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Post by petrolino on Jun 17, 2017 3:54:48 GMT
variety.com/2017/film/news/john-g-avildsen-dead-dies-rocky-karate-kid-1202469349/John G. Avildsen, who won an Oscar for directing the original “Rocky” (1976), starring Sylvester Stallone, and also directed all three of the original “Karate Kid” films, has died in Los Angeles. He was 81.  A rep confirmed his death. Avildsen also won the DGA Award for directing “Rocky,” which also won Oscars for best picture and film editing and was nominated in multiple other categories. In 2006 Variety interviewed Avildsen, who said that a film with a boxing story didn’t excite him at first, but he was “moved by the urban character study of Sylvester Stallone’s script.” He held out on directing part two in lieu of another project — a decision that Avildsen said was “one of my greatest mistakes.” He returned to the franchise to direct 1990’s “Rocky V.” In 1983 he was Oscar nominated again, this time for the documentary short “Traveling Hopefully.” The Director’s Guild released a statement, saying “We were greatly saddened to learn of the passing of beloved director John Avildsen. His iconic ‘Rocky,’ which won the DGA Feature Film Award in 1976, has been lionized throughout our culture as the quintessential underdog story – a recurring theme in his notable body of work which included ‘Save the Tiger’ and ‘The Karate Kid’ franchise. Throughout the decades, his rousing portrayals of victory, courage and emotion captured the hearts of generations of Americans.” He served on the DGA’s National Board for three terms, on the DGA’s Eastern Directors Council from 1977-1990, on the Western Directors Council from 1992-1994, and was a member of the 1987 and 1996 DGA Negotiating Committees. Avildsen developed a reputation for making movies about losers, or underdogs, who somehow become winners. Avildsen’s other films included the critically hailed drama-thriller “Joe” (1970), starring Susan Sarandon and Peter Boyle. It was his first success as a director, and was praised for Peter Boyle’s performance. “Save the Tiger” (1973), an issue-oriented drama sporting an outstanding starring performance from Jack Lemmon, was nominated for three Oscars, with Lemmon winning best actor. The three Oscar nominations for “Save the Tiger” and the win for Lemmon secured Avildsen’s place on the list of go-to directors. His other films included comedy “W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings” (1975), starring Burt Reynolds; thriller “The Formula” (1980), starring George C. Scott and Marlon Brando; eerie comedy “Neighbors,” starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd; pregnancy comedy “For Keeps?” (1988), starring Molly Ringwald; drama “Lean on Me” (1989), which helped launch Morgan Freeman’s career; and bull riding biopic “8 Seconds” (1994), starring Luke Perry. Avildsen started in the business as a cinematographer, lensing seven films from the mid-’60s to the early ’70s, including his feature directorial debut “Turn on to Love” (1969) and subsequent helming efforts “Guess What We Learned in School Today,” “Joe,” “Cry Uncle,” “Okay Bill” and “The Stoolie” (1972), starring Jackie Mason. John Guilbert Avildsen was born in Oak Park, Illinois. He graduated from the prestigious Hotchkiss School and NYU. He started out in the film business as an assistant director on movies by Arthur Penn and Otto Preminger. A documentary on the director’s life and career, “John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs” (2016), directed and produced by Derek Wayne Johnson, features interviews with Stallone, “Karate Kid” star Ralph Macchio, Martin Scorsese, Jerry Weintraub and Burt Reynolds. The documentary is a companion to the book “The Films of John G. Avildsen: Rocky, The Karate Kid, and Other Underdogs,” written by Larry Powell and Tom Garrett. Avildsen is survived by a daughter, Bridget, and sons Anthony, Jonathan and Ashley. John Avildsen was a talented technician and a great filmmaker; one of the absolute best that 20th century cinema had to offer. It's with a very heavy heart, I'd like to express my gratitude. John Avildsen Rest in Peace |
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Post by petrolino on Jun 18, 2017 13:06:00 GMT
Stephen Furst has died at the age of 63. Actor, comedian, director, writer, activist; a man of many talents. He's remembered in Variety : Stephen Furst (1954 - 2017)Stephen Furst Rest in Peace
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Post by petrolino on Jun 18, 2017 13:15:57 GMT
Mieczyslaw Kalenik has died at the age of 84. A commanding stage actor with a flair for comedy, Kalenik appeared in Andrzej Wajda's 'A Generation' (1955), Leonard Buczkowski's 'Teenager' (1963) and Janusz Majewski's 'The Lodger' (1966) during the flowering of the Polish Film School, as well as grand master Aleksander Ford's towering historical epic 'Knights Of The Teutonic Order' (1960).
