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1-50 of 78
- Actress
- Producer
It would have been pretty difficult for willowy actress/model Dina Merrill to have pulled off playing a commoner on stage, film or TV in her day. She reeked of elegance and class. The epitome of style, poise and glamour, the New York-born socialite and celebrity was born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton on December 29, 1923, the daughter of E.F. Hutton, the financier and founder of the Wall Street firm that bore his name, and heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post, of the Post cereal fortune. Although Dina made elegant, elaborate use of her upbringing over the decades, she handled it all positively and graciously without tabloid incidents, instilling these same refined credentials into a large portion of her characters.
Dina did not originally intend on an acting career. After studying at George Washington University, she suddenly dropped out after only a year (to the chagrin of her disapproving parents) after demonstrating a late desire to perform. Enrolling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts and studying with Uta Hagen among others, Dina appeared in the comedy "The Man Who Came to Dinner" before taking her first Broadway curtain call in "The Mermaids Singing" in 1945. She took some time off to play wife and mother to three children after marrying Stanley Rumbough, Jr., heir to the Colgate toothpaste fortune.
Dina finally made an official film debut with a smart and stylish support role in the Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn vehicle Desk Set (1957). She continued to charm in the same upper crust vein playing some version of the model wife or blue-blooded maven in frequent posh outings. Some of her more noticeable roles came with Operation Petticoat (1959) with the equally classy Cary Grant; BUtterfield 8 (1960) starring Elizabeth Taylor and Laurence Harvey; and The Young Savages (1961) opposite Burt Lancaster.
Following her divorce to Rumbough after 20 years, Dina married ruggedly handsome actor Cliff Robertson in 1966. The pair had one daughter and were a popular Hollywood fixture for nearly 20 years. With her film career on the wane in the mid 1960's, Dina gravitated toward TV guest spots on such popular shows as "Dr. Kildare," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "Burke's Law," "Rawhide," "Daktari," "Bonanza," "Daniel Boone," "Batman" (as the villainous "Calamity Jan" alongside Robertson's western bad guy "Shame"), "The Name of the Game," "The Virginian," "Night Gallery," "Marcus Welby," "The Love Boat" and "The Odd Couple." She also graced a number of TV-movie dramas beginning with The Sunshine Patriot (1968) co-starring husband Robertson and Seven in Darkness (1969) (as a blind survivor of a plane crash), and continuing with The Lonely Profession (1969), Mr. and Mrs. Bo Jo Jones (1971), Family Flight (1972), The Letters (1973), The Tenth Month (1979), and a featured part in the mini-series sequel Roots: The Next Generations (1979).
Dina returned to Broadway as the co-star of the drama "Angel Street" (1975) and again with the revival of the musical "On Your Toes" in which she played "Peggy Porterfield" in both the 1983 Broadway revival and 1986 national tour. In the same year that Dina divorced second husband Cliff Robertson (1989), she married actor/investment banker Ted Hartley. Together the couple bought RKO Studios and renamed it RKO Pavilion. He serves as chairman and she vice chairperson/creative director. The studio produced such popular efforts as Milk & Money (1996) and the remake of Mighty Joe Young (1998).
Admired for her tireless philanthropic contributions, Dina was a moderate Republican (vice chair of the Republican Pro-Choice Coalition), and an active lobbyist for women's health issues. She also devoted much time working for the disadvantaged, particularly for the New York City Mission Society. She remained active and was an avid tennis and golf player for quite some time. Broaching age 90, the ever-glamorous actress appeared in a summer stock production of "Only a Kingdom" (2004) and continued to appear in occasional movie and television productions until developing dementia. Dina died on May 22, 2017, at age 93, survived by her third husband.- Actor
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Gene Saks was born on 8 November 1921 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Deconstructing Harry (1997), The Odd Couple (1968) and I.Q. (1994). He was married to Keren Victoria Ettlinger and Bea Arthur. He died on 28 March 2015 in East Hampton, New York, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Don Bexley was born on 10 March 1910 in Jamestown, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Sanford and Son (1972), What's Up, Doc? (1972) and T.J. Hooker (1982). He was married to Patricia Bergeron, Gillian and Ruth. He died on 15 April 1997 in Hampton, Virginia, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Movie and television actress Nancy Guild was a contract player at 20th Century-Fox, which reminded the public that her surname "rhymes with wild" after she was signed to a seven-year contract in 1946. The studio bosses must have changed their mind how they would position her as she typically played demure, ladylike roles.
