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1-14 of 14
- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Tony Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz, the eldest of three children of Helen (Klein) and Emanuel Schwartz, Jewish immigrants from Hungary. Curtis himself admits that while he had almost no formal education, he was a student of the "school of hard knocks" and learned from a young age that the only person who ever had his back was himself, so he learned how to take care of both himself and younger brother, Julius. Curtis grew up in poverty, as his father, Emanuel, who worked as a tailor, had the sole responsibility of providing for his entire family on his meager income. This led to constant bickering between Curtis's parents over money, and Curtis began to go to movies as a way of briefly escaping the constant worries of poverty and other family problems. The financial strain of raising two children on a meager income became so tough that in 1935, Curtis's parents decided that their children would have a better life under the care of the state and briefly had Tony and his brother admitted to an orphanage. During this lonely time, the only companion Curtis had was his brother, Julius, and the two became inseparable as they struggled to get used to this new way of life. Weeks later, Curtis's parents came back to reclaim custody of Tony and his brother, but by then Curtis had learned one of life's toughest lessons: the only person you can count on is yourself.
In 1938, shortly before Tony's Bar Mitzvah, tragedy struck when Tony lost the person most important to him when his brother, Julius, was hit by a truck and killed. After that tragedy, Curtis's parents became convinced that a formal education was the best way Tony could avoid the same never-knowing-where-your-next-meal-is-coming-from life that they had known. However, Tony rejected this because he felt that learning about literary classics and algebra wasn't going to advance him in life as much as some real hands-on life experience would. He was to find that real-life experience a few years later, when he enlisted in the navy in 1942. Tony spent over two years getting that life experience doing everything from working as a crewman on a submarine tender, the USS Proteus (AS-19), to honing his future craft as an actor performing as a sailor in a stage play at the Navy Signalman School in Illinois.
In 1945, Curtis was honorably discharged from the navy, and when he realized that the GI Bill would allow him to go to acting school without paying for it, he now saw that his lifelong pipe dream of being an actor might actually be achievable. Curtis auditioned for the New York Dramatic Workshop, and after being accepted on the strength of his audition piece (a scene from "Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" in pantomime), Curtis enrolled in early 1947. He then began to pay his dues by appearing in a slew of stage productions, including "Twelfth Night" and "Golden Boy". He then connected with a small theatrical agent named Joyce Selznick, who was the niece of film producer David O. Selznick. After seeing his potential, Selznick arranged an interview for Curtis to see David O. Selznick at Universal Studios, where Curtis was offered a seven-year contract. After changing his name to what he saw as an elegant, mysterious moniker--"Tony Curtis" (named after the novel Anthony Adverse (1936) by Hervey Allen and a cousin of his named Janush Kertiz)--Curtis began making a name for himself by appearing in small, offbeat roles in small-budget productions. His first notable performance was a two-minute role in Criss Cross (1949), with Burt Lancaster, in which he makes Lancaster jealous by dancing with Yvonne De Carlo. This offbeat role resulted in Curtis's being typecast as a heavy for the next few years, such as playing a gang member in City Across the River (1949).
Curtis continued to build up a show reel by accepting any paying job, acting in a number of bit-part roles for the next few years. It wasn't until late 1949 that he finally got the chance to demonstrate his acting flair, when he was cast in an important role in an action western, Sierra (1950). On the strength of his performance in that movie, Curtis was finally cast in a big-budget movie, Winchester '73 (1950). While he appears in that movie only very briefly, it was a chance for him to act alongside a Hollywood legend, James Stewart.
As his career developed, Curtis wanted to act in movies that had social relevance, ones that would challenge audiences, so he began to appear in such movies as Spartacus (1960) and The Defiant Ones (1958). He was advised against appearing as the subordinate sidekick in Spartacus (1960), playing second fiddle to the equally famous Kirk Douglas. However, Curtis saw no problem with this because the two had recently acted together in dual leading roles in The Vikings (1958).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Joe Mantell was an American actor of Austrian-Jewish descent. His original last name was "Mantel", but he added an additional l at the end. He was once nominated for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor .
In 1915, Mantell was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His parents were immigrants from the region of Galicia in Eastern Europe. At the time of their immigration, Galicia was part of the Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria (1772-1918), one of the crown-lands of the Austrian Empire.
Mantell started appearing in films as an uncredited extra c. 1949. His first credited role was that of Dexter Freeman in the adventure film "Barbary Pirate" (1949), which depicted the Barbary Wars (1801-1805, 1815).
Mantell first received critical attention for his role as Angie in the romantic drama "Marty" (1955). Angie is depicted as the best friend of protagonist Marty Piletti (played by Ernest Borgnine), but discourages Marty from pursuing marriage with his love interest Clara (played by Betsy Blair). For this role as an obstacle to love, Mantell received his only nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The award was instead won by rival actor Jack Lemmon (1925-2001).