Mieczyslaw Kalenik R.I.P.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 18, 2017 17:00:31 GMT
Venus Ramey has passed away at the age of 92. Ramey was born in Ashland, Kentucky on September 26th, 1924. At the 18th Miss America beauty pageant, she was crowned Miss America in 1944. She was courted by Hollywood to appear in 'My Girl Tisa' (1948) as she was popular with the armed forces and sang and danced in theatre productions. Ramey resisted the lure of Tinseltown and found politics was her true calling. She would later help restore and rejuvenate Over-the-Rhine historic buildings in Cincinnati, Ohio. She returned home to Kentucky to run a farm and saw out her final years in relative quietude, occasionally spotted out on her tractor. Hers was a remarkable life lived. Venus Ramey Rest in Peace
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Post by Richard Kimble on Jun 19, 2017 23:14:16 GMT
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/bill-dana-dead-jose-jimenez-903436 Bill Dana, who created and starred as the earnest character at the center of the "My Name … Jose Jimenez" routine that made him one of America's most beloved comic performers of the 1960s, has died. He was 92. Dana, who first appeared as Jimenez on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show, where he also worked as an Emmy-nominated head writer, died Thursday at his home in Nashville, Emerson College announced. He and a fellow alumnus founded the American Comedy Archives at the Boston school, fulfilling a lifelong goal to honor the study and appreciation of the comedic arts. Dana contrived the trademark "Would You Believe?" line of jokes that Don Adams employed as a standup and on the TV series Get Smart and penned one of the funniest episodes in All in the Family history — the one from 1972 in which Sammy Davis Jr. plants a kiss on Archie Bunker (Carroll O'Connor). The nation was introduced to Jimenez in a comedy sketch on Allen's variety show in November 1959. Struggling to speak English, Jimenez appeared in a Santa Claus outfit as an instructor at a school for wannabe Kris Kringles and interviewed by "Man on the Street" Pat Harrington Jr. "I said, 'My name … Jose Jimenez,' and the [live] audience laughed," Dana, a Massachusetts native of Hungarian-Jewish descent, recalled in a 2007 interview with the Archive of American Television. "I remember thinking, 'This guy just said his name and everybody [went crazy] …' "It was the most amazing, B-movie type of thing, because [after the show aired] the phones started ringing [with viewers asking], 'Who is this guy that wandered into the studio?'" Dana said he got the idea for the character and the accent after talking with a Puerto Rican local while on vacation years earlier.
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Post by petrolino on Jun 25, 2017 14:50:23 GMT
Composer Armando Sciascia has died at the age of 97. Sciascia was an excellent musician who released records with his orchestra and ran his own recording company in Italy for many years. He composed music for films, documentaries and television series, forming a strong partnership with filmmaker Renzo Russo in the 1960s. His textural pieces became increasingly disorientating in the 1970s which led to the creation of extraordinary works like 'Sea Fantasy' (1972) and 'Violin Reactions' (1974). Sciascia later moved to America, settling in Trumbull, Connecticut where he saw out his final days.
Thanks for the music.
Armando Sciascia Rest in Peace
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Post by petrolino on Jul 1, 2017 17:51:20 GMT
C.O. 'Big Doc' Erickson has died aged 93. Erickson performed a variety of production roles while working in the movies.
