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1-39 of 39
- Actor
- Soundtrack
American character actor whose career was influenced (and often overshadowed) by that of his father, silent film star Lon Chaney. The younger Chaney was born while his parents were on a theatrical tour, and he joined them onstage for the first time at the age of six months. However, as a young man, even during the time of his father's growing fame, Creighton Chaney worked menial jobs to support himself without calling upon his father. He was at various times a plumber, a meatcutter's apprentice, a metal worker, and a farm worker. Always, however, there was the desire to follow in his father's footsteps. He studied makeup at his father's side, learning many of the techniques that had made his father famous. And he took stage roles in stock companies. It was not until after his father's death in 1930 that Chaney went to work in films. His first appearances were under his real name (he had been named for his mother, singer Frances Chaney). He played number of supporting parts before a producer in 1935 insisted on changing his name to Lon Chaney Jr. as a marketing ploy. Chaney was uncomfortable with the ploy and always hated the "Jr". addendum. But he was also aware that the famous name could help his career, and so he kept it. Most of the parts he played were unmemorable, often bits, until 1939 when he was given the role of the simple-minded Lennie in the film adaptation of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men (1939). Chaney's performance was spectacularly touching; indeed, it became one of the two roles for which he would always be best remembered. The other came within the next year, when Universal, in hopes of reviving their horror film franchise as well as memories of their great silent star, Chaney Sr., cast Chaney as the tortured Lawrence Talbot in The Wolf Man (1941). With this film and the slew of horror films that followed it, Chaney achieved a kind of stardom, though he was never able to achieve his goal of surpassing his father. By the 1950s, he was established as a star in low-budget horror films and as a reliable character actor in more prestigious, big-budget films such as High Noon (1952). Never as versatile as his father, he fell more and more into cheap and mundane productions which traded primarily on his name and those of other fading horror stars. His later years were bedeviled by illness and problems with alcohol. When he died from a variety of causes in 1973, it was as an actor who had spent his life chasing the fame of his father, but who was much beloved by a generation of filmgoers who had never seen his father.- Lance Kerwin was born on 6 November 1960 in Newport Beach, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Outbreak (1995), Enemy Mine (1985) and Salem's Lot (1979). He was married to Yvonne Kerwin and Kristen Lansdale. He died on 24 January 2023 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Director
- Additional Crew
After moving to California in the 1930s, Jerry Hopper worked as an editor at Paramount Studios.
During World War II he joined the Army and worked as a combat photographer where he was awarded a Purple Heart.
After the war, Hopper returned to Hollywood where he graduated to directing. After working prolifically in film during the Fifties, Hopper switched to television where he went on to direct over 600 episodes before effectively retiring in the early 1970s.- Wynn Pearce was born on 7 November 1928 in Orange, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for The Americans (1961), 77 Sunset Strip (1958) and The Beachcomber (1962). He died on 11 December 1990 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
A "B" Hollywood leading man who had the requisite tall, dark and handsome features (plus an excellent singing voice) that Hollywood often relied upon, Robert Paige was an extremely capable player worthy of stronger dramatics but was too often trapped in staid and standard leading man roles that prevented him from showcasing properly and moving squarely into the "A" romantic ranks. Born John Arthur Paige on December 21, 1910 in Indiana to English parents, Robert attended West Point but eventually left the Academy and moved to the Los Angeles area to focus on an entertainment career. Initially an usher for the Fox West Coast Theatres, he started using the moniker David Carlyle while singing on a Long Beach radio station and moved into announcing work at radio station KMTR in Hollywood.
He entered short films in 1931 and progressed to feature status within a few years. A studio scout had the hopeful player screen-tested at Columbia, and he was put under contract. In the course of his career he was also a studio player for Warner Bros., Paramount and, more notably, Universal. His first prime second-lead role occurred crooning to Marion Davies in Cain and Mabel (1936). He went on to give a solid performance (still as David Carlyle) in Smart Blonde (1937), which introduced the "Torchy Blane" series, and finally top-lined his own romantic comedy Meet the Boy Friend (1937) opposite Carol Hughes.