She made her debut as a night club chanteuse in Joseph L. Mankiewicz's Somewhere in the Night (1946), which was marketed with newspaper ads bearing the "Nancy Guild Rhymes with Wild" catch line. She followed that up with the Philip Marlowe picture The Brasher Doubloon (1947), based on Raymond Chandler's novel "The High Window."
On the rebound from an engagement with producer Edward Lasker, Guild married fellow 20th Century-Fox contract player Chuck Russell in early 1947. The following year, they appeared together in the Dan Dailey musical Give My Regards to Broadway (1948).
Leaving Fox, she co-starred with Orson Welles in Gregory Ratoff's Black Magic (1949) before moving on to Universal Studios, where she appeared in Bud Abbott and Lou Costello Meet the Invisible Man (1951). In 1953, she appeared opposite a talking mule in Francis Covers the Big Town (1953), her last picture until Such Good Friends (1971).
Having divorced Russell in 1950, Guild married the successful Broadway impresario Ernest H. Martin, the three-time Tony Award-winning producer of Guys and Dolls (1955), The Sound of Music (1965), and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966) among others, in 1951. She appeared occasionally on television, retiring after an appearance on Robert Montgomery Presents (1950) in 1955. She did return to the silver screen in 1971, in Otto Preminger's Such Good Friends (1971)
She divorced Martin in 1975, marrying photojournalist John Bryson in 1978. Her final marriage lasted 17 years. She divorced Bryson in 1995. In all, she was both married and divorced three times.
Nancy Guild died in East Hampton, New York on August 16, 1999, at the age of 73. She was survived by her three daughters and three granddaughters.- Felicia Montealegre was born on 6 February 1922 in San José, Costa Rica. She was an actress, known for Studio One (1948), The Chevrolet Tele-Theatre (1948) and Kraft Theatre (1947). She was married to Leonard Bernstein. She died on 16 June 1978 in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Irene Windust was born on 6 July 1921 in East Hampton, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955), Roadracers (1959) and Ma Barker's Killer Brood (1960). She was married to George Latimer Maxwell and Bretaigne Windust. She died on 15 December 1999 in East Hampton, New York, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Derrick Sherwin was born on 16 April 1936 in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Doctor Who (1963), Paul Temple (1969) and Ski-Boy (1974). He was married to Sherwin, Ingsumon and Jane Sherwin. He died on 17 October 2018 in Hampton Hill, London, England, UK.- Director
- Actor
- Producer
Guy Verney was born on 5 November 1915 in Fulham, London, England, UK. He was a director and actor, known for This Happy Breed (1944), The Avengers (1961) and City Beneath the Sea (1962). He was married to Joan Verney and Margaret Anderson. He died on 19 September 1970 in Hampton Wick, Surrey, England, UK.- Ann Power was born on 5 April 1928 in Paris, France. She was married to Oskar Werner. She died on 25 December 2011 in North Hampton, New Hampshire, USA.
- Writer
- Actor
Joseph Heller was born May 1, 1923, in the Coney Island section of New York City. He is best known for his 1961 novel 'Catch-22', whose title gave the English language a new phrase for a no-win situation. The situation was that of protagonist Yossarian, who claims that he is too crazy to fly any more bombing missions, but is told by the military that anyone who seeks to avoid combat must be sane. After high school Heller enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a bombardier, then transferred to cadet school. He flew more than 60 bombing missions during his tour of duty. Heller earned a Bachelor of Arts from New York University in 1948, a Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1949 and a Fulbright Scholarship to Oxford University. He taught English at Pennsylvania State University, wrote advertising copy for Time and Look magazines, and was a promotion manager for McCall's magazine. Teaching jobs at Yale University and University of Pennsylvania followed, as well as television and screen-writing work.- Malcolm Gerard was born on 16 May 1937 in Brentford, Middlesex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Billy Bunter of Greyfriars School (1952), A Matter of Choice (1963) and The Bill (1984). He was married to Jill Simcox. He died on 7 August 2015 in Hampton, Middlesex, England, UK.
- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Jeff Harris was born on 10 June 1935 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and producer, known for Detective School (1979), Dads (1986) and Almost Anything Goes (1975). He died on 2 February 2004 in East Hampton, New York, USA.- Lisa Howard was born on 24 April 1930 in Cambridge, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Man Against Crime (1949), Space Patrol (1950) and Donovan's Brain (1953). She was married to Walter Lowendahl and Felix E. Feist. She died on 4 July 1965 in East Hampton, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Lewis Puller was a United States Marine Corps officer who saw action in World War II as well as the Korean War. He got his nickname "chesty" because he had a barrel chest which he would stick out when he walked.
- Michael Faraday was an English scientist who contributed to the study of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. His main discoveries include the principles underlying electromagnetic induction, diamagnetism and electrolysis.
Although Faraday received little formal education, he was one of the most influential scientists in history. It was by his research on the magnetic field around a conductor carrying a direct current that Faraday established the basis for the concept of the electromagnetic field in physics. Faraday also established that magnetism could affect rays of light and that there was an underlying relationship between the two phenomena.
He similarly discovered the principles of electromagnetic induction and diamagnetism, and the laws of electrolysis. His inventions of electromagnetic rotary devices formed the foundation of electric motor technology, and it was largely due to his efforts that electricity became practical for use in technology.
Albert Einstein kept a picture of Faraday on his study wall, alongside pictures of Isaac Newton and James Clerk Maxwell. - Nancy Pinkerton was born on 7 May 1940 in Omaha, Nebraska, USA. She was an actress, known for One Life to Live (1968), The Edge of Night (1956) and The Doctors (1963). She died on 4 March 2010 in West Hampton, Long Island, New York, USA.
- Andrzej Wasilewicz was born on 10 March 1951 in Bialogard, Zachodniopomorskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for The Gorgon Case (1977), Alicja (1982) and Teddy Bear (1981). He died on 13 December 2016 in East Hampton, New York, USA.
- Hugh Harrell Jr. was born on 21 July 1926 in Hampton, Virginia, USA. He was married to Beah Richards and Pearl Viola Charity. He died on 14 January 2009 in Hampton, Virginia, USA.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
David Williams was born on 21 November 1950 in Newport News, Virginia, USA. He was a composer, known for Madonna: Open Your Heart (1986), Madonna: Like a Prayer (1989) and Madonna: Celebration - The Video Collection (2009). He was married to Deborah. He died on 6 March 2009 in Hampton, Virginia, USA.- Hamer was born in Dayton, Ohio in 1932. He got involved in acting at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he appeared in several theatre productions while doing his undergraduate studies. Joe later received a Master's Degree in Theatre from UCLA and did Doctoral Thesis work at Ohio State. He appeared on Broadway in "The Great White Hope" starring James Earl Jones and got his first feature film experience in the Elizabeth Taylor film BUtterfield 8 (1960). Joe later went on to become one of the busiest commercial actors in New York City over the next 30 years. He has appeared in over 300 TV and Radio commercials, as well as several Soap Operas and TV movies. He curently resides in East Hampton, New York and continues to work to this day.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Composer and conductor, educated at Breslau University and Juilliard and a music student of Julius Gloger and Percy Goetschius. Coming to the USA in 1908, he was a church organist in Philadelphia and a music director with a theatrical circuit for thirteen years. He was also an editor for a music publisher for three years, and wrote background music for radio programs, and conducted radio's "The Army Hour" between 1943 and 1946. In addition he was a staff arranger, conductor and composer for NBC. Joining ASCAP in 1927, his song compositions include "Our Faith Shall Live", "Gracious Lord Who Givest Blessing", "The Call of the Highroad", "Land of Faith, Land of Hope", "For the Red, White and Blue", "Flag of Hope", "Somewhere, Sometime, Somehow", and "Wonderful Night".- Music Department
- Composer
- Writer
Norman Dello Joio was born on 24 January 1913 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a composer and writer, known for A Golden Prison: The Louvre (1964), Vanity Fair (1961) and Kamikaze (1960). He was married to Barbara Bolton and Grayce Baumgold. He died on 24 July 2008 in East Hampton, New York, USA.- John Tarangelo was born on 31 August 1930 in Elmhurst, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Johnny Staccato (1959), Return from the Sea (1954) and Riot in Cell Block 11 (1954). He died in June 1985 in Hampton Bays, New York, USA.
