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- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
As a child growing up in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Ernie Hudson wrote short stories, poems and songs, always thinking that his words might one day come to life on stage. After a short stint in the Marine Corps, he moved to Detroit where he became the resident playwright at Concept East, the oldest black theatre in the country. In addition, he enrolled at Wayne State University to further develop his writing and acting skills and found time to establish the Actors' Emsemble Theatre, where he and other talented young black writers directed and appeared in their own works. After graduating with a B.A. from Wayne State, he was rewarded a full scholarship to the M.F.A. program at the prestigious Yale School of Drama. While performing with the school's repertory company, he was asked to appear in the Los Angeles production of Lonne Elder III's musical "Daddy Goodness," which led to his meeting Gordon Parks, who gave Hudson the costarring role in his first feature film, Leadbelly (1976). Unfortunately, all that followed "Leadbelly" was a year of "bit parts and some harsh lessons about Hollywood," which led Hudson to enroll in another academic doctorate program at the University of Minnesota. He did not complete the program. Through his experience, he learned another vital lesson: "There are those who spend their lives studying it and those who spend their lives doing it." Hudson definitely wanted to be in the second group. Keeping in mind this self-revelation, Hudson accepted the starring role of Jack Jefferson in the Minneapolis Theatre In The Round's production of "The Great White Hope," a role that he put "everything he had into," including shaving his head. A series of starring and guest roles followed on such television shows as Fantasy Island (1977), The Incredible Hulk (1978), Little House on the Prairie (1974), Diff'rent Strokes (1978), Taxi (1978), One Day at a Time (1975), Gimme a Break! (1981), The A-Team (1983) and Webster (1983), as well as costarring roles in the TV movies White Mama (1980) with Bette Davis, Roots: The Next Generations (1979), Women of San Quentin (1983), California Girls (1985), Mad Bull (1977) and Love on the Run (1985). Other feature film credits include The Jazz Singer (1980), The Main Event (1979), Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone (1983), Penitentiary II (1982), Going Berserk (1983), Joy of Sex (1984) and, of course, the mega-hit Ghostbusters (1984).- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Sinbad was born in Benton Harbor, Michigan to two parents, Louise and the Baptist Rev. Dr. Donald Beckley Adkins and was then known as David Adkins. He is primarily known as an actor and somewhat a writer and proved his comedic acting style in House Guest (1994), Jingle All the Way (1996), First Kid (1996) and Good Burger (1997). He has been married to Meredith Adkins since 2002 with two children. He was previously married to Meredith Fuller.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Jimmy Nail was born on 16 March 1954 in Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, England, UK. He is an actor and writer, known for Crocodile Shoes (1994), Evita (1996) and Spender (1991).- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Arte Johnson was born on 20 January 1929 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967), Love at First Bite (1979) and Baggy Pants & the Nitwits (1977). He was married to Gisela Johnson and Texie Waterman. He died on 3 July 2019 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Hendrix Yancey is most recently recognized for starring in the NBC Universal series "A Friend Of The Family," playing Jan Broberg, who is kidnapped twice by the neighbor who also happens to be a family friend. She is also widely recognized for her her work as 013 in Stranger Things. Thirteen is a new test subject in the Hawkins Lab and participates in the Nina Project with Dr. Brenner. Other prominent roles in include: George & Tammy, where Hendrix can be seen alongside Jessica Chastain and Michael Shannon, playing Gwen, Tammy Wynette's eldest daughter, as well as, Unbelievable, playing Daisy, daughter of Merritt Weaver and Austin Hebert, and in Amazon Prime's Charming The Hearts of Men, where she plays Angelina, daughter of Tina Ivlev and boyfriend Sean Astin. Hendrix is a true artist who enjoys singing, painting, and participating in sketch comedy. She thrives when traveling and has been to several countries around the world, but always loves returning to her beautiful home-state of Arkansas. Hendrix also enjoys playing basketball and volleyball for her state's travel team, softball (she's a First Baseman), arts and crafts, rescuing and fostering kittens, and spending time with her friends and family.- Jennifer Birmingham Lee was born on 24 February 1981 in Benton, Louisiana, USA. She is an actress, known for House of Lies (2012), Go On (2012) and Justified (2010). She has been married to Will Yun Lee since 16 October 2010. They have one child.
