In Memoriam

As 2008 comes to a close here is a look at a few of those we lost between the holidays... Patricia Marand (74) -Lois Lane in the 1960's Broadway show "It's a Bird! It's a Plane!, It's Superman!" Paul Benedict (70) -Mr. Harry Bentley on "The Jeffersons" from 1975-1981 and 1983-1985. Beverly Garland (82) -Character actress, "My Three Sons", "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" Robert Prosky (77) -Character actor, Mrs. Doubtfire, "Veronica's Closet" Majel Barrett-Roddenberry (76) -Widow of "Star Trek" creator Gene Roddenberry, voice actress "Spider-Man" Ann Savage (87) -Screen siren in the 1940's

"The Dancing Star" Van Johnson danced his way across the cinema screens more times than anyone could count. Starting out on Broadway in New York in the 1930's it was his performance in the 1939 production of Too Many Girls that led him to appear in the 1940 film version. After that he would go on to appear in 80 films his final appearance being in 1992's Clowning Around. In 1954 he shared the screen with legend Humphrey Bogart in the classic The Caine Mutiny which also featured Jose Ferrer, Fred MacMurray, E.G. Marshall and Lee Marvin. In 1968 he appeared with his good friend Lucille Ball in the film Yours, Mine and Ours which also starred Henry Fonda. On television Johnson became a permanent fixture appearing on such shows as "I Love Lucy", "The Name's the Same", "Letter to Loretta", "The Jack Benny Program", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The Jack Paar Tonight Show", "I've Got a Secret",...

Two of the greatest words in the English language… Lucille Ball! Lucille Ball worked very hard for everything she ever had. She is probably one of the best examples of the great American success story. As a young child in Jamestown, New York she and her family struggled to make it during very hard times. By the time she made it to Hollywood she was still fighting for her moment in the spotlight. She made her first appearance on film in 1933. Some of her more notable films are: Stage Door (1937 – with Katharine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers) Too Many Girls (1940 – with Van Johnson and Desi Arnaz) Dance, Girl, Dance (1940 – with Maureen O’Hara) The Big Street (1942 – with Henry Fonda) Du Barry was a Lady (1943 – with Red Skelton) The Dark Corner (1946 – with Clifton Webb and William Bendix) Lured (1947 – with George Sanders and Boris Karloff) Sorrowful Jones (1949 – with Bob Hope) Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949 – with William Holden) Fancy Pants (1950 – with Bob Hope) The Fuller Brush ...

Desi Arnaz (1917-1986) as Ricky Ricardo he slaughtered the English language but as himself he and Lucy built the first television dynasty. Lucille and Desi appeared in almost two hundred television shows together and everyone of them was pure gold. William Frawley (1887-1966) as Fred Mertz he clung to every penny he could but as himself he appeared in more than one hundred films and a handful of television shows. He found success on "My Three Sons" from 1960 until 1965 and made his final screen appearance on "The Lucy Show" five months before his death in March 1966.

Carolyn Jones (1930-1983) - Morticia Addams Ted Cassidy (1932-1979) - Lurch Jackie Coogan (1914-1984) - Uncle Fester Marie Blake (1895-1978) - Grandmama Addams Margaret Hamilton (1902-1985) - Grandmama Hester Frump

Buddy Ebsen (1908-2003) - Jed Clampett Raymond Bailey (1904-1980) - Mr. Milburn Drysdale Nancy Kulp (1921-1991) - Miss Jane Hathaway Frank Wilcox (1907-1974) - John Brewster Joi Lansing (1929-1972) - Gladys Flatt Louie Nye (1913-2005) - Sonny Drysdale Edgar Buchanan (1903-1979) - Uncle Joe Carson Meredith MacRae (1944-2000) - Billie Jo Bradley Smiley Burnette (1911-1967) - Charley Pratt Rufe Davis (1908-1974) - Floyd Smoot Kay E. Kuter (1925-2003) - Newt Kiley Hank Patterson (1888-1975) - Fred Ziffel Rosemary DeCamp (1910-2001) - Aunt Helen Pat Buttram (1915-1994) - Mr. Haney Walter Baldwin (1889-1977) - Grandpappy Miller Alvy Moore (1921-1997) - Mr. Hank Kimball Merie Earle (1889-1984) - Sarah Hotchkiss Trendell Kay St.Germain Wells (1914-1994) - Sadie Prentiss Robert Foulk (1908-1989) - Mr. Roy Trendell/Mr. Wheeler