Mantell continued playing minor and supporting roles in films. His film appearances included the film noir "Storm Center" (1956), the political drama "Beau James" (1957), the military-themed comedy "The Sad Sack" (1957), and the World War II-themed comedy-drama "Onionhead".
Mantell was cast frequently in guest star roles in television. He received the starring role of gangster Jackie Rhoades in the episode of "Nervous Man in a Four Dollar Room" (1960) of the anthology series "The Twilight Zone", co-stared as Pole, the robot fighter Battling Maxo's co-owner in the episode "Steel" (1963) of the same series. He played the failed assassin Giuseppe Zangara (1900-1933) in the two part episode "The Unhired Assassin" (1960) of the crime drama series "The Untouchables".
Mantell had his first recurring role in television when playing Ernie Briggs in six episodes of the sitcom "Pete and Gladys" (1960-1962). He had another recurring role as private detective Albie Loos in four episodes of the detective series "Mannix" (1967-1975).
In 1974, Mantell had one of his most recognizable roles in the neo-noir "Chinatown" (1974), as the character Lawrence Walsh . Walsh is depicted as an associate of the private investigator J. J. "Jake" Gittes (played by Jack Nicholson), and plays a significant role in the film's conclusion, Years later, Mantell returned to the role of Walsh in the sequel films "The Two Jakes" (1990). This happened to be Mantell's last appearance in a film.
Mantell retired from acting in 1990, at the age of 75. He lived in retirement until his death in September 2010. He died in Tarzana, California. He was 94-years-old at the time of death, one of the oldest living actors.- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Greg Giraldo was born on 10 December 1965 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for Common Law (1996), Z Rock (2008) and Greg Giraldo: Midlife Vices (2009). He was married to MaryAnne McAlpin-Giraldo. He died on 29 September 2010 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA.- Joycee Katz was an actress, known for Tales from the Crypt (1989), Let It Ride (1989) and Just Write (1997). She died on 29 September 2010 in Fullerton, California, USA.
- Vincenzo Crocitti was born on 16 July 1949 in Rome, Lazio, Italy. He was an actor, known for Un borghese piccolo piccolo (1977), Cinema!!! (1979) and Carabinieri (2002). He died on 29 September 2010 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.
- Composer
- Writer
- Actor
Vojislav Kostic was born on 21 September 1931 in Belgrade, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was a composer and writer, known for Bloody Tale (1969), Who's Singin' Over There? (1980) and Balkan Spy (1984). He died on 29 September 2010 in Belgrade, Serbia.- Clifford B. Hicks was born on 10 August 1920 in Iowa, USA. He was a writer, known for The Magical World of Disney (1954), The Whiz Kid and the Carnival Caper (1976) and The Whiz Kid and the Mystery at Riverton (1974). He was married to Rachel D. Reimar. He died on 29 September 2010 in North Carolina, USA.
- Eduardo Manchón was born on 24 July 1930 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. He died on 29 September 2010 in Barcelona, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
- Animation Department
- Director
Iosif Douksha was born on 12 December 1928. He was a director, known for Swineherd (1980), Nightingale (1991) and The White Heron (1987). He was married to Mayya Buzinova. He died on 29 September 2010 in Moscow, Russia.- Jack Greening was born on 7 April 1922 in London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Thriller (1960), The Gallant Men (1962) and King of Diamonds (1961). He was married to Betty. He died on 29 September 2010 in Toledo, Ohio, USA.
- Franz Wurm was born on 16 March 1926 in Praha, Czechoslovakia. Franz was a writer, known for Die fixe Idee (1967). Franz died on 29 September 2010 in Ascona, Ticino, Switzerland.
- Georges Charpak was born on 8 August 1924 in Dabrowica, Wolynskie, Poland [now Dubrovytsia, Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Les palmes de M. Schutz (1997), Téléthon (1987) and Ex Libris (1988). He was married to Dominique Vidal. He died on 29 September 2010 in Paris, France.
- Andy Albeck was born on 25 September 1921 in Vladivostok, Russia. He was an actor, known for Stardust Memories (1980). He was married to Lotte. He died on 29 September 2010 in New York City, New York, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alain Dhénaut was born on 7 February 1942 in Nanteuil-lès-Meaux, Seine-et-Marne, France. He was a director and writer, known for Cinéma 16 (1975), Le type au ras du cou blanc (1963) and Histoires d'amour (1990). He was married to Geneviève Cluny. He died on 29 September 2010 in Suresnes, Hauts-de-Seine, France.