Hal Fryar has died aged 90. Fryar was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA on June 8th, 1927. He appears in 'The Outlaw Is Coming' (1965) alongside his pals the 3 Stooges and was inducted into the Indiana Broadcast Pioneers Hall of Fame in 2008.
Top American stuntman Loren Janes has died aged 85. Hailing from the state of California, Janes worked on many fine films during his long and successful career in Hollywood.
British film critic and television presenter Barry Norman has died at the age of 83. Norman was the voice of a generation here in U K. His father was the esteemed film director and editor Leslie Norman. His book 'Barry Norman : 100 Best Films Of The Century' was indispensable to me growing up, while his ongoing televised narrative was like a comfy pair of slippers
Actress Elsa Daniel has passed away at the age of 80. Daniel shot to stardom through her role in 'The Grandfather' (1954) which was based on a novel by Benito Perez Galdos. She appeared in a string of Argentinian classics over the next 15 years before settling into a second career in mainstream television.
Choreographer Paul De Rolf has died at the age of 74. De Rolf's services were employed by cinematic showmen Cecil B. DeMille, George Sidney, Steven Spielberg and John Avildsen.
Respected Indian filmmaker K.R. Mohanan has died aged 69. Mohanan was a favourite on the festival circuit. I've not seen any of his films.
Cinematographer Federico Ribes has died aged 65. Ribes manned the camera for the great Portugese director Pedro Costa during his bright career.
Swedish actor Michael Nyqvist has died aged 56. Nyqvist earned praise internationally for his roles in the 'Girl' mystery pictures based on the bestselling books of Stieg Larsson.
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Post by petrolino on Jul 3, 2017 18:14:07 GMT
European cinema must bid farewell to three unique and distinctive talents ...
Legendary comedian Paolo Villaggio has died in Rome, Italy following a long period of illness. He was 84 years of age. Villaggio was born on December 30th, 1932 in Genoa, Italy. Villaggio's place in Italian cinema history is assured through his creation of the popular comedy character Ugo Fantozzi whom he portrayed in ten films. Villaggio worked with some of Italy's greatest comic filmmakers including Mario Monicelli, Federico Fellini, Nanni Loy, Steno, Mauro Bolognini, Luigi Comencini, Ettore Scola, Marco Ferreri, Luciano Salce, Sergio Corbucci, Salvatore Samperi, Franco Castellano and Giuseppe Moccia.
German actress Solvi Stubing has passed away at the age of 76. Stubing maintained a steady career in German films but really rose to prominence as a member of experimental filmmaker Renato Polselli's exuberant stock company. Having been embraced by Italian cinemagoers, she went on to work with Dino Risi, Luigi Comencini, Antonio Pietrangeli, Nanni Loy, Giorgio Ferroni, Andrea Bianchi, Ferdinando Baldi, Lucio Fulci, Umberto Lenzi, Sergio Grieco and Rino Di Silvestro, cementing her position as one of genre cinema's top character actresses. Stubing was frequently singled out by film theorists for her arresting screen personality and the challenging nature of her artistic choices. She later moved into television production before entering the political arena where she became a staunch advocate of womens rights.
English artist Heathcote Williams of Helsby, Cheshire has died aged 75. Provocative poet, controversial playwright, tell-tale performer, political activist, ceaseless iconoclast and more. Williams appeared in films for Derek Jarman, David Leland, Giuseppe Tornatore, Sally Potter and Mike Figgis. Bringing Williams' play 'The Local Stigmatic' to audiences proved a lifelong labour of love for obsessive fan Al Pacino.
