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1-31 of 31
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Henry B. Walthall was a respected stage actor who became a favorite of pioneering film director D.W. Griffith. Born in 1878 in Alabama, Walthall embarked on a law career but quit law school in 1898 to enlist in the US Army in order to fight in the Spanish-American War. Returning from the war he decided to take up an acting career instead of the law, and traveled to New York City to make his mark on Broadway. He debuted on the Great White Way in 1901. His friend and fellow actor James Kirkwood introduced him to Griffith, who already knew of Walthall's reputation as a stage actor. He hired Walthall to appear in his A Convict's Sacrifice (1909), the first of many films they would make together. Griffith, like Walthall a Southerner, cast him as "the little colonel" in his epic The Birth of a Nation (1915).
Shortly afterward Walthall left Biograph and Griffith for Balboa Pictures in Long Beach, CA. In 1917 he and his wife formed their own production company, but after a few films he went back to work for Griffith at Biograph. However, his career went on a downward spiral, and by the 1920s he was appearing in mostly low-budget "B" fare, with only a few side journeys into more quality "A" pictures--Tod Browning's London After Midnight (1927) among them.
The sound period rejuvenated Walthall's career somewhat. He had a distinguished bearing and his voice, unlike those of many bigger silent-screen stars, was perfectly acceptable for talkies. He appeared in such productions as John Ford's Judge Priest (1934) and Browning's The Devil-Doll (1936). He was hired by director Frank Capra to play the High Lama in Capra's production of Lost Horizon (1937), but before the film began production he died of influenza, on June 7, 1936.- Actress
- Director
- Writer
Mabel Normand was one of the comedy greats of early film. In an era when women are deemed 'not funny enough' it seems film history has forgotten her contributions. Her films debuted the Keystone Cops, Charlie Chaplin's tramp and the pie in the face gag. She co-starred with both Chaplin and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle in a series of shorts. She was a star in the first Keystone Comedy as well as the first feature film comedy. She was the only comedian to work with Charles Chaplin , Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle, Mack Sennett, D.W. Griffith, Harold Lloyd, Mary Pickford, Hal Roach, Stan Laurel, Oliver Hardy, Fred Mace, Fred Sterling and John Bunny (she and Buster Keaton never had a chance to work together but they were friends.)
Born in Staten Island, New York to Claude and Mary Normand. Normand started out as an artist model for Charles Dana Gibson (creator of the Gibson girl). Friends suggested she try out for the new medium of film and she did, working as an extra in Kalem and Biograph shorts. With Biograph's move to California she went to work for Vitagraph where she made a series of comedic shorts as 'Betty', one co-starring the first comedy film star John Bunny.
Eventually Normand returned to Biograph where she began working with Mack Sennett on comedic shorts that would eventually turn into Keystone Comedies. Normand and Sennett were lovers, close friends and close co-workers. All of Sennett's early ideas seemed to revolve around Normand. His creation of Keystone was contingent on Normand joining him; and though he would underpay her as he underpaid everyone he worked with, he insisted Normand have credit and say in the company. When Normand eventually left Keystone for Goldwyn, Sennett left soon after.
By 1912 Normand was writing her own films and by 1914 she was directing her films. By this point she was a major star, continually topping fan polls by new movie magazines. While the discovery of Charlie Chaplin varies from telling to telling, everyone involved agreed Sennett would not have hired (or kept him on) had it not been for Normand. Chaplin's second short for the company was Normand's "Mabel's Strange Predicament" which she starred and directed in. This was the first film Chaplin created his iconic tramp character for.
Chaplin and Normand had a comedic chemistry and would go on to team in a series of shorts until Chaplin left Keystone in 1915. As Chaplin's star rose many fan magazines began to call Normand a 'female Chaplin'. Normand and Chaplin had similar subtle mannerisms and the influence Normand had on Chaplin can not be understated. Before Chaplin left Keystone, they starred, alongside Marie Dressler, in "Tillie's Punctured Romance" the first full length comedy film.
With the loss of Chaplin, Normand and Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle began to team together in a series of shorts (though they had acted together before). This series was also popular and the pair continued acting together until they both left Keystone for better pay.
Sennett and Normand became engaged around this time, though the engagement ended when Sennett was caught cheating on Normand. Friends report she suffered a severe head injury when Sennett's fling threw a vase at Normand's head. Those who knew Normand all believed Sennett was the love of her life; and she his. However they would never reconcile romantically. Sennett did convince Normand to create her own production company "Mabel Normand Film Company" to make her own features. The first project was "Mickey" and Sennett's handling of her business affairs resulted in the film not being released until 1918 (or having a definite version).
