In Memoriam

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", ...

I think the Good Lord himself actually placed Eve Arden's voice for radio inside of her. She began appearing on the stage at the age of 16. Between 1929 and 1982 she appeared in 61 motion pictures including "Stage Door", "The Voice of the Turtle", "Grease" and Grease 2." One of her more popular appearances on Broadway was in the production "Let's Face It." The curtain went up for the first time on October 29, 1941 and closed for the last time on March 20, 1943 after 547 performances. Arden appeared along side Danny Kaye, Nanette Fabray and Vivian Vance. Her understudy was Carol Channing. In 1948 she began her legendary run as Madison High School's English Teacher Miss Connie Brooks on the sitcom "Our Miss Brooks." Joining her were Gale Gordon as Principal Conklin, Jane Morgan as Mrs. Margaret Davis, the landlady, Jeff Chandler as Mr. Phillip Boynton, the bashful biologist, Richard Crenna as dreamy eyed student Walter...

Bea Benaderet had one of the most amazing voices for radio that I have ever heard. She began in 1936 on Orson Welles' program "The Campbell Playhouse." From there she became a staple on all the hit programs including "Fibber McGee & Molly", "The Jack Benny Program", "Suspense", "Amos 'N Andy", "The Great Gildersleeve", and "The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet." Benaderet also became extremely well known when she lent her voice to the "Looney Tunes" and "Merrie Melodies" productions as Granny in the Sylvester and Tweety Bird adventures among other roles. Her two largest regular roles on radio were as Blanche Baker Morton on "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show" and as Iris Atterbury on "My Favorite Husband." In addition to Iris Atterbury she could also sometimes be heard as Sally, Liz's beautician, Leticia Cooper, Liz's mother-in-law and other small r...

This classy Irish leading lady appeared in 42 films between 1934 and 1986. On television she guest starred on such shows as "Climax!", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Studio One", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Lou Grant", "Trapper John, M.D.", "Cagney & Lacey" and "St. Elsewhere." She made her final screen appearance in the 1991 made for television movie "Bump in the Night." The reason she is being remembered on this blog is for her very memorable performances on "The Golden Girls." She appeared in two very special episodes. Her first appearance was in the episode "Mother's Day" which aired in 1988. While awaiting for calls from their children the girls each tell a story about a touching moment from previous Mother's Days. Rose Nylund (Betty White) talks about a time when she was on her way home to St. Olaf and she got stuck ...

Where do I begin with Gale Gordon? Wow! It should be noted that he was the son of actress Gloria Gordon (1884-1962) who was best known for her portrayal of Mrs. O'Reilly the landlady on both the radio and television versions of "My Friend Irma" starring Marie Wilson (1916-1972). Well first of all I don't think anyone will argue that he was one of the most versitale character actors during the thriving age of radio. He began on "Fibber McGee and Molly" as Mayor LaTrivia in 1935. He went on to have recurring roles on "The Great Gildersleeve", "The Burns & Allen Show", and "The Phil Harris-Alice Faye Show." In 1948 he took on the role of Principal Osgood P. Conklin on the Eve Arden (1908-1990) sitcom "Our Miss Brooks." It was in this role that he began to master his craft as a blustery windbag with a huge ego and little patience. On February 11, 1949 he made his first appearance on Lucille Ball's weekly radio ...

Cesar Romero...AWESOME! I have heard many people refer to Cesar Romero as one of Hollywood's truest gentlemen. He certainly made the rounds so to speak and appeared with some of Hollywood's greatest leading ladies. Between 1933 and 1990 he appeared in 98 films...some of the most notable being "The Thin Man" and "Ocean's Eleven." As far as television goes.... "The Ed Wynn Show", "I've Got a Secret", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "The Martha Raye Show", "The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "What's My Line?", "Pantomime Quiz", "The Hollywood Squares", "The Mike Douglas Show", "Family Feud", "Climax!", "Private Secretary", "Studio 57", "The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show", "Wagon Train", "Zorro", "Death Valley Days", "Pete and Gladys",...

Merv Griffin was one of a kind. There will never be another entertainer like him. He tried his hand at acting appearing in 13 films between 1952 and 1983. On television he appeared as himself on such shows as "The Tonight Show", "I've Got a Secret", "What's My Line", "Dinah's Place", "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", "Sanford and Son", "Saturday Night Live", "Newhart", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Golden Girls", "The Tonight Show Starring Jay Leno", "The Apprentice: Martha Stewart", "The Megan Mullally Show", and "Ellen: The Ellen DeGeneres Show" Everyone on the face of the planet knows though that in 1962 he was given his own desk and microphone and would go on to sit in that chair for the next 24 years. His show had some extrodinary people appear...Orson Welles, Lucille Ball, Bob Hope, Rose Kennedy, Clarence Na...

Before he was known as "Ellie Ewing's second husband", Howard Keel was one of musical film's most popular actors. Between 1948 and 1968 he appeared in 28 films including "Annie Get Your Gun", "Show Boat", "Calamity Jane", and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." He shared the screen with leading ladies like Kathryn Grayson, Jane Powell and Cyd Charisse. Keel also made himself known on television with appearances on such shows as "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour", "Death Valley Days", "Here's Lucy", "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", "Murder, She Wrote", "Hart to Hart", and "Walker, Texas Ranger." In 1981, Keel stepped into the role of Clayton Farlow on the hit prime time soap opera "Dallas" and he didn't leave until it went off the air ten years later. Origina...