... Rest in Peace
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Post by Richard Kimble on Jul 4, 2017 20:57:09 GMT
www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/skip-homeier-dead-tomorrow-world-star-trek-actor-was-86-1018507 Skip Homeier, who played the menacing Nazi youth in the 1944 drama Tomorrow, the World! before appearing in scores of Westerns, war films and TV shows, has died. He was 86. Homeier died June 25, his son, Michael, and wife, Della, each reported on Facebook. Homeier also is known to fans of the original Star Trek for portraying Melakon, a Nazi-like character, in the 1968 episode "Patterns of Force" and as the arrogant Dr. Sevrin, who carries a deadly bacteria within him, in 1969's "The Way to Eden." Homeier also played Judge Charles Older, who heard the case against Charles Manson (Steve Railsback), in the acclaimed 1976 CBS telefilm Helter Skelter and appeared as the title character, a cop working the night shift out of Hollywood, in the 1961 NBC crime drama Dan Raven. A native of Chicago, George Vincent Homeier portrayed violent or neurotic characters early in his career. He was billed as Skippy Homeier when he made his onscreen debut as a Nazi teen who arrives in Middle America in Tomorrow, the World!, starring Fredric March. (The kid actor had originated the role of Emil Bruchner on Broadway in April 1943). The lanky Homeier later was memorable as a foolhardy man looking to make a reputation as a gunslinger in The Gunfighter (1950), starring Gregory Peck, and he played the jittery soldier Riley "Pretty Boy" Duncannon in Lewis Milestone's Halls of Montezuma (1951) and the hit man Roxey in the Alaska-set film noir Cry Vengeance (1954), starring Mark Stevens. He also appeared in Arthur Takes Over (1948), Sealed Cargo (1951), Sam Fuller's Fixed Bayonets! (1951), Has Anybody Seen My Gal (1952), Black Widow (1954), Between Heaven and Hell (1956), Stark Fear (1962), Don Knotts' The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966) and Muhammad Ali's The Greatest (1977). Homeier's resume was packed with Westerns, including Ten Wanted Men (1955), The Road to Denver (1955), Stranger at My Door (1956), Dakota Incident (1956), The Tall T (1957), Day of the Badman (1958), Comanche Station (1960) and Showdown (1963) for the big screen. On television, he showed up on Wanted: Dead or Alive, The Rifleman, Wagon Train, Branded, Bonanza and The Virginian. The actor also had a recurring role as a mentoring doctor on the 1970-71 CBS drama The Interns and appeared in guest stints on Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Millionaire, The Addams Family, The Outer Limits, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, Fantasy Island, Vega$ and Quincy M.E.  
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Post by petrolino on Jul 7, 2017 21:44:33 GMT
Czech character actor Frantisek Rehak has died at the age of 93. Rehak's career in cinema was inextricably linked with the career of filmmaker Jiri Menzel though he worked with many other fine Czech and Slovak directors during his time. He was a supreme talent and a master of disguise who'd happily take on multiple roles if called upon to do so.
The great French composer Pierre Henry has died at the age of 89. Henry's music can be heard in a wide range of works by experimental filmmakers.
The great Norwegian composer Egil Monn-Iversen has also died at the age of 89. Monn-Iversen's contribution to the national cinema was immense, earning him his nickname 'The Godfather of Norwegian Entertainment'.
Towering tall man Ji-Tu Cumbuka has died aged 77. Cumbuka made his presence felt in numerous big screen comedies, including 'Brewster's Millions' (1985), 'Moving' (1988) and 'Harlem Nights' (1989), three films from the 1980s that showcased the genius of Richard Pryor.
Czech comedian Petr Pelzer has died at the age of 76. Pelzer was cast in several motion pictures by director Karel Kachnya and he collaborated on a handful of projects with experimental filmmaker Jaromil Jires.
German pop idol Chris Roberts has died at the age of 71. Roberts flexed his acting muscles in a raft of hit comedies, sometimes contributing to their soundtracks.
Carolyn Cronenberg has passed away at the age of 66. Cronenberg worked as an editor and production assistant on several films directed by her husband David Cronenberg early in his career.
Sound specialist David Yewdall has passed away following a long period of illness. He was 66. Yewdall served apprenticeships in sound and editing under movie producer Roger Corman. He went on to craft sound designs for some of the best action movies to come out of Hollywood. He was one of the best in his field.