- Director
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
R.E. Jeffrey was born on 29 July 1886 in Uxbridge, Middlesex, England, UK. He was a director and actor, known for The Skin Game (1931), Choral Cameos (1930) and A Feast of Harmony (1930). He died on 14 February 1957 in Hampton, Middlesex, England, UK.- Writer
- Additional Crew
- Soundtrack
American poet and writer John Greenleaf Whittier was born on December 17, 1807, near Haverhill, Massachusetts. He grew up on a farm with an extended family, consisting of three siblings--two sisters and a brother--and his mother's sister and his father's brother. The farm was fairly large but not particularly profitable, and the family made just enough money to get by. Whittier was a rather sickly child, and couldn't help out with farm chores very often (among other problems, his color-blindness made it difficult for him to distinguish between ripe and unripe fruits) and his frailty and bad health were problems for him throughout his life.
His formal education was not particularly extensive--due to his family's ongoing financial problems and his own poor health--but he developed into an avid reader who studied his father's books on the Quaker religion so thoroughly that the theology became the guiding principles in his life. He was strongly influenced by the religion's emphasis on one's responsibility to one's fellow human beings, which contributed to his becoming a fervent abolitionist later in his adult life.
Introduced to poetry by a teacher, Whittier wrote his first poem, "The Exile's Departure", in 1826. His sister thought so highly of it that she sent it to a newspaper, the Newburyport Free Press, and its editor, the abolitionist publisher William Lloyd Garrison, published it in the June 8 edition. Garrison was also impressed by the young boy's writing ability and urged him to attend the Haverhill Academy, a recently opened private school. Paying his tuition with money obtained from a variety of jobs--including shoemaker and teacher--he graduated from the Academy in 1828. Garrison hired him as editor of his weekly publication The American Manufacturer in Boston. Whittier soon developed into a fierce opponent of President Andrew Jackson, and in 1830 he was hired as the editor of the prestigious New England Weekly Review in Hartford, Connecticut, which was one of the most prominent Whig publications in the region.
Whittier ran for Congress in 1832 but lost. The experience caused him to have a nervous breakdown, and he returned home to the family farm at Haverhill to recuperate. The next year he resumed his relationship with Garrison, and soon joined his mentor in the abolitionist cause. He published an anti-slavery pamphlet, "Justice and Expediency". The pamphlet earned him the wrath of Northern businessmen and Southern slaveowners, effectively ending any hopes he may have harbored for a political career, and he devoted the next 20 years of his life to helping rid the country of the cancer of slavery. He helped to found the American Anti-Slavery Society, and was a very effective lobbyist in Congress for the cause, helping to recruit quite a few congressmen to the abolitionist movement. His activities were not without consequences, though. He received more than a few death threats, was stoned by mobs in his travels around the country and was run out of town several times. This didn't stop his activities on behalf of the movement, however, and in 1838 he became editor of The Pennsylvania Freeman, an anti-slavery newspaper in Philadelphia, a position he held for the next two years (in that same year the newspaper moved to a new office, which was promptly burned down by a rioting pro-slavery mob). Unfortunately, he and Garrison developed differences over the direction of the abolitionist movement, and the two bitterly split in 1839.
Whittier went on to help form the Liberty Party, an abolitionist political group. However, the combination of his editorial duties, his poetry and prose writings, his activities in the abolitionist movement, the violence directed against it--and him--and his continuing health problems contributed to his having yet another nervous breakdown. He returned to his home in Amesbury, and stayed there for the rest of his life. Although that ended his active participation in the abolitionist movement, he was still a strong supporter of it, and helped the Liberty Party to evolve into the Free Soil Party. In 1847 Whittier became editor of The National Era, probably the most powerful and influential abolitionist paper in the North, a post he held for the next ten years, and contributed what many believe to be his best writing to the paper. With the passage of the 13th Amendment in 1865, which outlawed slavery, Whittier ended his abolitionist activities and devoted himself to writing poetry. He was one of the founding members of The Atlantic Monthly--a publication that survives to this day--and in 1867 he met Charles Dickens while the renowned British author was on a visit to the U.S., an event that left a deep impression on him.
Although Whittier spent virtually his entire life in Massachusetts, he died at the home of a friend in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire, on September 7, 1892. Among his most famous works are the poems "Barbara Frietchie", "Snow-Bound" and "The Brewing of Soma". The city of Whittier, California--home of former US President Richard Nixon--is named after him.