man,’ died Tuesday at the age of 79.
Beasley’s son Mike shared the news of his father’s death on Facebook.
“Man…you know this is a part of life…but that doesn’t make it any easier,” Mike W. Beasley wrote above a photo of him and his father. “I lost my best friend today. They say you shouldn’t ever meet your heroes because they don’t turn out to be who you thought they were. That is so wrong. My hero was my father. Thank you for everything. I hope I made you proud. Love you more.”
The character actor died in a hospital in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, where he’d been undergoing tests on his liver before his condition unexpectedly worsened, Beasley’s son Tyrone told The Hollywood Reporter.
Beasley’s son Mike shared the news of his father’s death on Facebook.
“Man…you know this is a part of life…but that doesn’t make it any easier,” Mike W. Beasley wrote above a photo of him and his father. “I lost my best friend today. They say you shouldn’t ever meet your heroes because they don’t turn out to be who you thought they were. That is so wrong. My hero was my father. Thank you for everything. I hope I made you proud. Love you more.”
The character actor died in a hospital in his hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, where he’d been undergoing tests on his liver before his condition unexpectedly worsened, Beasley’s son Tyrone told The Hollywood Reporter.
- 5/31/2023
- by Mason Bissada
- The Wrap
Milt Larsen, co-founder of the world famous Magic Castle in Hollywood, actor, TV writer and producer, died May 28 in his sleep at his home in Hollywood, his family told TMZ. He was 92.
Larsen, along with his brother Bill Larsen and Bill’s wife Irene, founded Magic Castle, a private club for magicians, in Hollywood in 1963. The Larsen brothers grew up in a family of magicians. Their father, William Larsen Sr., was a performing magician and Los Angeles defense attorney. Their mother, Geraldine, was an early TV pioneer children’s entertainer known as The Magic Lady.
The Larsen brothers and Irene transformed the Lane mansion below Yamashiro in Hollywood, into the Magic Castle, also home to the Academy of Magical Arts.
In addition to his talent as a magician, Milt Larsen was a successful writer, working on Ralph Edwards’ TV game show Truth or Consequences starring Bob Barker, for 18 years. He also authored several books,...
Larsen, along with his brother Bill Larsen and Bill’s wife Irene, founded Magic Castle, a private club for magicians, in Hollywood in 1963. The Larsen brothers grew up in a family of magicians. Their father, William Larsen Sr., was a performing magician and Los Angeles defense attorney. Their mother, Geraldine, was an early TV pioneer children’s entertainer known as The Magic Lady.
The Larsen brothers and Irene transformed the Lane mansion below Yamashiro in Hollywood, into the Magic Castle, also home to the Academy of Magical Arts.
In addition to his talent as a magician, Milt Larsen was a successful writer, working on Ralph Edwards’ TV game show Truth or Consequences starring Bob Barker, for 18 years. He also authored several books,...
- 5/29/2023
- by Denise Petski
- Deadline Film + TV
Milt Larsen, an illusionist and former TV game show writer best known as the co-founder of the Magic Castle, Los Angeles’ private club for magicians, died Sunday of natural causes, his family announced. He was 92.
Born in Pasadena in 1931, Larsen and his brother, Bill, both became writers for television in the 1950s. Both of their parents were practicing magicians, including mother Geraldine, who made television appearances as “The Magic Lady,” early in the medium’s rise.
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Together with William and William’s wife Irene, they transformed a mansion on Franklin Avenue, just off of Highland in the very heart of Hollywood, into a place where working magicians could perform and play. They first leased the building in 1961 and opened it in 1963, billing the Magic Castle as “the most unusual private club in the world.
Born in Pasadena in 1931, Larsen and his brother, Bill, both became writers for television in the 1950s. Both of their parents were practicing magicians, including mother Geraldine, who made television appearances as “The Magic Lady,” early in the medium’s rise.
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Together with William and William’s wife Irene, they transformed a mansion on Franklin Avenue, just off of Highland in the very heart of Hollywood, into a place where working magicians could perform and play. They first leased the building in 1961 and opened it in 1963, billing the Magic Castle as “the most unusual private club in the world.
- 5/29/2023
- by Ross A. Lincoln and Drew Taylor
- The Wrap
Milt Larsen, who wrote for the game show Truth or Consequences for nearly two decades and co-founded The Magic Castle in Hollywood, died Sunday of natural causes in Los Angeles, his family announced. He was 92.