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Post by manfromplanetx on Jul 9, 2017 8:13:09 GMT
R.I.P Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) Italian actress and fashion model thanks for so many memorable performances... Olgar in The Tenth Victim (1965) 
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Post by petrolino on Jul 9, 2017 10:20:12 GMT
R.I.P Elsa Martinelli (born Elisa Tia; 30 January 1935 – 8 July 2017) Italian actress and fashion model thanks for so many memorable performances... Olgar in The Tenth Victim (1965) Great still from 'The Tenth Victim'. Elsa Martinelli was in some of my favourite fantasy films of the 1960s including 'Blood And Roses' (1960), 'The Trial' (1962), 'Woman Times Seven' (1967) and 'Candy' (1968). Thanks for all the great movies. Elsa Martinelli Rest in Peace |
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Post by petrolino on Jul 14, 2017 21:44:29 GMT
Mexican comedian Hector Lechuga has died aged 90. Lechuga performed in a number of films between the 1960s and 1980s.
British stunt performer Joe Robinson has also died at the age of 90. Robinson is fondly remembered by action enthusiasts for his on-screen appearances in the 1950s & 1960s.
Character actress Isabelle Sadoyan has died at the age of 89. Sadoyan worked with a formidable array of French directors including Claude Lelouch, Claude Sautet, Claude Miller, Bertrand Tavernier, Michele Rosier and Luc Besson, as well as Polish filmmaker Krzysztof Kieslowski and Turkish-born director Henri Verneuil.
Eva Schubert has died aged 86. Schubert was a highly respected figure in Hungarian theatre who also found time to etch some popular supporting roles in big screen romantic comedies.
Fikret Hakan, one of Turkey's most popular film stars, has died aged 83. Hakan worked on a number of films scripted by the legendary Yilmaz Guney and he headlined the classic 'Revenge Of The Snakes' (1962) for grand master Metin Erksan.
Broadway starlet Aleshia Brevard has passed away aged 79. Brevard's first picture was 'The Love God?' (1969) with Don Knotts and she went on to star in Al Adamson's cult favourite 'The Female Bunch' (1971).
Nelsan Ellis has died aged 39; Ellis notched some pleasing roles in movies and earned plaudits for his performance in the hit tv show 'True Blood'.
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Post by petrolino on Jul 14, 2017 21:49:09 GMT
Paquita Rico has passed away at the age of 87. Rico was born on October 13th, 1929 in Seville, Spain. She took lessons in singing and dancing before entering into ballet. She entered movies in the 1940s and became an instant success, establishing a long career in entertainment that saw her become one of Spain's great stars of theatre and film. Some of the nation's finest composers wrote music specifically for Rico, the ultimate tribute to a golden age superstar. Tributes have been paid throughout this week.
Paquita Rico R.I.P.
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Post by petrolino on Jul 16, 2017 23:00:16 GMT
George Romero has passed away aged 77 following a period of illness. I'm really sad to see him go. Tributes will be paid over the next few days to one of the great American filmmakers. My thoughts are with his friends and family. Here's an obituary in 'Variety' : George Romero (1940 - 2017)
"Sad to hear my favorite collaborator--and good old friend--George Romero has died. George, there will never be another like you."
- Stephen King
Thanks for the movies, George, and thanks for the memories. George Romero Rest in Peace
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Post by neurosturgeon on Jul 17, 2017 1:34:53 GMT
Martin Landau has died at the age of 89.
I met him a couple of times. Great smile and really nice.
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 17, 2017 20:54:13 GMT
Actor and playwright Trevor Baxter, age 84.
Graduating from RADA in 1961, Baxter appeared in a variety of shows since his debut in the 1950s, chalking up credits in a number of well-known series such as Adam Adamant Lives!, Z Cars, Thriller, The New Avengers, George and Mildred, Rumpole of the Bailey, and in later years roles such as Lanyon in Jack The Ripper, Gordon Naylor in The Politician's Wife, and Dr Albrigtsen in Maelstrom. On the big screen, he appeared in films including Nutcracker, Parting Shots, Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow and Van Wilder: The Rise of Taj.
