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1-9 of 9
- Actor
- Soundtrack
A genial, well-respected, all-around "nice guy", the breezily handsome Barry Nelson was born Haakon Robert Nielsen on April 16, 1917, in San Francisco, California, to Betsy (Christophersen) and Trygve "Ted" Nielsen, both Norwegian immigrants. He was raised in nearby Oakland and graduated from the University of California at Berkeley in 1941. A talent scout from MGM caught Barry in a college production of "Macbeth" and quickly sized up his potential. Cast in earnest secondary roles including Shadow of the Thin Man (1941) and Dr. Kildare's Victory (1942), he was assigned the lead in the war film A Yank on the Burma Road (1942). Serving in WWII, he appeared in the Moss Hart play "Winged Victory", in what would become his Broadway debut, in 1943 and a year later he appeared as "Corporal Barry Nelson" in the 1944 film version of the play. Barry lost major ground in films during the post-war years, but certainly made up for it on the live stage by appearing in a string of New York successes ranging from "The Rat Race" to "The Moon Is Blue."
On TV, in addition to becoming a trivia statistic in the Hollywood annals as being the first to give video life to Ian Fleming's "007" agent James ("Jimmy") Bond in a one-hour production of "Casino Royale" in Climax! (1954), Barry lit up the small screen in such dramatic programs as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) and, in particular, a memorable episode of The Twilight Zone (1959). He also starred in the series The Hunter (1952), a Cold War adventure, and My Favorite Husband (1953), in which he played the level-headed mate and "straight man" to daffy blonde Joan Caulfield. In the 1960s he continued to demonstrate his acting muscle on stage and TV, although he did manage to preserve on film his starring role in Mary, Mary (1963), a huge Broadway hit with Debbie Reynolds co-starring in place of stage partner Barbara Bel Geddes. The lightweight play "Cactus Flower" with Lauren Bacall was another bright vehicle, but star Walter Matthau's clout cost Barry the part when it went to film. Through it all Barry remained a thoroughly solid professional, particularly in the realm of TV-movies. Such standouts include his neighbor/undercover agent to criminals-on-the-run Don Murray and Inger Stevens in The Borgia Stick (1967) and his blind plane crash survivor in Seven in Darkness (1969).
The 1970s proved a very good decade indeed for Barry theater-wise with "Seascape," "The Norman Conquests" and Liza Minnelli's "The Act" among his pleasures, the last-mentioned earning him a Tony nomination. Despite co-starring roles in the blockbuster hit Airport (1970) and comedy Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), the silver screen would not become his strong suit in later years. By the early 1990s he had fully retired.
A popular, clean-cut, down-to-earth "Average Joe" with a charmingly sly side, you just couldn't help but like Barry Nelson. Although he certainly could play the deceptive villain when called upon, he was usually the kind of guy you'd root for having as a neighbor, pal or business partner. Divorced from actress Teresa Celli for quite some time and completely retired now, he and second wife Nansilee (they married in 1992) traveled extensively and enjoyed antique shopping in particular. In 2007, during one of their many excursions, Barry passed away quietly at age 89 at a hotel in Bucks County, Pennesylvania.- Johnny Hart was born on 18 February 1931 in Endicott, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for The Wizard of Id, B.C. and BC's Quest for Tires (1983). He was married to Ida Jane (Bobby) Hatcher. He died on 7 April 2007 in Nineveh, New York, USA.
- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Director
Doreen Denning was born on 5 December 1928 in London, England, UK. She was an actress and director, known for 13 Demon Street (1959), The Swedish Woman (1969) and Face of Fire (1959). She died on 7 April 2007 in Kungsängen, Stockholms län, Sweden.- Dorothy McNames was born on 23 April 1909 in Michigan, USA. She was an actress, known for Happy Days (1929). She died on 7 April 2007.
- Born to George E. and Jean Cooper Eisenhauer in Armbrust, Westmoreland Country, he grew up singing while his mother played piano to make money during the Depression. When at age five he played a wooden soldier in a show at Syria Mosque, he knew he was meant to be a performer.
As a student at Oliver High School, Mr. Eisenhauer signed on for a 15-minute show at WWSW called "Evening Melodies" and worked a replacement stint at KDKA for a vacationing vocalist.
After high school, he served in the Navy on the battleship USS Massachusetts in the Pacific theater.
Following the war, he attended Carnegie Tech to study dramatics and music, and after two years, he decided to continue his studies at the Pittsburgh Playhouse. He completed the course in Acting Technique from the Playhouse School of the Theater in 1949.
In that same year, he received a call from the station manager at WDTV, the DuMont television station that was sold a few years later to Westinghouse and changed to KDKA. When the manager offered him a position as an announcer, Mr. Eisenhauer told him he had no experience announcing, but the manager liked his voice.
By the next day he was speaking as the first staff announcer hired in Pittsburgh television.
In those first few years, he wore many hats at the television station, and did everything from announcing and singing to acting and publicity.
"I was just starting my career so I knew it was important to learn all I could," Mr. Eisenhauer said in a 1978 article in The Advertiser.
In 1954, the year before WDTV changed to KDKA, Mr. Eisenhauer was promoted to staff announcer and later, to senior announcer. At that time, every element of the broadcast was live, and Mr. Eisenhauer voiced the station breaks every 15 and 30 minutes and on the hour.
He also spoke commercial announcements, such as Kaufmann's, Giant Eagle and the Pittsburgh Symphony, and he narrated the nationally syndicated "MGM Family Theater."
Mr. Eisenhauer appeared on camera when he hosted the Friday night show, "The 13th Hour," which featured horror movies, and "Not Just Sunday," a talk show for which he interviewed religious personalities who were visiting Pittsburgh. Among the guests on the latter show were Coretta Scott King and Billy Graham.
A seasoned actor, Mr. Eisenhauer performed in numerous community productions at the Pittsburgh Playhouse, the White Barn, and the Odd Chair Playhouse.
In addition to his rich speaking voice, Mr. Eisenhauer had a talented baritone singing voice, and he sang on his KDKA show, "Music for Meditation," on the annual Children's Hospital holiday program, and in the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Choir.
Mr. Eisenhauer's singing prowess won him a spot in the finals on Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scout Show, but he only tried out on a whim and refused to go to New York for the finals.
Mr. Eisenhauer retired in 1987 to spend more time with his 11-month-old son. - Art Department
Jim Marchese was born on 11 October 1950. He is known for Hot Pursuit (1984), What Love Is (2007) and Boston Public (2000). He died on 7 April 2007.- Actor
- Art Director
Ogie Juliano was born on 22 January 1961 in the Philippines. He was an actor and art director, known for The Graduates (1986), Gamitin mo ako (1985) and Sisa (1999). He died on 7 April 2007 in the Philippines.- Jeannette Ordman was born on 8 November 1935 in Germiston, Gauteng, South Africa,. She died on 7 April 2007 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- Special Effects
Luke Tillman was born on 12 March 1921. He is known for Sam's Son (1984), Highway to Heaven (1984) and Little House on the Prairie (1974). He died on 7 April 2007.