Normand dissolved the company and signed with Goldwyn where she went on to make comedy features. These movies would be more akin to sitcoms: they were shorter than a lot of features, but still features. Many are lost though several have turned up in the past 10 years.
Normand once again signed with Sennett to make features and this would result in her final feature films. However this would be a rocky venture. Normand's health was hit or miss (she had been diagnosed with tuberculosis when she was 10) and seemed to be worse than better. She also was drinking heavily. In 1922 her friend William Desmond Taylor was murdered. This case would become 'the case of the century' and became a media circus, it is still unsolved. Though Normand was cleared (she had been seen leaving his house with him waving goodbye to her; she was likely the last person to see him alive), the association left an unwelcome tarnish on her soon after the scandalous death of her friend Olive Thomas, and the unfair trial of Roscoe Arbuckle.
Normand continued working, making The Extra Girl. Soon after its release in 1923 she was again near another crime (a butler was shot at a party she attended; though he survived.) Soon after Normand took a break from film.
By 1926 Normand was ready for a comeback. She signed with Hal Roach to make comedy shorts. These were well received and by 1928 she had signed with the William Morris Agency to make talkies. However she did not realize how sick she was and her health soon interrupted these plans.
Over the years Normand's tuberculosis has turned into rumors of a drug addiction. This started during the Taylor scandal when it was claimed that maybe he had been killed for interrupting a drug ring, and maybe Normand was part of it. While not prominent during her life it has become more commonly believed as time has passed despite no evidence. Normand's family, estate and personal nurse were all adamant she had never used any drugs. Sadly this rumor has become common place in Hollywood lore.
Normand's drinking increased as did her partying. During one party she decided to marry longtime friend Lew Cody at 2am. She instantly regretted the marriage and they continued living separately. As Normand's health decreased and she was committed to a sanitarium (akin to a hospital/hospice in modern terms) by 1929. She died in 1930 from tuberculosis.- Lu Elrod appeared in more than a dozen feature films over the past three decades. Her memorable film appearances include: The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979), High School High (1996), Wag the Dog (1997), The Big Lebowski (1998), Primary Colors (1998), Freaky Friday (2003), and Kicking & Screaming (2005). She also appeared in a variety of television programs including General Hospital (1972), Hill Street Blues (1981), Superior Court (1986), and Dream On (1990).
She was Professor Emeritus of Music at California State University-Los Angeles and continued to teach and play an active role in fund-raising for music scholarships at Cal State LA. She wrote a number of professional articles and videotape programs for instructional television on music education and on building a positive self-concept through music. She was a Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions finalist and was a critically acclaimed opera singer and expert in music education.
She was listed in national directories, including Who's Who in America, International Who's Who in Music, and was a multiple year honoree in Who's Who Among America's Teachers. She was a member of SAG, AFTRA, and AGVA. - Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
- Additional Crew
Donald Mankiewicz was born in Berlin into an illustrious creative family, his father being the screen-writer Herman Mankiewicz and his uncle film director Joseph Mankiewicz, whilst his brother Frank would also distinguish himself as a journalist. Brought up in Beverly Hills - where his parents' dinner guests numbered the biggest screen stars of the 1930s - he graduated from Columbia University in 1942 and served in Army Intelligence before becoming a staff writer for the 'New Yorker'. In the early 1950s, he began writing for television, one of his early jobs being an adaptation of Scott Fitzgerald's 'The Last Tycoon'. At the time, he commented that, of his writing contemporaries, he was possibly the only one to have known the author, who was a friend of his father. In 1958 he was Oscar-nominated for writing 'I Want To Live', which gained Susan Hayward her Academy Award as convicted murderess Barbara Graham, though much of his work was in television, on such series as 'Marcus Welby,MD', 'Ironside', and 'Star Trek', and, as a key member of the writers' union, he helped to gain union recognition for quiz show writers. Don Mankiewicz died of heart failure at his home in Monrovia, California on 25 April 2015, leaving behind a widow Carol, to whom he had been married for 43 years and four children, son John being a screen-writer and daughter Jane an authoress.- Matthew Ansara was born on 29 August 1965 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for To Protect and Serve (2001), One World (1998) and Con Games (2001). He was married to Julie Ansara. He died on 25 June 2001 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Rush Williams was born on 6 February 1924 in Texas City, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Hawaiian Eye (1959), Rawhide (1959) and Seven Guns to Mesa (1958). He was married to Jacqueline Worsley. He died on 11 February 2013 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Harry Watson was born in June 1876 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Crosby's Corners (1930), Zander the Great (1925) and Keep Moving (1915). He died on 23 September 1930 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Soundtrack
Jim Fuller was born on 27 June 1947. He died on 3 March 2017 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Samuel K. Doe was born on 6 May 1950 in Tuzon, Liberia. He died on 9 September 1990 in Monrovia, Liberia.