In 1938 he returned to his given last name and billed himself as Robert Paige. There he fronted such standard programmers as Highway Patrol (1938), The Main Event (1938) and the serial cliffhanger Flying G-Men (1939). Over at Paramount things went about the same, continuing consistently but without a lot of fanfare, in such films as Emergency Squad (1940) Women Without Names (1940), Golden Gloves (1940) and The Monster and the Girl (1941). He earned his first singing lead with the mini-musical Dancing on a Dime (1940) in which he and co-star Grace McDonald sang the title song. The musical introduced the songs of Burton Lane and Frank Loesser, including "Mañana" (which Peggy Lee later made a signature hit) and the certified hit "I Hear Music."
Paige had his big chance at stardom at Universal in Can't Help Singing (1944) in which he sang "Californ-i-ay" in a duet with the studio's reigning warbler Deanna Durbin. The Gable-esque, often mustachioed baritone co-starred in other Universal musicals where he had plenty of opportunities to display his rich voice such as Hellzapoppin' (1941), Pardon My Sarong (1942), What's Cookin' (1942) and How's About It? (1943) but too often his listless romantic roles were overshadowed by the zany antics of the comic headliners (Abbott & Costello, The Ritz Brothers), the swinging harmonies and steps of The Andrews Sisters, guest musical artists, or the sheer magnetism of his lady co-star such as Durbin and Frances Langford. He fared better in rugged adventures, sprightly comedies, crime yarns and horror opuses, including Son of Dracula (1943) with Lon Chaney Jr. and Fired Wife (1943) with frequent co-star Louise Allbritton.
From 1946 on Paige freelanced. While on tour to promote the movie The Red Stallion (1947), Paige met oil millionaire Glenn McCarthy, who financed the picture The Green Promise (1949) in which Paige produced and starred. By the early 50s, he abandoned films for the most part and sought out TV roles. His well-modulated voice was ideal for hosting/emcee duties and went on to include Bride and Groom (1951) and The Big Payoff (1951) with former "Miss America" Bess Myerson, among his jobs. His last two roles on films were minor bits in The Marriage-Go-Round (1961) and Bye Bye Birdie (1963). From 1966 to 1970 he went full circle, returning to his radio roots as an ABC newscaster in Los Angeles. From there he moved into public relations. Married three times in all, the durable leading man died in 1987.- Maxine Elliott Hicks' parents were George W. & Margaret Hicks. They are listed in the 1910 Colorado census and then show up in 1920, 1930 and 1940 census records in California. On George W. Hicks' death certificate is shows his mother's maiden name as Joslyn. Maxine was married several times, one being a Dodge.
- Director
- Animation Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Don Lusk was born on 28 October 1913 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He was a director and assistant director, known for Lady and the Tramp (1955), Sleeping Beauty (1959) and Alice in Wonderland (1951). He was married to Marjorie Gummerson. He died on 30 December 2018 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Actress
- Writer
- Additional Crew
Christine Jorgensen was an actress, nightclub entertainer, and the first transgender person to be widely publicized in America. On December 1, 1952, her transition was the subject of a front-page story in the New York Daily News and she became a celebrity overnight.
Christine sold the exclusive rights of her story to William Randolph Hearst's The American Weekly, which published her five-part series, "The Story of My Life," in 1953. She also launched a successful nightclub act, recorded several songs, and appeared in TV, radio, and theatrical productions. From the 1960s until her death in 1989, Christine lectured at college campuses, discussing gender identity and advocating for transgender rights.
Christine published her autobiography, Christine Jorgensen: A Personal Autobiography, in 1967, and went on to sell over 400,000 copies. She was also the subject of a biopic, The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970). Her 1957 interview with Nipsey Russell has been depicted in the 2005 Off-Broadway production, Christine Jorgensen Reveals. Recently she was portrayed by Jamie Clayton in Equal (2020).
