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1-11 of 11
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Diminutive, blond character comedienne whose strident voice and nervy manner made her the perfect foil to Lucille Ball's madcap antics on TV, at first, occasionally, on I Love Lucy (1951) (as "Betty Ramsay" and "Evelyn Bigsby"), then on a regular basis on The Lucy Show (1962) and Here's Lucy (1968) (as "Mary Jane Lewis"). Mary Jane started her show business career on the stage with the civic theatre in her hometown, Muncie, Indiana. After briefly acting with the Guild Theatre in Cincinnati, Ohio, she joined the local radio station WLW and embarked on a lengthy career as a radio actress. Her marriage to fellow actor Jack Zoller was followed by a move to Los Angeles in 1939.
During the 1940's and 1950's, Mary Jane became one of a company of much in-demand voice actresses (along with performers Lurene Tuttle, Howard Duff and Bea Benaderet, whom she befriended), comedy inevitably being her forte. She acted on "The Mel Blanc Show" (1946), as the love interest "Leila Ransom" on "The Great Gildersleeve" (1950), "Blondie" (1950), "The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes" (1950), the family friend on The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1952), and the voice of basset hound "Cleo", owned by Jackie Cooper, on The People's Choice (1955) (1955-56). Her best-known pre-Lucille role was as "Daisy Enright", the nemesis of "Our Miss Brooks", which starred Eve Arden and Gale Gordon (both on radio and, subsequently, on TV). Mary Jane re-enacted the part for three seasons in the television series, produced by Desilu.
In 1960, Mary Jane got married for the second time, using her newly married name for her character on The Lucy Show (1962), produced by new hubby Elliott Lewis. By 1965, Mary Jane had replaced Vivian Vance, who retired from the show, as Lucy's neighbor. For most TV audiences, Mary Jane will be fondly remembered as Lucy's cheerful ally and confidante in their various joint endeavors at setting up pompous banker Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Despite other changes in the cast, Mary Jane's role carried over into the next incarnation of the Desilu franchise, Here's Lucy (1968).
After her death in August 1999, Lucie Arnaz eulogized her mother's friend Mary Jane, as being the antithesis of the dizzy blonde she portrayed on screen and as a fun-loving and joyous spirit.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Lani Kai, whose real name was George Clarence Dennis James Von Ruckleman Woodd III, represented the image of the handsome, native Polynesian man for viewers of a television series in the early 1960s. His big break in show business came when he accompanied his mother to a casting call for the TV series Adventures in Paradise (1959) in 1959 and wound up being chosen for a regular role. He also had a feature role in Elvis Presley's hit movie, Blue Hawaii (1961), in 1961.
Kai was an accomplished songwriter whose most notable songs are "Puka Shells" and "Tutukane." His performances and acts are credited for transforming the local entertainment scene in Hawaii.
He continued to write music and scriptwriting until his sudden death at a friend's home on August 24, 1999. Kai was 63 and survived by a brother and half-sister. At his request, his ashes were scattered at Chun's Reef.- J.S. Johnson was born on 3 February 1937 in Paris, Kentucky, USA. He was an actor, known for McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), Fuzz (1972) and McCoy (1975). He was married to Suzanne Zenor. He died on 24 August 1999 in Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Eleazar García was born on 28 September 1924 in Mier, Tamaulipas, Mexico. He was an actor, known for El ojo de vidrio (1969), Valente Quintero (1973) and Vuelve el ojo de vidrio (1970). He died on 24 August 1999 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Writer
José Esteban Alenda was a producer and production manager, known for El crack (1981), Begin the Beguine (1982) and Con el culo al aire (1980). José died on 24 August 1999 in Salamanca, Spain.- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Alfredo Alaria was born on 1 January 1930 in Buenos Aires, Argentina. He was an actor and writer, known for Diferente (1962), Como dos gotas de agua (1964) and Mi último tango (1960). He died on 24 August 1999 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.- Actress
Forrest Dickson was born on 7 November 1921 in Deming, New Mexico, USA. She was an actress. She was married to Richard George Anske and Irving J. Moore. She died on 24 August 1999 in Burbank, California, USA.- Warren Covington was born on 7 August 1921 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 24 August 1999 in Safety Harbor, Florida, USA.
- R. Norwood Smith was born on 18 April 1915 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Rockford Files (1974), Listen to Me (1989) and Huckleberry Finn (1974). He was married to Elizabeth. He died on 24 August 1999 in Camarillo, California, USA.
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Director
Manfred Korytowski was born on 31 December 1936 in Königsberg, East-Prussia, Germany [now Kaliningrad, Russia]. He was a producer and production manager, known for The Contenders (1993), The Return of Dr. Mabuse (1961) and Die Vertreibung aus dem Paradies (1977). He died on 24 August 1999.- Music Department
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Alexandre Lagoya was born on 29 June 1929 in Alexandria, Egypt. He was an actor, known for Glamador (1958), Every Time We Say Goodbye (1986) and Six alcooliques en quête d'un médecin (1974). He was married to Ida Presti and Monelle ?. He died on 24 August 1999 in Paris, France.