- Animation Department
- Production Manager
Trista H. Navarro was born on 6 August 1975 in California, USA. Trista H. was a production manager, known for The Simpsons Movie (2007), The Simpsons (1989) and The Longest Daycare (2012). Trista H. died on 6 February 2019 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Actress
- Writer
- Music Department
Clydie King was born on 21 August 1943 in Dallas, Texas, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for The Long Goodbye (1973), A Star Is Born (1976) and The Split (1968). She was married to Tony Collins and Robin Hale. She died on 7 January 2019 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Frances Burnham was born on 19 April 1895 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Love Thief (1916), Who's Your Servant? (1920) and The Price Woman Pays (1919). She was married to Noble Warren Sheldon. She died on 10 July 1924 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Music Department
- Editor
- Sound Department
George Probert was born on 5 March 1927 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an editor, known for Murder by Death (1976), My Science Project (1985) and Americathon (1979). He was married to Patricia and Margreet. He died on 10 January 2015 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Diana Miller was born Ruth Diana Moreland on March 18, 1902 in Seattle, Washington. Her parents divorced and she was raised by her mother Ella Moreland. When she was a teenager Diana moved to Los Angeles and became friends with actor Wallace Reid. He helped her get a job at the the Famous Players-Laskey studio. After working as an extra for five years the studio fired her. She was signed by Fox in 1924 and cast in the drama Honor Among Men. Diana quickly became one of the busiest actresses in Hollywood. In 1925 she appeared in nine films including The Hunted Woman, The Kiss Barrier, and The Fighting Heart with George O'Brien. The beautiful redhead was known for playing "heavy" roles and vamps.
She bought a charming home with large windows that looked out over Los Angeles. On November 26, 1925 Diana married director George Melford, who was twenty-five years older than her. Soon after she decided to quit acting and become a housewife. Her final film was the 1926 western The Cowboy and The Countess. Sadly in the Spring of 1927 she was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She spent more than six months in the Pottenger Sanitarium in Monrovia, California. Tragically on December 18, 1927 she died from a pulmonary hemorrhage caused by the tuberculosis. Diana was only twenty-five years old. She was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. - Baron De Beer was born on 9 September 1915. He was an actor, known for Bananas (1971), The Man from O.R.G.Y. (1970) and Garden of Death (1974). He died on 15 August 2001 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Make-Up Department
- Actress
- Script and Continuity Department
Dodie Warren was born on 16 July 1926 in Hastings, Nebraska, USA. She was an actress, known for The Money Jungle (1967), Panic in the City (1968) and The Destructors (1968). She was married to Benjamin Oldener. She died on 20 March 2020 in Monrovia, California, USA.- A.E. Anson was born on 14 September 1879 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Arrowsmith (1931) and The Road to Singapore (1931). He was married to Cora Busch, Deidre Doyle and Mary Mallison. He died on 25 June 1936 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Writer
- Editor
Dwight Cummins was born on 20 February 1902 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was a writer and editor, known for Fangs of the Wild (1928), The River (1928) and Little Mickey Grogan (1927). He was married to Dorothy Yost. He died on 31 May 1985 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Gilda Gales was one of those temptresses of the movie screen who captivated the hearts of many Filipinos during the years preceding World War Two. In an American-dominated Filipino movie industry in the 1930s, she managed to shine as a star, but her physical ailments have hampered her otherwise promising career as an actress.
Gilda Gales is said to be the Philippines' Greta Garbo. One would just have to look at her picture and somebody would already see the resemblance to the Swedish film queen. It is also interesting to note that her name's initials are the same with Greta Garbo's. These facts have become Gilda Gales' capital for what could have been otherwise a fruitful career.
Gilda Gales was born and raised in Iriga, Camarines Sur. She completed her elementary education at St. Anthony's Institute. Her beauty was already noticeable at that time. Because of this, she was frequently called upon by school and town officials to appear in school presentations and town celebrations. This was the acting bug that bit Gilda, and she dreamed of working in the movie studios in Manila when she gets older.
Her chances did came soon enough. Her father, a traveling agent for Smith, Bell and Co., was transferred to Manila. As soon as she moved to Manila, she approached Jose Nepomuceno to give her a job at the movies.