Frances Bavier (1902-1989) - Aunt Bee Taylor Howard McNear (1905-1969) - Floyd Lawson, the Barber Aneta Corsaut (1933-1995) - Miss Helen Crump Jack Dodson (1931-1994) - Howard Sprague Paul Hartman (1904-1973) - Emmett Clark Mary Lansing (1911-1988) - Martha Clark Dick Elliott (1886-1961) - Mayor Pike Parley Baer (1914-2002) - Mayor Roy Stoner Hal Smith (1916-1994) - Otis Campbell Hope Summers (1896-1979) - Clara Edwards Johnson Howard Morris (1919-2005) - Ernest T. Bass Denver Pyle (1920-1997) - Briscoe Darling Cheerio Meredith (1890-1964) - Emma Brand Watson

Even today she is remembered as one of television's nosiest neighbors. Alice Pearce began on Broadway in the 1940's. She played the role of Lucy Smeeler in the production On the Town and also played the role in the film version in 1949. She would go onto appear in 12 more films up through 1966. In 1949, she briefly hosted a music/humor variety show called "Alice Pearce." Her other television credits include "Van Camp's Little Show", "One Minute Please", "Toast of the Town", "Startime", "Girl Talk", Goodyear Television Playhouse", "The Jean Carroll Show", "Broadway Television Theatre", "The Motorola Television Hour", "Jamie", "Studio One", "Kraft Television Theatre", "The Real McCoys", "Hallmark Hall of Fame", "The Twilight Zone", "Shirley Temple's Storybook", "The Ann Sothern Show", "General E...

This small framed character actressed didn't appear on screen for the first time until she was 78 years old. Between 1970 and 1975 she appeared in five films and in 1973 she appeared in the TV movie "A Dream for Christmas" in which played a character named Beth Rogers. In 1971 she had a recurring role on the daytime soap opera "Days of Our Lives" as Mrs. Davis. Her television credits are small with appearances on only "The Mod Squad", "Night Gallery", "Cowboy in Africa" and Run for Your Life." In 1974, she appeared in an episode of "All in the Family" as Olivia Jefferson, George and Henry Jefferson's mother and that was all it took. When "The Jeffersons" moved on up in January 1975 she moved on up with them. As Mother Jefferson she was the sharp tongue closeted alcoholic mother-in-law from Hell. She saw her share of the spotlight though as seen in such episodes as "Mother Jefferson's Fall...

This blog is much too small to recognize all the wonderful contributions and gifts that Jack Benny has given to the world and to comedy. Right now I am just going to talk a little bit about his many television and radio appearances. This list isn't complete, there were quite a few specials and other television functions that I will not touch on. In 1932, he started on radio by hosting "The Canada Dry Program." At first it was on NBC and then moved to CBS until 1933. From 1933 to 1934 he hosted "The Chevrolet Show." Briefly in 1934 he hosted "The General Tire Show." That same year he began hosting "The Jell-O Program" and remained with it until 1942 when he switched to "The Grape Nuts Flakes Program." When that ended in 1944 he began hosting "The Lucky Strike Program." That remained on NBC until 1949 before switching to CBS. It went off the air in 1955. Just a few of the television show's Benny appeared on are "T...

At the moment this is being written it is October 16th, Edie Adams left us one day ago. This talented blonde singer made an incredible mark on film, television and Broadway. As the wife of comedian Ernie Kovacks she found a reliable comic partner but after his death she moved on and became an incredibly popular character actress in her own right. Even though she spent some time on Broadway the bulk of her career was spent on television. In the early 1950's she appeared along side her husband on "The Ernie Kovacs Show." During the 1963-1964 season she starred in her own variety show, "Here's Edie." As herself she appeared on such shows as "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The NBC Comedy Hour", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Jack Paar Tonight Show", "The Perry Como Show", "Toast of the Town", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The DuPont Show of the Week", "Password", "W...