- She survived the death of her husband in 1905, the San Francisco earthquake in 1906 and raising four children with no money. In 1926, when she was 64 she became one of the most mature freshman ever to enter the University of California. She graduated 6 years later with her B.A. degree. In 1940 she went to Hollywood, where she began her acting career. Best known for her role in Shirley Temple's Storybook production of "Sleeping Beauty", although she is probably seen most often in "Going My Way" as Father Fitzgibbon's elderly mother.
- Amy Miller was born on 13 July 1973 in Benton, Kentucky, USA. She is an actress, known for Rock Star (2001), Power Rangers Lost Galaxy (1999) and Power Rangers Lost Galaxy: Return of the Magna Defender (1999).
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Ruth Terry was born Ruth McMahon in Benton Harbor, Michigan, in 1920. She got her start in show business as a child when she would sing with the band in a dance hall where her father worked as a bouncer. She began entering amateur talent contests in the local area, and her beautiful singing voice resulted in her winning many of them. When she was in fourth grade her parents decided that she would embark on a professional singing career, and to that end took her out of school (her education continued with private teachers). She kept winning talent contests, and later became part of a vaudeville act called The Capps Family and Ruthie Mae. She eventually won a spot singing on a Chicago radio station, then she got her own 15-minute time slot on a station in South Bend, Indiana. At 12 years of age she won a contract to sing with a prestigious Chicago musical group, The Paul Ash Chicago Theater Orchestra. After that engagement she went to New York and got a job as a song plugger for composer Irving Berlin, who was a friend of her aunt's. She eventually got her own nightclub act--changing her name to Ruth Terry at the suggestion of gossip columnist Walter Winchell--and soon headed to Miami, where she was engaged to sing at several prestigious nightspots and hotels, and while there she was spotted by talent scouts from 20th Century-Fox. In 1937 she was playing in Chicago with bandleader Ted Lewis when Fox offered her a contract--and all this while she was barely 16 years old.
She was brought to Hollywood by Fox and given diction and acting lessons, and the studio soon put her in her first picture, International Settlement (1938), although she only had one line. She stayed with Fox for two more years, until she was dropped in 1939. In 1940 she was signed by Howard Hughes, who eventually sold her contract to Republic Pictures. It was at Republic where she began making westerns, a genre in which she would spend a lot of time. She made westerns with Gene Autry, Roy Rogers and Robert Livingston, among others. Her contract with Republic ended in 1947, and she made only one other film, for Columbia, before retiring. She soon married, for a second time, and she and her husband moved to Canada. The marriage ended in 1957, and she moved back to the US. In 1962, as a favor to a friend, she did a small part in a low-budget horror film, Hand of Death (1962).- Actress
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
December Ensminger was born on 26 December 1996 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. She is an actress and writer, known for Sightless (2020), True Detective (2014) and Proof of the Devil 2 (2015).- Actor
On March 18, 1894, Buchanan was born in Benton, Iowa, as Paul Stuart Buchanan. The son of a Presbyterian minister, he received his undergraduate degree at Wooster College. He taught English and coached basketball at the University of West Virginia, then switched to Florida University, where he started the school's 5000-watt radio station.
Buchanan earned a Ph.D. at Harvard before giving up the education business in favor of what he called "making a living." He went to Hollywood and became a character in tough-guy acting roles and took on a job as director of the Pasadena Play House. In May of 1930, he took a job as program director at radio station KHJ in Los Angeles, where he directed episodes of the "Hollywood Hotel" and "Lux Radio Theatre."
Walt Disney hired Buchanan as a dialogue and casting director at the Disney studios in Hollywood and put him in charge of all foreign versions of Disney productions. Buchanan was the voice of "The Huntsman" in the 1937 Disney animated film "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." Managing the foreign versions of Disney films took him to Europe and South America to translate "Snow White" into ten languages. Buchanan also had cameo voiceover roles as a flight attendant in "Saludos Amigos" (1942) and "Super-Speed" (1935), and he voiced Goofy in "The Mickey Mouse Theater of the Air" (1938).
In New York radio, Buchanan produced and directed many network shows. He was head of the script department and program supervision for American Broadcasting Co. before moving to Cleveland in 1947 to produce "The Ohio Story" radio and TV series sponsored by Ohio Bell Telephone Co. He also took on directing the radio and television department of McCann-Erickson advertising agency's offices in Cleveland. He remained in Cleveland for the rest of his life.