However, for Doctor Who fans it is the pairing up with Christopher Benjamin to play Professor George Litefoot alongside Henry Gordon Jago that he will be remembered for. Created for the 1977 fourth Doctor tale The Talons of Weng-Chiang, the partnership proved popular and memorable, and though rumours of a spin-off television series never came to fruition at the time, the duo found new life through Big Finish with their own series of audio adventures. (You can read the Big Finish tribute here).
Louise Jameson played Leela alongside Baxter in The Talons of Weng-Chiang and today paid tribute to the actor.
Off-screen, Baxter appeared with the Royal Shakespeare Company, and was also an accomplished playwright, with plays such as Edith Grove, The Undertaking, Ripping Them Off and Through A Glass Darkly. In 2003 he adapted Oscar Wilde's A Portrait of Dorian Gray for the stage, and in 2005 Wilde's short story Lord Arthur Savile's Crime.
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Post by petrolino on Jul 19, 2017 20:48:19 GMT
Canadian actor Harvey Atkin has died aged 74. Atkin appeared in popular Canadian movies like Ivan Reitman's camp comedy 'Meatballs' (1979), William Fruet's gothic chilller 'Funeral Home' (1980) and Jim Drake's road adventure 'Speed Zone' (1989). He also featured in a pair of intriguing science-based horror thrillers from Jean-Claude Lord, the taut slasher 'Visiting Hours' (1982) and the intense drama 'Mindfield' (1989). He's remembered in 'Variety' : Harvey Atkin (1942 - 2017)Harvey Atkin R.I.P. |
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Post by mikef6 on Jul 21, 2017 18:09:44 GMT
'Doctor Who' companion Deborah Watling dies at 69 Deborah Watling, who played the companion to the second Doctor on BBC’s long-running Doctor Who, has died after a brief battle with cancer, the BBC reports. She was 69. Watling’s brother, Giles Watling, told the BBC, “She was a lovely, lovely girl, bubbly and vibrant.” He added that she will be “sorely missed.” According to The Telegraph, Watling was diagnosed with lung cancer six weeks earlier. The official Doctor Who magazine initially also tweeted the news of her death on Friday. “We’re saddened to report the death of the much-loved Deborah Watling, who played the Second Doctor’s companion Victoria Waterfield. RIP,” the tweet read. Producer Innes Lloyd approached Watling to audition for the role of Polly, which later went to Anneke Wills, after seeing her as Alice in the 1965 BBC play The Life of Lewis Carroll. Among her previous credits were television roles in The Invisible Man and William Tell. “We both agreed that I wasn’t really ready for it,” she said of that meeting with Lloyd to the British publication TV Zone in a 1992 interview. “I was too young and inexperienced. He then suggested I go away, learn more about theater, and try again in about a year’s time.” Watling did just that and eventually debuted as Victoria on Doctor Who in 1967 with “The Evil of the Daleks.” This was in the era of Patrick Troughton as the titular time-traveler. “At first, I was very prim, in this long frock with big sleeves,” she recalled in 2013 to The Guardian. “But I thought, ‘I can’t stay in this for a year if I’ve got to climb mountains.’ So gradually Victoria got her own character and the frocks changed: she became stronger and stronger.” She added, “There weren’t many women on Doctor Who. It was mostly men on the set. I went out with one of the camera boys; that was quite fun. I went out with a Yeti as well, and a Cyberman, but only for one night. I couldn’t take it. The height of him!” Watling ended her relationship with the show in 1968, but she returned to the character for the 1993 broadcast Doctor Who: Dimensions in Time. In 2010, she released her autobiography, Daddy’s Girl. Watling obit |
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Post by petrolino on Jul 21, 2017 22:59:43 GMT
Red West, actor, stuntman, songwriter, has died aged 81. West hailed from Memphis, Tennessee and was a good friend of Elvis Presley who moved there from Mississippi. I love his performance in 'Road House' (1989). He's remembered in the Chicago Tribune : Red West (1936 - 2017)Red West R.I.P.
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