Christine died of bladder and lung cancer in 1989. She was inducted into Chicago's Legacy Walk celebrating LGBT history in 2012, honored in San Francisco's Rainbow Walk in 2014, and included in the National LGBTQ Wall of Honor at Stonewall National Monument in New York City in 2019.- Actress
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
- Additional Crew
Marie Osborne was born on 5 November 1911 in Denver, Colorado, USA. She was an actress, known for Milady o' the Beanstalk (1918), Twin Kiddies (1917) and The Godfather Part II (1974). She was married to Murray F. Yeats and Frank J. Dempsey. She died on 11 November 2010 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Cedrick Hardman was born on 4 October 1948 in Houston, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Stir Crazy (1980), House Party (1990) and The Candidate (1972). He was married to Carolyn Richardson. He died on 8 March 2019 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Robert Dudley was born on 13 September 1869 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Palm Beach Story (1942), The Fourteenth Man (1920) and The Night Flyer (1928). He was married to Elaine Anderson. He died on 12 November 1955 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Producer
- Director
- Editor
The son of character actor Dennis Hoey (Insp. Lestrade in the Universal "Sherlock Holmes" series), Michael A. Hoey was born in London and relocated to the U.S. as a child. Growing up in the shadows of the Hollywood studios, he decided he wanted to get into the business and began his career in the editing room. Branching out into production, he formed a company (Bardin Productions) in partnership with actor Britt Lomond and made the documentary The Legend of Mandinga (1961). After working at Warner Brothers in the early 1960s, Hoey collaborated with director Norman Taurog on several Elvis Presley movies and (on his own) wrote and directed the sci-fi shocker The Navy vs. the Night Monsters (1966). In more recent years, he has worked as a writer-producer-director on TV's Fame (1982), as well as having written, directed or edited numerous TV series episodes and TV movies. From 1997 to 2006, he and John Moffitt executive-produced the Creative Arts Emmy Awards.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Chad Dee Block was born on 1 May 1936 in Twin Falls, Idaho, USA. He was an actor, known for Hunter (1984), Blue Thunder (1984) and MacGyver (1985). He was married to Carmen Alvarez Block. He died on 18 June 2002 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Writer
- Music Department
- Additional Crew
Warren Foster was born on 24 October 1904 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for The Atom Ant Show (1965), The Secret Squirrel Show (1965) and The Flintstones (1960). He died on 13 December 1971 in San Clemente, California, USA.- June Carlson was born on 16 April 1924 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Jeep-Herders (1945), A Trip to Paris (1938) and Off to the Races (1937). She was married to Donald C. McKean. She died on 9 December 1996 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Sound Department
Al Overton was born on 20 May 1912 in Connecticut, USA. He is known for Diamonds Are Forever (1971), The Shootist (1976) and Poltergeist II: The Other Side (1986). He died on 1 August 1985 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Make-Up Department
Roselle Friedland was born on 19 May 1918 in Germany. She is known for Carol Burnett & Company (1979), The Carol Burnett Show (1967) and Jimmy Durante Presents the Lennon Sisters (1969). She was married to Joseph Friedland. She died on 31 January 2007 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Actor
- Stunts
- Additional Crew
Harry Raven was born on 15 May 1910. He was an actor, known for The Incredible Petrified World (1959), Flesh and Fury (1952) and Lux Video Theatre (1950). He died on 8 June 2001 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Tim Taylor was born on 17 May 1924. He was an actor, known for Studio One (1948) and The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1953). He died on 3 June 2005 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Juliette Paskowitz was born on 12 January 1932 in Long Beach, California, USA. She was married to Dorian Paskowitz. She died on 3 May 2021 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Sound Department
Clem Portman was born on 1 March 1905 in Proviso, Illinois, USA. He is known for Out of the Past (1947), The Thomas Crown Affair (1968) and In the Heat of the Night (1967). He died on 21 October 1992 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Set Decorator
- Art Department
Louis Diage was born on 22 July 1905 in Illinois, USA. He was a set decorator, known for Bell Book and Candle (1958), Pal Joey (1957) and The Solid Gold Cadillac (1956). He died on 9 October 1979 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Art Director
- Art Department
Edward L. Ilou was born on 20 August 1905 in Stockholm, Sweden. He was an art director, known for In This Corner (1948), Behind Locked Doors (1948) and Hollow Triumph (1948). He died on 12 November 1978 in San Clemente, California, USA.- Linda Curry was born on 18 February 1944 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. She died on 10 June 1994 in San Clemente, California, USA.
- Vivian Meik was born on 31 July 1894 in Calcutta, India. Vivian was a writer, known for Night Gallery (1969) and Cineficción Radio (2019). Vivian died on 22 December 1955 in San Clemente, California, USA.