"The Ohio Story" ran state-wide from 1947 to 1955 on radio and 1953 to 1961 on TV. At the time, the filmed series held the record as the longest-running scripted radio and TV program in the nation. In more than 2,500 "Ohio Story" shows, Buchanan never missed a rehearsal or a program. Buchanan worked tirelessly with actors, musicians, and sound technicians to get precisely the right shade of meaning into every sequence. He made actors out of bank clerks, students, and homemakers. Buchanan picked Robert Waldrop, a nationally known radio personality, to narrate the "Ohio Story" radio series. He convinced Hollywood actor Nelson Olmsted, known for his adaptations of terror tales by Edgar Allen Poe and science-fantasy stories, to commute to Cleveland for seven years to host, narrate and act in the "Ohio Story" TV episodes and the final two years of the "Ohio Story" radio series.
In an article in the June 25, 1958, Columbus Dispatch, Buchanan talked about his love and loyalty to Ohio and the "Ohio Story" series: "There has never been - or will be, a radio series that commanded the respect and attention of this state, or, for that fact, the nation. The "Ohio Story" reached its peak in the heyday of radio... the late 1940s. Only one show in the nation had a higher rating ... that was the Jack Benny show. I guess of all the things I've done in my lifetime; I'm most proud to have had a hand in developing and producing "The Ohio Story."
Buchanan was married twice. His first wife was Anna Hall Hilditch (December 28, 1900 - November 10, 1987). His second wife was Rita Whearty (November 19, 1919 - March 31, 2009).
Buchanan died on February 4, 1974, in Cleveland, Ohio.- Music Department
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Niki Haris was born on 17 April 1962 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Heat (1995), Corrina, Corrina (1994) and A Chorus Line (1985).- Dick Sutherland was born on 23 December 1881 in Benton, Kentucky, USA. He was an actor, known for The Beloved Rogue (1927), The Red Lily (1924) and Quicksands (1923). He was married to Verba Hutchinson. He died on 3 February 1934 in Hollywood, California, USA.
- Anita Thomas was born on 30 November 1974 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for 100 Girls (2000), NightMan (1997) and Fat Girls (2006). She was previously married to Phil Collen.
- Ralph J. Rose was born on 26 April 1927 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964), Love Me Like I Do (1970) and Gunsmoke (1955). He died on 10 May 1997 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
- Actress
- Producer
- Production Manager
Colleen Meeker was born on 30 November 1944 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for The Mind Snatchers (1972), Hollywood High Part II (1981) and Mag Wheels (1978). She was married to Ralph Meeker. She died on 4 April 2007 in Palm Springs, California, USA.- Juli Busken was born on 24 October 1975 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. She died on 20 December 1996 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA.
- Chet Walker was born on 22 February 1940 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for The White Shadow (1978), The NBA on CBS (1973) and The Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame... (1999).
- Anthony Miller was born on 27 October 1971 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Space Jam (1996) and Eddie (1996).
- Actress
Jean Romaine was born on 29 November 1927 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. She was an actress. She died on 25 February 2011 in Apple Valley, California, USA.- Producer
Born in Benton Harbor, Michigan, Julie Krone rode her first horse when she was just two years old. At five years old, she won her first ribbon at a horse show-in an 18-and-under event. Sleeping with her whip, dreaming of racing, riding before school-this was the life of a little girl whose only dream was to be a jockey.
Forging her birth certificate to gain access to the track at Churchill Downs as an exercise rider, and talking her way into mounts, it was not long until Julie was racing-and winning.
From the start, sexism against Julie was fierce. Male riders colluded against her, closing gaps and boxing her horse in by the rail.
Though kind and patient with her horses, Krone competed ferociously against her fellow male jockeys. When Yves Truscott knocked into her horse during a race in 1982, she shoved him off the scales during the post-race weigh in. She punched Miguel Rujano in 1986 after his whip hit her ear during a race, before belting him with a chair. In 1989, she was fined for brawling with Joe Bravo-and knocking out several of his teeth.
By age 25, Julie was the first woman ever to win a riding title at a major track, the first woman ever to win five races in one day at a New York track, and one of three jockeys ever to win six races on one card. She had won 1,200 races, and $20 million in purses. In 1993, she became the first female winner of a Triple Crown race, riding 14-to-1 long-shot Colonial Affair to victory in the Belmont Stakes-"showing the patience, intelligence and tactical savvy that have made her one of the nation's leading performers," wrote William Nack of Sports Illustrated.