With her large frame and even larger red hair Darlene Conley became known as one of Daytime television's most memorable divas. She had minor roles in a few films including The Birds and Valley of the Dolls. On television she made appearances on such shows as "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Hollywood Squares", "SoapTalk", "Ironside", "The Bill Cosby Show", "Gunsmoke", "Mary Tyler Moore", "The Jeffersons", "Little House on the Prairie", "Cagney & Lacey", "Murder, She Wrote", "Scarecrow and Mrs. King" and "Highway to Heaven." She entered the Soap arena in 1979 as the villianous Rose DeVille on "The Young and the Restless." She played the role until 1980 and then again from 1986 to 1987 and then briefly in 2000. She appeared on "Days of Our Lives" in 1983 and "Capitol" and "General Hospital" in ...

"Bewitched and Bedazzled" That is the only way to describe the feeling I get when I see Elizabeth Montgomery's pretty smile. She played Samantha Stephens on the ABC sitcom "Bewitched" from 1964 until 1972 but her career went a little beyond that. Even though she is the hottest witch in television history she managed to leave that mantle behind in a slew of serious roles in the 1970's and 1980's. With a supporting cast that included Dick York, Dick Sargent, David White, Agnes Moorehead, Marion Lorne, Alice Pearce, Sandra Gould and George Tobias "Bewitched" was one of the 1960's favorite sitcoms and has lived on ever since in syndication and on DVD. Montgomery made a few appearances on her father's own program "Robert Montgomery Presents" but her other television credits include "Armstrong Circle Theatre", "Climax!", "Kraft Television Theatre", "Studio One", "Suspicion", "...

Before I begin I want to just say that the purpose of this blog entry is to pay tribute to Ruth Warrick's acting career. I know she did quite a bit for several charities and humanitarian causes and also contributed grately to the Democratic Party but only the highlights of her acting career will be discussed below. Also, her year of birth is unclear. In 1999 she gave her year of birth as 1916 but after her passing some reports said 1915. In 1941, she joined cinema history when she played Emily Kane in Orson Welles' epic production Citizen Kane. Between then and 1984 she appeared in 25 more films. Between 1953 and 1954 she played Janet Johnson, R.N. on "The Guiding Light." From 1956 to 1960 she played Aunt Edie Hughes Frye on "As the World Turns." From 1959 to 1960 she worked on Broadway as an understudy. During the 1961-1962 television season she played a lead role in the television series "Father of the Bride" which lasted only one season. Her ...

"The Lavendar Lady" This delightful yet tough as nails lady was a gift to film, radio and then television. She first joined Orson Welles' Mercury Theatre Group in 1937 and went on to appear on various radio programs throughout the 1940's. She played opposite Orson Welles and then Bill Johnstone on "The Shadow" as "The Lovely Margo Lane" from 1937 to 1939. She also played Lara, mother to baby Kal-El, in the first episode of the "Superman" radio serial in February 1940. Her best known role however, was in "Sorry, Wrong Number" on the drama "Suspense." As the years went on she became the actress that would be closely associated with the role of Mrs. Stevenson. She spent the early 1950's on the Broadway stage. Some of her television credits include "Studio 57", "Climax!", "Wagon Train", "The DuPont Show of the Month", "Playhouse 90", "General Electric Theater...

Before he became the most famous butler in comic book and television history Alan Napier was one of the stage and screen's busiest character actors. He spent a lot of time on Broadway during the 1940's. He appeared in 87 films between 1930 and 1974. Some of the more notable projects are Lassie Come Home, The Song of Bernadette, Lured, Johnny Belinda, Macbeth, Joan of Arc, The Blue Veil, Marnie and My Fair Lady. Some of his television credits include "Fireside Theatre", "Four Star Playhouse", "Letter to Loretta", "General Electric Theater", "Playhouse 90", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Tales of Wells Fargo", "Don't Call Me Charlie", "The Lloyd Bridges Show", "The Twilight Zone", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Daniel Boone", "The Beverly Hillbillies", "Night Gallery", "Ironside" and "Kojak." In 1965, he signed on to ...

