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1-14 of 14
- Alec McCowen was born Alexander Duncan McCowan on May 26, 1925 in Tunbridge Wells, England. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he made his professional debut in 1942. He established his reputation in classical stage roles, appearing in the ensemble of Laurence Olivier's famed duo-production of William Shakespeare's "Anthony and Cleopatra" and George Bernard Shaw's "Caesar and Cleopatra" at the 1951 Festival of Britain. McCowen transferred with the productions to New York that same year, making his Broadway debut.
McCowen made his movie debut in The Cruel Sea (1953), but for his turn as Police Inspector Oxford in Alfred Hitchcock's Frenzy (1972), his reputation is rooted in his stage work. "Frenzy" led to his one lead role in a major motion picture, that of Henry Pulling in George Cukor's adaptation of 'Graham Greene's Travels with My Aunt (1972). Though the film won an Oscar for Costume Design and a Best Actress nod for co-star Maggie Smith (among its total of four nominations), the movie did not advance McCowen's career. Over a decade later, he played the title role in the Thames Television series Mr. Palfrey of Westminster (1984), which ran for two seasons on British television from 1984 to 1985. His last cinema appearance was in a small role in Gangs of New York (2002) for director Martin Scorsese; he had earlier appeared in Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993).
Though his services were in demand in movies and on television, McCowen remained wedded to the stage; he regards the character of "Astrov" in Anton Chekhov's "Uncle Vanya" as his favorite role. From 1967 to 1992, McCowen appeared nine times on Broadway, for which he garnered two Drama Desk Awards (out of four nominations) and three Tony Award nominations. One of his Tony Award nominations was for his magisterial solo performance in "St. Mark's Gospel", which debuted on Broadway in 1978 and had a return engagement on the Great White Way in 1981.
He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1972 Queen's New Years Honours and Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1986 Queen's New Years Honours for his services to drama. Alec McCowan died at age 91 on February 6, 2017 in London, England. - Professor Irwin Corey, "The World's Foremost Authority," was born on July 29, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York. He and his five siblings were wards of the Brooklyn Hebrew Orphan Asylum, and during the Great Depression, he worked for the Civilian Conservation Corp. Possessing brawn as well as brains, Professor Irwin Corey is proud to tell anyone who will listen that he was the C.C.C.'s boxing champ in the 112-pound weight class.
Before becoming certified (as a professor purveying the surreal), the young Irwin caught the performing bug by appearing in a borscht belt show, "Pots and Pans," in a bit part. He made his debut in a musical comedy in a U.S.O. presentation of "Oklahoma" in Europe, in which he played the part of the Arab peddler Ali Hakim.
Perfecting his crazy professor shtick, who always appeared in an old-fashioned tuxedo with tails like Groucho Marx, Corey broke through as a stand-up comic at San Francisco's "hungry i" and New York City's Copacabana and Village Vanguard nightclubs. His lectures, characterized by a constant barrage of non-sequitur and double-talk, were rooted in the word-play epitomized by Groucho Marx and Chico Marx in such classic routines as "Why a Duck?" However, whatever "logic" The Marx Brothers might display (at least in exasperated double takes by Groucho) was missing in the Professor's shtick. Before the Talking Heads ever sang about it, Professor Irwin Corey made an art form out of "Stop Making Sense."
Theater critic Kenneth Tynan said of the Professor, "[Corey is] a cultural clown, a parody of literacy, a travesty of all that our civilization holds dear and one of the funniest grotesques in America. He is Chaplin's clown with a college education."
Corey thrived on the radio, memorably appearing on Edgar Bergen's radio show as a tutor to Charlie McCarthy. Television was another natural medium for the professor, and he appeared as a regular on The Jackie Gleason Show (1952) and also made the rounds of the talk show circuit of the 1950s, '60s and '70s, appearing with 'Steve Allen', Jack Paar, Johnny Carson, Dick Cavett, Merv Griffin, and Mike Douglas. He also was on "The Ed Sullivan Show" (aka The Ed Sullivan Show (1948)) as well as appeared with the new lessor of the Ed Sullivan Theater, David Letterman.