Shortly after, while racing in Saratoga Springs, Julie was thrown from her horse and kicked in the chest by another, bruising her heart and shattering her ankle. Months of recuperation lay ahead of her. But she refused to quit.
In the Del Mar meeting of 2003, Julie rode 49 winners, including the $1 million Pacific Classic. In October 2003, she became the first female jockey to win a prestigious Breeders' Cup race. Despite her retirement in 2004, Julie recently participated in Del Mar's "Living Legends Race," and will ride again this September at the UK's renowned St. Leger Festival, in a high-profile race for ex-flat jockeys.
In 2000, Julie Krone became the first female to be inducted into racing's Hall of Fame.- Producer
- Writer
Lin Bolen was born on 23 March 1941 in Benton, Illinois, USA. Lin was a producer and writer, known for Stumpers! (1976), W.E.B. (1978) and Farrell for the People (1982). Lin was married to Paul Wendkos. Lin died on 19 January 2018 in San Fernando Valley, California, USA.- Bobo Brazil was born on 10 July 1924 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for WWF Championship Wrestling (1972), AWA All-Star Wrestling (1972) and WWF World Championship Wrestling (1972). He died on 20 January 1998 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA.
- Betty Philson was born on 20 November 1924 in Benton, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Wise Girl (1937). She died on 23 April 2011 in Aurora, Colorado, USA.
- A native of Benton Harbor, Michigan, he was born on June 14, 1941 (Flag Day), the beloved son of the late Chester C. & Marguerite Korb. He is survived by Ilze, his wife of 45 years, their children, Steven E., Wendy B. (Lester) Brown, their seven grandchildren (Darian & Alexandria Korb, Ashley & Nathan Korb, and Madison, Zoey and Riley Brown), and his sister Kathleen Mueller. He was preceded in death by his son, Jeffrey M. Korb, in 2012. He is also survived by many loving family members and friends. Michael (Mike) was proud to have honorably served his Nation in the United States Air Force, where he acted in, edited, and narrated survival training films. He later graduated from Western Michigan University. He had a long, storied career founded on an ambitious attitude, a strong work-ethic, and a gregarious personality. He was a self-made man and created opportunities that led to roles as a movie actor, radio DJ, dance instructor, sheriff's officer, volunteer fire-fighter, and several high-level positions in sales, advertising, and marketing. Mike drew upon his experience in entertainment, public service, and business to found his own company, Korb Marketing Group, from which he retired.
He passed away Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at the age of 72. - Richard Garrett was born on 30 August 1946 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. He was married to Jacki. He died on 23 October 2018 in Traskwood, Arkansas, USA.
- Additional Crew
Becky Malkovich was born on 25 April 1961 in Benton, Illinois, USA. She is known for Being John Malkovich (1999). She died on 22 September 2014 in St. Louis, Missouri, USA.- Iris Floyd Kyle (born August 22, 1974) is an American professional female bodybuilding champion. She currently lives in Henderson, Nevada. As of 2012, Iris Kyle is the most successful female bodybuilder ever with nine Ms. Olympia wins (8 overall and 1 heavyweight) and seven Ms. International wins. She ranks as the 1st best female bodybuilder in the IFBB Pro Women's Bodybuilding Ranking List.
- Walker Mahurin was born on 5 December 1918 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was married to Patricia Sweet. He died on 11 May 2010 in Newport Beach, California, USA.
- Karissa Rushing was born on 17 January 1966 in Benton, Arkansas, USA.
- Actress
- Stunts
Mabel Strickland was born in July 1870 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. She was an actress, known for Rough Riding Ranger (1935). She was married to George E. Mack. She died on 1 November 1947 in The Bronx, New York, USA.- F Gamo was born on 17 January 1994 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Project Kid feat. F Gamo: In My Bag (2020), F Gamo: Close Your Eyes (2021) and F Gamo: I Hope So (2021). He died on 8 August 2021 in St. Joseph, Michigan, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Frank Bjerring was born on 26 November 1902 in Fort Benton, Montana, USA. He is known for Arson, Inc. (1949), The Lone Hand (1953) and Sally and Saint Anne (1952). He died on 23 September 1956 in Woodland Hills, California, USA.- Riley Stewart was born on 14 March 1919 in Benton, Louisiana, USA. He died on 10 December 2000 in Shreveport, Louisiana, USA.