She was a tiny little burst of energy. Irene Ryan began in vaudeville and eventually ended up on radio. She was a regular performer on "The Bob Hope Show" from 1948 until 1950. She appeared in 46 films between 1935 and 1966. On television she appeared on "The NBC Comedy Hour", "The Andy Williams Show", "Password", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Hollywood Palace", "The Bob Hope Show", "Make Room for Daddy", "The Real McCoys", "General Electric Theater", "Wagon Train" and "Love, American Style." In 1962, she was given the role that would define her career. That was the year she was cast as Daisy Moses better known as Granny on the sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies." Joining actors Buddy Ebsen, Donna Douglas, Max Baer, Jr., Raymond Bailey, Bea Benaderet, Nancy Kulp, and Harriet E. MacGibbon the show debuted in the fall of 1962 and would go onto run for nine seas...

Edith Meiser spent most of her career on the Broadway stage. She did very little television and even fewer films only appearing in five to be exact. But during her long career on stage she did work with some amazing people including Vivian Vance. Her television credits: "Kraft Television Theatre" "Goodyear Television Playhouse" "Broadway Television Theatre" "Producers' Showcase" "Playwrights '56" "The United States Steel Hour" "The Defenders" "Naked City" And of course... "I Love Lucy" Yes in 1952 she appeared in two season one episodes playing Mrs. Phoebe Littlefield, wife of Tropicana Nightclub owner Mr. Alvin Littlefield (Gale Gordon). Her first appearance in "Lucy's Schedule" is rather prominent but her second in "Ricky Asks for a Raise" is much smaller. In "Lucy's Schedule" she reacts in horror when she finds Lucy stuck with a wax apple in her...

Between 1935 and 1990 Elvia Allman was one of the busiest character actresses in Hollywood. She began on radio, appearing on such programs as "Burns and Allen" (as Tootsie Stagwell), "The Abbott and Costello Show" (various) and "My Favorite Husband" (various). She had a regular role on "Blondie" as Cora Dithers. In 1935 she lent her voice to the first of many Walt Disney animated shorts. She originated the role of Clarabelle Cow. When television took over Allman was no stranger. She appeared on numerous programs including "The Abbott and Costello Show", "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show", "I Married Joan", "Our Miss Brooks", "Duffy's Tavern", "The Gale Storm Show", "December Bride", "The People's Choice", "The Ann Sothern Show", "The Bob Cummings Show", "The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show", "The Westinghouse Desilu...

Here is another character actress that was perfect in the society matron role. She is in television's history books as Mrs. Margaret Drysdale, a role she played in 55 episodes of "The Beverly Hillbillies" between 1962 and 1969. Some of her more memorable performances were in the episodes "The Clampetts Meet Mrs. Drysdale", "Mrs. Drysdale's Father" and "The Dahlia Feud." She was the perfect adversary for Irene Ryan's Granny. Her other television credits include "Robert Montgomery Presents", "General Electric Theater", "The Ann Sothern Show", "Hennesey", "Peter Loves Mary", "Hazel", "Route 66", "Dr. Kildare", "Ben Casey", "That Girl", "Dragnet 1967", "Bewitched", "The Mod Squad", "Love, American Style" and "The Doris Day Show." Long before she appeared on television she spent many years ...

As I have said many times on this blog, during the past eighty-years there has been nothing more important to the greatest productions than character actors. And this lady is right up there with the best of them. Eleanor Audley was ideal whenever a landlady, mother-in-law, aunt, society matron or neighbor was needed. She began on stage and she even appeared in a few films but television was where her great talent was used the most. Her image and voice was used twice in Walt Disney productions, the first being Lady Tremaine in 1950's Cinderella and the second being Maleficent in 1959's Sleeping Beauty. On radio she had a recurring role as Mrs. Laticia Cooper, mother-in-law of Liz Cooper (Lucille Ball) on the domestic comedy "My Favorite Husband." She could also be heard on "Escape", "Suspense" and as the Anderson's neighbor on "Father Knows Best." Now onto television...her credits include "Studio 57", "Our Miss Brooks...

Ethel Merman was one of the greatest stars that ever shined on the Broadway stage. With her great stage presence and booming voice she was able to make any role she played believable. Among her Broadway credits are Stars in Your Eyes, Girl Crazy, Something for the Boys, Anything Goes (her understudy was Vivian Vance), DuBarry was a Lady (her role in the film version was played by Lucille Ball), Call Me Madam, Hello, Dolly! and Annie Get Your Gun. In 1959, she was the first actress to play Mama Rose in the play Gypsy which was based on memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee. In 1936 she appeared in the film version of Anything Goes opposite Bing Crosby and Ida Lupino and in 1953 she appeared in the film version of Call Me Madam opposite Donald O'Connor and George Sanders. On television she appeared as herself on dozens of programs including "The Milton Berle Show", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The DuPont Show of the Month", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", ...