Larsen produced TV specials for ABC, CBS and NBC and wrote songs with Richard Sherman, the Oscar winner who partnered with his late brother, Robert, to create tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book.
He also was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In 1963, Larsen and his late brother, Bill, founded The Magic Castle in a 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue. With its many stages, labyrinthine corridors and old-fashioned decor, the place would become a renowned private club for magicians.
Larsen wrote five joke books and three books involving The Magic Castle, penned a weekly...
Larsen produced TV specials for ABC, CBS and NBC and wrote songs with Richard Sherman, the Oscar winner who partnered with his late brother, Robert, to create tunes for such Disney classics as Mary Poppins, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Jungle Book.
He also was the creator and consultant for the $50 million Caesars Magic Empire at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
In 1963, Larsen and his late brother, Bill, founded The Magic Castle in a 1909 French Chateau mansion on Franklin Avenue. With its many stages, labyrinthine corridors and old-fashioned decor, the place would become a renowned private club for magicians.
Larsen wrote five joke books and three books involving The Magic Castle, penned a weekly...
- 5/29/2023
- by Mike Barnes
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Milt Larsen, the magician and TV writer who co-founded Hollywood’s famed Magic Castle night spot, died May 28 in Los Angeles. He was 92.
Larsen had deep roots in the world of magic and in Los Angeles. His father, William Larsen Sr., was a prominent local defense attorney and a performing magician. His mother, Geraldine, made early appearances on TV as “The Magic Lady.” Milt Larsen worked as a writer for TV game shows including “Truth or Consequences” during 18 years of Bob Barker’s tenure as host in the 1950s, ’60s and early ’70s.
Larsen teamed with his older brother, William Larsen Jr., and William’s wife, Irene, in the early 1960s to transform a Gothic renaissance mansion on Franklin Avenue in the heart of Hollywood into a clubhouse designed to cater to working magicians. The trio created the Academy of Magical Arts, but the venue became known as the Magic Castle.
Larsen had deep roots in the world of magic and in Los Angeles. His father, William Larsen Sr., was a prominent local defense attorney and a performing magician. His mother, Geraldine, made early appearances on TV as “The Magic Lady.” Milt Larsen worked as a writer for TV game shows including “Truth or Consequences” during 18 years of Bob Barker’s tenure as host in the 1950s, ’60s and early ’70s.
Larsen teamed with his older brother, William Larsen Jr., and William’s wife, Irene, in the early 1960s to transform a Gothic renaissance mansion on Franklin Avenue in the heart of Hollywood into a clubhouse designed to cater to working magicians. The trio created the Academy of Magical Arts, but the venue became known as the Magic Castle.
- 5/29/2023
- by William Earl
- Variety Film + TV
Hollywood’s magic-themed entertainment venue The Magic Castle is to set up shop in China through a deal with local tech and entertainment firm Novaex Group. It is the first time that Magic Castles Inc. has licensed its property outside North America.
Novaex has obtained an exclusive license to use the The Magic Castle IP in themed entertainment projects, including indoor and outdoor entertainment centers, hotels, and restaurants in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Novaex CEO, Jeson Zheng and a team led by magician Andrew Goldenhersh, will create a new style of magic experience, with state of the art technology playing a major part in the development.
The first Magic Castle-themed project is being developed for Novaex’s offline Internet community brand The Circle, which integrates a five-star hotel resort, recreation, catering, natural scenery, luxury shopping and immersive entertainment that features Vr, Ar, Mr, 3D and hologram projections.
Novaex has obtained an exclusive license to use the The Magic Castle IP in themed entertainment projects, including indoor and outdoor entertainment centers, hotels, and restaurants in mainland China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan.
Novaex CEO, Jeson Zheng and a team led by magician Andrew Goldenhersh, will create a new style of magic experience, with state of the art technology playing a major part in the development.
The first Magic Castle-themed project is being developed for Novaex’s offline Internet community brand The Circle, which integrates a five-star hotel resort, recreation, catering, natural scenery, luxury shopping and immersive entertainment that features Vr, Ar, Mr, 3D and hologram projections.
- 5/25/2018
- by Patrick Frater
- Variety Film + TV
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