Irwin Corey also has appeared on Broadway, in "Heaven on Earth," "Happy as Larry," "Fla-hooley," and "Mrs. McThing," as well as recent productions of "The Taming of the Shrew" and "Hamlet." Off-Broadway, he appeared as the eponymous lead in "The Good Soldier Schweik" and as Marlo Thomas' father in Herb Gardner's play "Thieves," reprising the role in the film (Thieves (1977)). He also appeared in numerous episodes of series television, including The Andy Griffith Show (1960), "Doc" (with Barnard Hughes), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967), and Pat Paulsen's Half a Comedy Hour (1970).
The Professor's last film was Woody Allen's The Curse of the Jade Scorpion (2001). At 91, and still going strong, Professor Irwin Corey truly is the dean of stand-up comedians, if not quite at the head of his class. - Christine Dolce was born on 31 August 1981 in Long Beach, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Dark Forest (2014), Guys Choice (2007) and Byte Me: 20 Hottest Women of the Web (2008). She died on 6 February 2017 in Huntington Beach, California, USA.
- Actress
- Editorial Department
Inge Keller was born on 15 December 1923 in Berlin, Germany. She was an actress, known for Lola and Billy the Kid (1999), Woman Doctors (1984) and 3 (2010). She was married to Karl-Eduard von Schnitzler. She died on 6 February 2017 in Berlin, Germany.- Production Designer
- Art Director
- Art Department
Roy Forge Smith was born in 1929. He trained as a fine artist and an architect in London before working in the art department of BBC television in the early 1960s. His first film credit was as an assistant art director on 'The Wrong Box' and throughout the 1960s and 1970s worked on a number of British films including for the Monty Python team. In 1980 he moved to Canada and then n the mid-1980s to Los Angeles, working in both film an d television, his last credits being for the TV series 'Ghost Hunter' in the late 2000s.- Terry Maguire was an actor, known for RED 2 (2013). Terry died on 6 February 2017 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
- Albert Stubblebine was born on 6 February 1930 in Fort Sill, Oklahoma, USA. He was married to Rima Laibow and Geraldine Margaret Murphy. He died on 6 February 2017 in New Jersey, USA.
- Fun Lo was born on 7 April 1954 in Hong Kong, British Crown Colony. She was an actress, known for Blind Detective (2013), The Raid (1991) and Street Angels (1996). She died on 6 February 2017 in Hong Kong.
- John Ahrens (1963-2017) was a New York City based actor. John attended the University of New Haven and from there went on to work in the music industry. In music he worked his way up into the major A&R marketing distribution divisions at Warner, Elektra, Atlantic. After leaving the music industry John worked as a TV and film actor in New York City based productions, while raising his two children. Known for his easy going nature, his great love of sports, music, his children, his cats and acting, he lived life to the fullest. John was loved and respected by his colleagues in the film and music industries and by his family and many friends. He loved the outdoors, the New York Mets, boating, Central Park, a great script and his music loud. John loved to laugh and made the world laugh with him. A very generous soul, he was a prince among men.
When he shall die, Take him and cut him out in little stars, And he will make the face of heaven so fine That all the world will be in love with night And pay no worship to the garish sun. - Shakespeare - Ming Kao was born on 8 September 1933 in Chiayi, Taiwan. He was an actor, known for A Touch of Zen (1971), Tie niang zi (1969) and Da quan mo gui (1973). He died on 6 February 2017 in Wanli, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
- Joost van der Westhuizen was born on 20 February 1971 in Pretoria, South Africa. He was a producer, known for Glory Game: The Joost van der Westhuizen Story (2014) and Saamstaan: Ampie feat. Joost van der Westhuizen (2014). He was married to Amor Vittone and Marlene. He died on 6 February 2017 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
- Raymond Smullyan was born on 25 May 1919 in Far Rockaway, Queens, New York City, New York, USA. He died on 6 February 2017 in Hudson, New York, USA.
- Michael Simon Melekson was born on 7 September 1963 in Moldova. He was an actor, known for Mr. Id (2003). He died on 6 February 2017 in Hallandale Beach, Florida, USA.
- Ritchie Yorke was born on 12 January 1944 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He was a writer, known for The Real Patsy Cline (1986), The Great Canadian Culture Hunt (1976) and Spicks and Specks (2005). He was married to Minnie Cherry. He died on 6 February 2017 in Chermside, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.