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1-13 of 13
- Actor
- Director
John Saxon appeared in nearly 200 roles in the movies and on television in a more-than half-century-long career that has stretched over seven decades since he made his big screen debut in 1954 in uncredited small roles in It Should Happen to You (1954) and George Cukor's A Star Is Born (1954). Born Carmine Orrico on August 5, 1936 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Italian-American parents, Antonio Orrico and Anna (née Protettore), he studied acting with Stella Adler after graduating from New Utrecht High School.
He was discovered by talent agent Henry Willson, the man most famous for creating and representing Rock Hudson (as well as a stable of "beefcake" male stars and starlets), who signed him up after he saw Saxon's picture on the cover of a magazine. Willson brought the 16-year-old to Southern California, changed his name to John Saxon, and launched his career. Saxon made his television debut on Richard Boone's series Medic (1954) in 1955 and got his first substantial (and credited) role in Running Wild (1955), playing a juvenile delinquent. In the Esther Williams vehicle The Unguarded Moment (1956) (one of her rare dramatic roles), the film's marketing campaign spotlighted him, trumpeting the movie as "Co-starring the exciting new personality John Saxon.".
By 1958, he seemed to have established himself as a supporting player in A-List pictures, being featured in Blake Edwards's comedy This Happy Feeling (1958) headlined by Debbie Reynolds and Vincente Minnelli's The Reluctant Debutante (1958) with Rex Harrison and Sandra Dee. In the next five years, he worked steadily, including supporting roles in John Huston's The Unforgiven (1960), the James Stewart comedy Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) and Otto Preminger's The Cardinal (1963) while having first billing in the B-movies Cry Tough (1959) and War Hunt (1962). Fluent in Italian, he made his first pictures in Italy in the period, Agostino (1962) and Mario Bava's The Evil Eye (1963). Despite his good work with major directors, he failed to succeed as a star.
By 1965, he was appearing in the likes of Blood Beast from Outer Space (1965), albeit, top-billed. A more emblematic picture was Sidney J. Furie's The Appaloosa (1966), in which he appeared in Mexican bandito drag as the man who steals the horse of Marlon Brando, another Stella Adler student. Saxon would reprise the role, of sorts, in John Sturges Joe Kidd (1972) in support of superstar Clint Eastwood. In those less politically correct times, many an Italian-American with a dark complexion would be relied on to play Mexicans, Native Americans and other "exotic" types like Mongols. Saxon played everything from an Indian chief on Bonanza (1959) to Marco Polo on The Time Tunnel (1966).
From 1969 to 1972 season, he was a star of the television series The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969), playing the brilliant surgeon Theodore Stuart. When the series ended, he took one of his most famous roles when Bruce Lee demurred over casting Rod Taylor as he was too tall. A black belt in karate, Saxon appeared as Roper in Enter the Dragon (1973). He continued to play a wide variety of roles on television and in motion pictures, with key roles in 1974's classic slasher Black Christmas (1974), 1984's groundbreaking A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984), and the 1990s self-referential horror films New Nightmare (1994) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996).
John Saxon died of pneumonia on July 25, 2020, in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. He was 83.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Barry Sadler achieved national fame for his 1960s hit song, The Ballad of The Green Berets. The song was used as the theme song for the John Wayne film, The Green Berets. Sadler was a real-life war hero. He joined the U.S. Army and went through the grueling training to become a Green Beret. A member of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), he served in Viet-Nam as a Special Forces medic attached to both an A=Team and a MIKE Force. Wounded in combat, he received the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, and the Viet-Nam Service Medal. He briefly acted in the movies and on television, with his biggest role being in the B-heist film, Dayton's Devils. The former Green Beret, war hero, song writer, singer, and actor, died in a mysterious shooting in a Central American country at the age of 47.- Roni Stoneman Hemrick was born on 5 May 1938 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. She was an actress, known for W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings (1975), Hee Haw (1969) and Volunteer Jam (1976). She was married to Eugene Cox. She died on 22 February 2024 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Andre Norton was born on 17 February 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was a writer, known for BeastMaster (1999), Witch World and Beastmaster 2: Through the Portal of Time (1991). She died on 17 March 2005 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Steve Popovich was born on 6 July 1942 in Nemacolin, Pennsylvania, USA. He died on 8 June 2011 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Set Decorator
David Effler was born on 7 August 1960 in Fort Campbell, Kentucky, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Glasstone 64, The Dark When Nobody Watches and Area of Conflict (2017). He died on 20 March 2021 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.- Sound Department
- Soundtrack
Stan Kessler was born on 11 August 1928 in Abbeville, Mississippi, USA. He is known for 11.22.63 (2016), Charming the Hearts of Men (2021) and Cowboys (2020). He died on 26 October 2020 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.- Kevin Rosier was born to a family of farmers in Buffalo, New York. His introduction to combat sports began when he trained in boxing at the Boys & Girls Club in East Aurora, New York. Sensei William James Gallant awarded him his first black belt. At age sixteen, Rosier's massive stature earned him work as a security guard at local clubs in Buffalo. Rosier later became a bodyguard for the likes of Rick James, Billy Idol, and Debbie Harry.