Ann Sothern is the perfect example of Hollywood royalty. The dainty actress made her first film appearance in Broadway Nights in 1927. 71 more films would follow into the late 1980's. One of her more notable films was The Blue Gardenia in 1953 with Anne Baxter and George Reeves. On television she appeared on "The Jack Benny Program", "The Perry Como Show", "The Steve Allen Show", "Person to Person", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "Password", "The Andy Williams Show", "I've Got a Secret", "What's My Line?", "Letter to Loretta", "The DuPont Show with June Allyson", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.", "Family Affair", "Love, American Style" and "The Virginian." In 1953, she began playing Susan "Susie" Camille MacNamara on the sitcom "Private Secretary." The show ran unt...

When it comes to the power and intensity of drama no one beats Jane Wyman. For me she will always been Angela Gioberti Channing from the 1980's smash hit prime time soap opera "Falcon Crest." As the strong willed matriarch she commanded her empire with an iron hand. She battled everyone...everyone....her children...her husbands...her grandchildren...and so on and so on. No matter what anyone threw at Angela she was always fourteen steps ahead ready to catch it. Jane Wyman appeared in 208 of the show's 227 episodes. Her absence in the other 19 was due to complications from diabetes among other ailments. Among the slew of celebrity visitors to Angela's precious Tuscany Valley were Lana Turner, Jane Greer, Celeste Holm, Roscoe Lee Browne, Robert Stack, Eddie Albert, Cliff Robertson, E.G. Marshall and Leslie Caron to name a few. Wyman began in feature films in 1932 with an appearance in The Kid from Spain. 82 films followed including Brother Rat in 1938, Johnny Beli...

E.G. Marshall....a true Hollywood gentleman. He began acting professionally in 1933. After playing small roles on several different low budget television shows he began to gain recognition by appearing on such programs as "The Jack Paar Tonight Show", "Pantomime Quiz", "Password", "What's My Line?", "I've Got a Secret", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "Suspense", "General Electric Theater", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Studio One", "Playhouse 90", "Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse", "Rawhide", "The Virginian", "Ironside", "The Bold Ones: The New Doctors", "Falcon Crest", "Murder, She Wrote" and "The Cosby Show." From 1961 until 1965 he headed up his own program playing the tough talking defense lawyer, Lawrence Preston, on "The Defenders" opposite Robert Reed. In 1983,...

Ted Knight was a brilliant performer. No one could bring a character like Ted Baxter to life and not be brilliant. But before he put on that familiar blue blazer he was one of television's busiest character actors. His long list of credits include "Lassie", "The Donna Reed Show", "Peter Gunn", "The Twilight Zone", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Pete and Gladys", "Dr. Kildare", "General Electric Theater", "The New Loretta Young Show", "The Untouchables", "The Virginian", "McHale's Navy", "Gunsmoke", "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.", "The F.B.I.", "The Fugitive", "The Wild Wild West", "Bonanza", "The Love Boat", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Flip Wilson Show", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "Cher", "Dinah!...

Mr. Henry Fonda - One of the finest actors to ever appear on screen. He appeared in dozens of movies between 1935 and 1981. Some of the more notable ones were: 1935 - The Farmer Takes a Wife (with Janet Gaynor) 1940 - The Grapes of Wrath (with Jane Darwell) 1942 - The Big Street (with Lucille Ball) 1956 - The Wrong Man (with Vera Miles) 1957 - 12 Angry Men (with E.G. Marshall & many others) 1962 - The Longest Day (with Eddie Albert) 1968 - Yours, Mine and Ours (with Lucille Ball & Van Johnson) 1981 - On Golden Pond (with Katherine Hepburn & Jane Fonda) On television he guest starred on such programs as "The Steve Allen Show", "Toast of the Town", "What's My Line?", "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Dean Martin Show", "All in the Family", "Maude", The Merv Griffin Show", "General Electric Theater", "The Dick Powell Sho...