Jose Nepomuceno knew, right from the time that he gave Gilda a screen test, that he had found a star in Gilda Gales. Her first movie role was a supporting one in Malayan movies' Makata at Paraluman. Her beguiling screen debut led to another movie, Liberty Cadet's Love, and six more pictures.
Her career blossomed when she appeared in Brides of Sulu (1937), a film about Sulu, which was directed by Hollywood's Jack Nelson and released in the United States through Universal Pictures. It featured an all-Filipino cast, and the film itself was in Tagalog, however, for its American release, an American narrator was employed. The movie is somewhat remarkable because it was one of those first Filipino films that shot underwater scenes. This film starred Gilda Gales in a supporting role, and the roster of cast also included Eduardo de Castro and Adelina Moreno in the top roles. Her performance in this film led Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer to sign her up for an important role in its 1935 blockbuster Mutiny on the Bounty (which turned out to be the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Science's Best Picture pick for 1935). However, she was ill at that time and could not stand traveling to the United States.
Her poor health had thoroughly affected her career. After Brides of Sulu, she made two more pictures. She made Andres Bonifacio for Manila Talkatone (a poverty row production company), and she capped her career with Susi ng Kalangitan. She then retired from the movies for good.
She married Miguel Blanco, a bar and restaurant proprietor in Manila, and she had four children with him.
On June 16, 2003, she died from complications resulting in a stroke at Monrovia, California. She was 88.
This forgotten movie star's movies were believed to have been destroyed during World War Two. It is such a pity that such a remarkable actress had been forgotten by the public just because her legacy was not able to be preserved by the film industry.
Gilda Gales could have continued on to an illustrious career if not for her physical ailments. However, her enduring legacy and spotless beauty would truly immortalize her. - Writer
- Script and Continuity Department
Dorothy Yost was born on 25 April 1899 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. She was a writer, known for The Sea Bat (1930), The Big Cat (1949) and That Girl from Paris (1936). She was married to Dwight Cummins. She died on 10 June 1967 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Actress
- Stunts
Pansy Perry was born on 7 March 1887 in Kansas, USA. She was an actress, known for The Girl Who Came Back (1918), The Girl from Montana (1907) and The Spanish Girl (1909). She was married to Sam Claggett. She died on 15 March 1952 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Nicholas Kobliansky was born on 15 December 1881 in Kherson, Russian Empire [now Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for British Agent (1934), Resurrection (1931) and Strange Wives (1934). He died on 6 November 1976 in Monrovia, California, USA.- Bob Hudson was born on 7 October 1929 in Erie, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a writer, known for The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour (1969), The Emperor (1967) and Tom Smothers' Organic Prime Time Space Ride (1971). He was married to Joanne Virginia Rarick. He died on 20 September 1997 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Beatrice La Plante was born on 23 July 1896 in Faribault, Minnesota, USA. She was an actress, known for Hush (1921), Rose of the West (1919) and Dangerous Waters (1919). She was married to Clyde F. Drollinger, Jr.. She died on 3 March 1992 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Robert Peyton Carter was born in 1863 in Ledbury, Herefordshire, England, UK. Robert Peyton was a writer, known for Sacred Silence (1919). Robert Peyton was married to Anna Alice Chapin. Robert Peyton died on 8 June 1918 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Lazar Freed was born on 30 May 1889. He was an actor, known for Salome of the Tenements (1925), Jiskor (1924) and Overture to Glory (1940). He was married to Celia Adler. He died on 11 March 1944 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Bob Koritzke was a producer, known for The Haunting of Seaside (2007). Bob died on 5 July 2009 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Writer
- Editorial Department
Lars Hauglie was born on 14 May 1957 in Flint, Michigan, USA. He was a writer, known for Chopping Mall (1986), Legend of the Mummy (1998) and The Kindred (1987). He died on 20 March 2011 in Monrovia, California, USA.- George Foster Platt was born on 27 July 1866 in Petersburg, Virginia, USA. George Foster was a director, known for Inspiration (1915), The Five Faults of Flo (1916) and Deliverance (1919). George Foster died on 16 November 1928 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Hanna Wojciechowski was born on 5 August 1932 in Warsaw, Poland. Hanna was married to Jozef Wojciechowski. Hanna died on 13 February 2014 in Monrovia, California, USA.
- Terry Tooley was born on 31 December 1946 in Mishawaka, Indiana, USA. Terry died on 3 April 2007 in Monrovia, California, USA.