Rosier competed in boxing, karate, kickboxing, MMA, and Muay Thai. He was most successful in kick boxing, where he had his most wins by knockouts and technical knockouts in amateur and professional bouts. In 1987, he became the US Kung-Fu Karate National No-Rules Champion. Two years later, he competed in Japan and won to become All-Japan World Champion. The following year, 1990, he won the ISKA North American Super Heavyweight and WKA Super Heavyweight championships.
Rosier experienced the difficulties of short-lived promotions, and promoters whom paid little or no money. Undettered, Rosier contacted the organizers of upstart Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in 1993. They recognized him and added him to the event. Rosier fought Zane Frazier in the opening round of UFC 1: The Beginning (1993). He delivered punches and a knee to the face which sent Frazier down. Rosier followed him to the ground with more punches. Frazier recovered,stood up, and get the better of punching exchanges with Rosier's back against the cage for most of the time. Frazier later backed away, and in doing so Rosier knocked him on his back with more punches, and delivered two face stomps to end the fight. Unbeknownst to others at the time, Frazier suffered an asthma attack. Rosier advanced to the second round against Dutch striker Gerard Gordeau. Gordeau targeted Rosier's left leg early, which fell him, then ended the bout with elbows and a foot stomp. Rosier's corner personnel threw in a towel to stop the fight which lasted almost one minute.
Rosier's third and last UFC appearance happened at UFC 4: Revenge of the Warriors (1994) He quickly lost by an arm-lock to Joe Charles. Rosier returned to kick-boxing competition that year, winning the WKCC World Superheavyweight Championship. In 1998, Rosier fought Dan Severn in Extremely Challenge. Rosier quickly took the decorated wrestler down, but Severn quickly squeezed himself from underneath, and pushed Rosier on his back, struck his face with a few knees until the referee stopped it. Extreme Challenge's owner Monty Cox would later say that Rosier told him after that he just needed a few weeks training in grappling to beat Severn. Rosier fought Severn a second time that year for Cage Combat, and lost again. Rosier competed twice more under MMA rules. In International Fighting Championships, he first beat Joe Bramante, then later lost to Brad Gabriel on January 22, 2000.
A military veteran, Rosier spent many years in between Veterans Affairs hospitals due to health issues, including heart surgery and treatment for post-traumatic stress disorder. After a heart attack, Rosier died on April 14, 2015 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. - Bill Turner was an actor, known for Nashville: The 20th Century in Photographs, Volume 3 (2011) and Chasing Rainbows: An Insiders Tour of the Chasing Rainbows Museum with Dolly Parton (2005). He died on 9 January 2018 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Soundtrack
Hank Mizell was born on 9 November 1923 in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. He was married to Rosemary ?. He died on 23 December 1992 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.- Ken Shipp was born on 3 February 1929 in Old Hickory [now in Nashville], Tennessee, USA. He died on 5 March 2012 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Lynn Orrand was born on 4 December 1949. He died on 16 January 1982 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.
- Kid Cavi was born on 14 December 1994. He was an actor, known for Kid Cavi: Smoke (2020), Kid Cavi feat. Don Trip: J's at tha Doe (2020) and Kid Cavi: Bag (2019). He died on 13 February 2022 in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.