Carroll O'Connor was the first human being to utter words that had never before been said on American television. "All in the Family" debuted on January 12, 1971 and by January 13th it already had its place in television's history books. O'Connor began his major acting career in the 1950's. He made guest appearances on such programs as "Sunday Showcase", "The Untouchables", "Death Valley Days", "The Dick Powell Show", "Bonanza", "The Defenders", "The Outer Limits", "The Man from U.N.C.L.E.", "Ben Casey", "Dr. Kildare", "I Spy", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre", "The Wild Wild West", "Mission: Impossible", "That Girl", "Gunsmoke", "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Dick Cavett Show", ...

A funny funny man... Eddie Albert began where most of the other folks on this blog did...in films. His first was in 1938 in the film Brother Rat co-starring future lovers Ronald Reagan and Jane Wyman. 75 more films would follow between then and 1994. Some of his more notable performances were in 1950's The Fuller Brush Girl with Lucille Ball and 1974's The Longest Yard with Burt Reynolds. As he entered the 1950's Albert tried his hand at television. He headed up his own situation comedy in 1952 called "Leave it to Larry" where he played the title character and in 1953 he briefly hosted "The Eddie Albert Show." He also appeared as himself in such programs as "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "What's My Line?", "Password", "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour", "Toast of the Town", "The Carol Burnett Show", "The Dick Cavett Show", "The Dean Martin Show" and "Here...

It only takes two words to describe the genius of Audrey Meadows: "Deadpan Delivery" Millions of fans know her as Alice Kramden, the long suffering and sarcastic wife of Brooklyn bus driver Ralph Kramden (Jackie Gleason) on the 1950's domestic sitcom "The Honeymooners." But Audrey lended her comedic talent and strong feminine features to dozens of other television programs during her forty-five year career. As herself she appeared on "Person to Person", "Toast of the Town", "What's My Line?", "The Jack Benny Program", "The Steve Allen Show", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "Password", "The Jerry Lewis Show", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Dean Martin Show", "Family Fued", "The New Hollywood Squares" and "Marilu." As characters she appeared on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "Wagon Train", "General Electric Th...

I have read different versions of how Gleason was given the title "The Great One." Some sources say that Orson Welles thought of it...other say Lucille Ball and Frank Sinatra...and a few even indicate Milton Berle. It doesn't really matter I suppose because that is the nickname I'll give him. Gleason's career on screen began in the 1940's in a handful of films including "All Through the Night" and "Larceny, Inc." During the 1949-1950 television season he starred as Chester A. Riley on the sitcom "The Life of Riley." He also played the role in a single episode of the radio version. As the 1950's went on he appeared on such programs as "Ford Star Revue", "Cavalcade of Bands", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The Kate Smith Evening Hour", "I've Got a Secret", "The Jack Benny Program", "What's My Line?", "Person to Person", "Studio One", ...

Oh my goodness...I never thought I would be writing a memoriam for Estelle Getty. Why can't some people live forever? This fiesty little bundle of energy appeared in eight films between 1978 and 2000. She guest starred on such shows as "Cagney & Lacey", "Hotel", "Newhart", "City", "Touched by an Angel", "Brotherly Love", "The John Larroquette Show", "The Crew", "The Rosie O'Donnell Show", "The Nanny", "Mad About You" and "Ladies Man." Prior to her film role, she was well known on the Broadway stage. In 1985 she stepped into television history. It was on September 14, 1985 that America got its first glimpse of Sophia Petrillo. Following that date she would play Sophia on not only "The Golden Girls" but also its follow-up series "The Golden Palace" and its spin-off "Empty Nest." She also appeared as Sophia on "Nurs...

Barbara Stanwyck is another perfect example of what a leading lady is and was and should always be. Between 1927 and 1964 she appeared in 93 films including such powerhouses as "Annie Oakley" (with Preston Foster), "Golden Boy" (will William Holden), "Double Indemnity" (with Fred MacMurray), "Sorry, Wrong Number" (with Burt Lancaster) and "Titanic" (with Clifton Webb). On television she guest starred on "The Real McCoys", "The Jack Benny Program", "The Merv Griffin Show", "Letter to Loretta", "The Ford Television Theatre", "Goodyear Theatre", "Zane Grey Theater", "The Joey Bishop Show", "General Electric Theater", "Rawhide", "The Dick Powell Show", "The Untouchables", "Wagon Train" and "Charlie's Angels." In 1960 she starred in "The Barbara Stanwyck Show" which lasted only one seaso...