- Rich Duwelius was born on 23 November 1965 in Benton, Kentucky, USA. He is an actor, known for Spiker (1985) and Los Angeles 1984: Games of the XXIII Olympiad (1984).
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Tyler Tarver was born on 15 June 1985 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. He is a producer and director, known for Rappers Delightful Remix (2011), Kids Grow Up So Fast (2013) and The 21 Mile Marathon (2014).- Music Department
Bill Berry was born on 14 September 1930 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He is known for The Bob Braun Show (1967) and The Merv Griffin Show (1962). He died on 13 November 2002 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Additional Crew
- Editorial Department
- Actress
Imie Lane was born on 3 July 1923 in Benton, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for The Legend of Tillamook's Gold (2006), All-Star Family Feud Special (1978) and Family Feud (1976). She died on 25 February 2019 in Nehalem, Oregon, USA.- Khandi Simone was born on 2 May 1966 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Laurel Avenue (1993).
- Cliff Lee is an American former professional baseball starting pitcher. Lee played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for The Cleveland Indians, Philadelphia Phillies, Seattle Mariners, and Texas Rangers. He stood 6 feet 3 inches (191 cm) and weighed 205 pounds (93 kg), while playing. During his school days, Lee played baseball at Benton High School and attended Meridian Community College and the University of Arkansas before being drafted by the Montreal Expos in the fourth round of the 2000 draft.
After playing with the Expos' minor-league affiliate Harrisburg Senators, Lee was traded in 2002 to the Cleveland Indians and was first called up to the big leagues later that season. He was traded to the Phillies in 2009, then traded to the Mariners and Rangers, eventually returning to the Phillies as a free agent in 2011. A four-time All-Star, Lee won the American League (AL) Cy Young Award in 2008 as a member of the Indians, after leading the AL in wins and lowest earned run average (ERA).
Lee won his first seven postseason starts. As a Phillie, he went 4-0 in the 2009 postseason, including a complete game in the 2009 World Series against the New York Yankees. The following season, Lee led the Rangers to a shutout win, defeating the Yankees 8-0 in the 2010 ALCS, en route to reaching the 2010 World Series.
Cliff Lee threw and batted left-handed and could count on three different fastballs, the four-seam, two-seam, and cutter, in his pitching arsenal. Other pitches at his command included the slider, curveball, and change-up. - Hal Sharp was born on 29 January 1914 in Benton, Arkansas, USA. Hal is known for Secret Origin: The Story of DC Comics (2010). Hal died on 15 February 1991 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Noble Threewitt was born on 24 February 1911 in Benton, Illinois, USA. He was married to Beryl Buck. He died on 17 September 2010 in West Covina, California, USA.
- Carl Scarborough was born on 3 July 1914 in Benton, Illinois, USA. He was previously married to Phyllis.
- Edward Blankenheim was born on 16 March 1934 in Lake Benton, Minnesota, USA. He died on 26 September 2004 in San Francisco, California, USA.
- Jan Stussy was born on 13 August 1921 in Zora, Benton County, Missouri, USA. He was a producer, known for Gravity Is My Enemy (1977). He died on 31 July 1990 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Bud Mahurin was born on 5 December 1918 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. He was married to Joan. He died on 11 May 2010 in Newport Beach, California, USA.
- Camera and Electrical Department
E.B. Dottley was born on 14 January 1958 in Benton Harbor, Michigan, USA. E.B. is known for The Corpse (2003).- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Billy Grammer was born on 28 August 1925 in Benton, Illinois, USA. He is known for Dust to Dust (1994), Bandstand (1958) and Sing a Song for Heaven's Sake (1966). He was married to Ruth Burzynski. He died on 10 August 2011 in Benton, Illinois, USA.- Producer
- Cinematographer
- Executive
Arron Nelson was born and raised in the Midwest. After graduating from college he moved out to Los Angeles, CA. Starting out as a PA on commercial shoots he quickly rose in profession. Now as a producer he helps films get made and distributed that might not have had a chance.- Actor
Bud McCreery was born on 17 May 1921 in Benton, Illinois, USA. He was an actor. He died on 20 November 2006 in Santa Barbara, California, USA(undisclosed).