Before he was known as the some what fumbling secret agent Don Adams made all the rounds on the talk/game show circuit as well as the sitcom universe. Among his accomplisments he appeared on "The Perry Como Show", "Tonight!", "The Rosemary Clooney Show", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "The Steve Allen Show", "Toast of the Town", "The Merv Griffin Show", "The Jack Paar Show", "The Match Game", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Andy Williams Show", "The Carol Burnett Show", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Flip Wilson Show", "Match Game 73", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "Empty Nest", "The Bill Dana Show", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theater", "The Danny Thomas Hour", "Fantasy Island", "The Love Boat", "Nick Freno Licensed Teacher" and ...

Ida Lupino is a true unsung hero. She appeared in 57 films between 1931 and 1978. In 1949 she became one of the indutries first female writer/directors. On television she guest starred on numerous programs such as "Climax!", "I've Got a Secret", "Toast of the Town", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "Four Star Playhouse", "Lux Playhouse", "77 Sunset Strip", "The Twilight Zone", "Bonanza", "General Electric Theater", "The Rifleman", "The Untouchables", "The Virginian", "Burke's Law", "The Wild Wild West", "The Mod Squad", "Family Affair", "Medical Center", "Barnaby Jones", "Ellery Queen", "Police Woman" and "Charlie's Angels." On December 13, 1937 she appeared on the "Lux Radio Theatre" in Alfred Hitchcock's "The 39 Steps" in which she p...

Martha Scott started out on Broadway originating the role of Emily Webb in the play "Our Town." In 1940, she reprised the role in the film version. She would go on to appear in several more films over the next twenty-five years. She played Charlton Heston's mother in both "The Ten Commandments" and "Ben-Hur." She would later play his wife in two seperate stage productions. On August 19, 1948 she appeared on the radio drama series "Suspense" as a woman who contimplates killing her infant child out of fear that he will grow up to become a tyrant. Scott also made more than her fair share of television guest appearances. Among her credits are "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Your Show of Shows", "Toast of the Town", "Suspense", "The Colgate Comedy Hour", "Playhouse 90", "Pantomime Quiz", "The F.B.I.", "Ironside", "The Courtship of Eddie's Father...

One of Batman's most trusted allies and Superman's greatest enemies... Lyle Talbot is another actor that was a pioneer for all character actors that would follow. He appeared in close to one hundred films starting in the 1930's and continuing on through the 1960's. He appeared in Ed Wood's two more memorable creations "Glen or Glenda" in 1953 and "Plan 9 from Outer Space" in 1959. The latter is now known as the worst movie ever made. In 1949, Talbot became the screen's first flesh and blood Police Commissioner Gordon in the "Batman and Robin" movie serial starring Robert Lowery as Batman, Johnny Duncan as Robin, Eric Wilton as Alfred, the butler and Jane Adams as Vicki Vale. The actor was very good as Gordon and the serial helped to set up the connection and trust that the police would have with the Dynamic Duo. It also introduced the legendary Bat-signal, the bat shaped beacon that pierced the night sky whenever Gordon needed help....

"Riddle Me This!" Frank Gorshin was one of the most energetic impressionists of his time. His television career began in 1955 with an appearance on "Alfred Hitchcock Presents." From then on he appeared on "The General Electric Theater", "The Steve Allen Show", "Hennesey", "Toast of the Town", "The Defenders", "The Untouchables", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "Pantomime Quiz", "The Munsters", "General Hospital", "The Dean Martin Show", "The Jackie Gleason Show", "The Carol Burnett Show", "Star Trek", "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In", "The Virginian", "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson", "The Flip Wilson Show", "The Mike Douglas Show", "Ironside", "Hawaii Five-O", "Police Woman", "Charlie's Angels", "Wonder Woman", ...

"Oh, this is the big one! You hear that Elizabeth! I'm comin' to join ya honey! With a glass of ripple in my hand!" Redd Foxx (born John Elroy Sanford) spent many years as a stand up comedian before his legendary break as Fred Sanford began in 1972. It was his work as Uncle Bud, the junkman, in the 1970 film "Cotton Comes to Harlem" that caught the attention of television producers Norman Lear and Bud Yorkin. At the time they were attempting to create an American version of the British sitcom "Steptoe and Son." Foxx convinced them to name his character Fred Sanford in honor of his late brother. And so in January of 1972 the show went on the air and was destined to become one of the most beloved sitcoms in television history. Fred's arguments with his son Lamont (Demond Wilson), sister-in-law Aunt Esther (LaWanda Page), and best buddy Grady (Whitman Mayo) were what audiences waited for. Redd Foxx had an incredible ability to deliver lines with ...

This is the man who made phrases like "Great Caesar's Ghost" and "Don't Call me Chief!" part of popular culture. Hamilton began his career on Broadway in the 1920's and moved to films by 1930. Between 1930 and his death and 1958 he appeared in an impressive 312 films. Now I know most of them were bit parts and maybe one minute appearances but that is still pretty damn good. He played President Ulysses S. Grant in the 1947 film "The Fabulous Texan" and again in the 1954 film "Sitting Bull." He also is notable for playing the district attorney in 1941's "The Maltese Falcon" By the time television roled around Hamilton made guest appearances on several shows including "The Cisco Kid", "The Gene Autry Show", "The Count of Monte Cristo", "Blondie", "Gunsmoke", and "The Roy Rogers Show." In 1951 the 64-year-old character actor was given the job of Perry White, edi...