How do you even begin to put into words the greatness of George and Gracie? From the time of their union the 1920's until her passing in 1964 they entertained the world as a couple and then he carried on many years longer until he left us in the late 1990's. Even now in 2008 the wonderful old catchphrase "Say Good Night Gracie" is still used on a daily basis. Gracie only appeared without George by her side in two productions, the first being "The Gracie Allen Murder Case" in 1939 opposite Warren William as Detective Philo Vance and the second being in 1942 in the detective story "Mr. & Mrs. North" with Gracie as Pamela North and William Post, Jr. as Gerry North. Unfortunately Gracie suffered from severe migraine headaches that would last days at a time. Her illness only affected her performance once when she was forced to miss a 1949 radio show. Her good friend Jane Wyman filled in for her. They appeared in their popular radio program for sev...

Lloyd Bochner was an actor who just grabbed onto to the role of "suave sophisticated villain" and ran with it. He stared on television in 1950 with a guest appearance on "Studio One" and followed that up appearances on "One Man's Family", "On the Spot", "Dr. Kildare", "The Dick Powell Show", "Perry Mason", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre", "Honey West", "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea", "The Wild Wild West", "The Green Hornet", "The Girl From U.N.C.L.E.", "Death Valley Days", "Bonanza", "The Man From U.N.C.L.E.", "Hogan's Heroes", "Bewitched", "The F.B.I.", "The Debbie Reynolds Show", "The Virginian", "The Doris Day Show", "Emergency!", "Mission: Impossible", "Ironside", "Mannix", "The New Perry Mason",...

I don't know a whole lot about Marlene Dietrich but she is being remembered on this blog for two very special performances. Between 1919 and 1929 she appeared in 19 German films. In 1930 she appeared in her first American production and would appeared in 33 more up until 1961. The two performances I mentioned above came in 1950's "Stage Fright" Starring Jane Wyman and in 1957's "Witness for the Prosecution" Starring Tyrone Power. In "Stage Fright" Dietrich and Jane Wyman have wonderful chemistry and you can tell there is a great deal of admiration between the two of them off camera. Dietrich was terribly disappointed when she didn't receive an Oscar nomination for her work in "Witness for the Prosecution." She damn well deserved that statue too. I won't spoil it for you...but she does a great job! Her final major film appearance was in "Judgment at Nuremburg" in 1961. She did a lot of stage work following that bu...

Metropolis Police Inspector William J. Henderson... Even though he appeared in 113 films between 1929 and 1976 Robert Shayne will live on forever as Inspector Henderson, the Metropolis police officer who spent more time in Perry White's office than his own. His lengthy film credits include "The Blue Gardenia", "North by Northwest" and "Tora! Tora! Tora!" He also appeared on Broadway along side such legends as Ethel Barrymore. He also was able to reunite on stage years later with his former "Superman" co-star Phyllis Coates. Aside from the "Adventures of Superman" his other television appearances include "Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok", "Racket Squad", "Sky King", "The Unexpected", "Ramar of the Jungle", "Stories of the Century", "The Long Ranger", "The Millionaire", "Sheena: Queen of the Jungle", "Navy Log", "The Gray Gho...

Roscoe Lee Browne is being remembered on this blog for a couple of reasons. For starters he was a wonderful performer. Also he had quite a resume of television guest appearances under his belt at the time of his passing. And finally he is the only African American performer who had a prominent role on "Falcon Crest." It's true that Raymond St. Jacques appeared as Dr. Arthur Hooks for a handful of episodes during the third season in 1983 but it was Browne's performance as the sinister and mysterious "Rosemont" during season seven in 1988 that left a lasting impression with audiences. Browne began in films in 1962 and appeared in 40 different productions before his death. Some of his more notable film appearances were in 1969's "Topaz" directed by the great Alfred Hitchcock and in 1992's "The Mambo Kings." On television he guest starred in just about all of the top shows of the day including "The Flip Wilson Show", ...