In Memoriam

Today would've been the 105th birthday of a wonderful character actress that worked along side some of film and television's best. Her first film role was as a voice actor in the 1941 Disney film Dumbo. Her other film credits include The Curse of the Cat People, A Double Life, Prison Warden, Beyond the Forest, Stopover Tokyo and The Great Race... On television she is best remembered as Jim Anderson's (Robert Young) secretary Miss Thomas on "Father Knows Best" and as boarding house owner Ma Smalley on "Gunsmoke." Her other guest credits include "The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show", "The Ford Television Theatre", "Four Star Playhouse", "I Love Lucy", "Fireside Theatre", "Dragnet", "Studio 57", "My Favorite Husband", "The Hardy Boys", "Cavalcade of America", "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre", "The Gale Storm Show", "Wa...

Born: July 26, 1895 In the earliest days of Vaudeville, radio and television she was front and center as one of half of the most popular comedy duos in the world. After years of suffering with heart issues she passed away 46 years ago today at the age of 69. In Memoriam Remembers: Gracie Allen

On this day 24 years ago the portrayer of the broadcaster Ted Baxter and cartoonist Henry Rush passed away after a brave battle with cancer...born on December 7, 1923, he became known as Ted Baxter in the 1970's but before that he appeared in several films and television shows. He was heavily involved in animation and provided the voice of several characters in many Batman, Superman and Super Friend cartoons. He lended his voice to such legendary characters as The Joker, The Penguin, Perry White and many more. From 1980 until his passing he starred as Henry Rush on the sitcom "Too Close for Comfort." 24 years after his passing... In Memoriam Remembers: Ted Knight

A true "Dallas" legend was born on this day in 1909. After a life long career in dozens of B movies (most of them Westerns) and early television dramas he became known to a whole new generation of fans as John Ross "Jock" Ewing, Sr. on the red hot prime time drama that began in 1978. As Jock Ewing he was the husband of Miss Ellie (Barbara Bel Geddes) and the father of J.R. (Larry Hagman), Bobby (Patrick Duffy) and Gary (David Ackroyd then Ted Shackelford). Early in season 4 it was discovered that Jock's ranch foreman Ray Krebbs (Steve Kanaly) was also his illegitimate son. The actor became ill in the middle of season 4 and ended up appearing in only 75 episodes of the entire series. He passed away on April 26, 1981... In Memoriam Remembers: Jim Davis

10 years ago today a Disney legend passed away... Born on March 27, 1901, he was an America studio illustrator and comic book creator most famous for creating the fictional city of DuckBurg....and it's citizens. The legendary Scrooge McDuck was created in 1947...Gladstone Gander in 1948, The Beagle Boys in 1951, Gyro Gearloose in 1952, Flintheart Glomgold in 1956 and Magica De Spell in 1961. These beloved characters were present in animated shorts and comic books for many years. In 1987 Disney brought the characters to television in the animated series "DuckTales." Scrooge McDuck was the star of the show, his nephew Donald was an occasional guest star which meant Scrooge was in charge of his grand-nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. Glandstone, The Beagle Boys, Gyro, Glomgold and Magica were also frequent guest stars... He was a huge contributor to the Disney legacy and both he and his work will never be forgotten...certainly not as long as I'm alive. Ten years after ...

A year ago I recognized the 10th anniversary of the passing of a very special lady. Now another year has passed and we must remember her again. Seen in the picture to the left with her constant co-star Lucille Ball the actress was a very successful radio and television character actress. On Radio she worked on "Our Miss Brookes", "My Favorite Husband" and the "Lux Radio Theatre" just to name a few. On television she appeared on such shows as "Our Miss Brooks", "The People's Choice" and "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet." Her work with Lucille Ball included "I Love Lucy", "The Lucy Show" and "Here's Lucy." She concluded her career in 1977 after an appearance on the Lucille Ball special "Lucy Calls the President." 11 years after you left us... In Memoriam Remembers: Mary Jane Croft

Today would've been the 100th birthday of a very busy soap opera character actress... From 1949 to 1951 she had a regular role on the radio version of "The Guiding Light." Her soap opeara credits include: "Young Dr. Malone" (regular cast member 1959-1963) "The Secret Storm" & "The Edge of Night (same character - Evelyn Dark) "A Flame in the Wind" "Search for Tomorrow" "General Hospital" "Return to Peyton Place" "Days of Our Lives" "All My Children" "Dallas" (one episode 1980 - Jock Ewing's long lost first wife) "Knots Landing" "Falcon Crest" (recurring 1982-1987 - Mrs. Alma Miller, Chase's housekeeper) Her other television credits include "Robert Montgomery Presents", "Bonanza", "Police Woman", "The Rockford Files", "Bret Maverick", "The A-Team", "Scarecrow and Mrs. King", ...

Born: June 27, 1912 A character actress who spent more time on television than anywhere else... On Broadway she appeared in The Voice of the Turtle playing the same role that was played by Eve Arden in the film version. She also appeared in Without Love playing the same role that was played by Lucille Ball in the film version. In 1968 she appeared as Vera Charles in Mame. In 1974 she appeared in the film version of Mame this time playing Mrs. Upson. At one point she played Vera Charles, a role that was originated by Bea Arthur...and then in 1975 she played the mother of Bea's character Maude Findlay in an episode of "Maude." Her first film was Keeper of the Flame in 1942. On television she appeared on such shows as "Suspense", "Inner Sanctum", "Kraft Theatre", "Robert Montgomery Presents", "The Motorola Television Hour", "The United States Steel Hour", "Goodyear Playhouse", "Summer Playhouse...

Born: September 24, 1912 A dapper looking character he appeared in dozens of films and television shows during his fifty year career... He appeared in his first film, Mystery of the White Room, in 1939. Some of his other films include Night Monster, Keeping Fit and Who Done It? - he also appeared in the motion picture version of Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden, Gale Gordon and Robert Rockwell and also the motion picture version of the musical Mame starring Lucille Ball, Beatrice Arthur, Robert Preston and Jane Connell... In 1953 he began appearing on the sitcom "Private Secretary" which starred Ann Sothern. He remained with the show until it concluded in 1957. In 1959 he returned to co-star with Sothern once again on her new program appropriately entitled "The Ann Sothern Show." The program wrapped after two seasons in 1961. In 1963 he appeared in the film Gidget Goes to Rome and then from 1965 to 1966 he played the same role on the television version of ...

Born on this day 90 years ago this great actress appeared in several classic films and television shows during her fifty-five year career... In addition to Broadway, talk shows and game shows she appeared in such films as A Place in the Sun, The Night of the Hunter, Lolita, A Double Life, The Diary of Anne Frank, The Poseidon Adventure, The Great Gatsby, Bloody Mary and The Delta Force... On television her guest credits include but are not limited to "Wagon Train", "Climax!", "Here's Lucy", "The Ford Television Theatre", "The United States Steel Hour", "Ben Casey", "Batman" and "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre." Her final television appearance was in 1996 on the sitcom "Roseanne" and her final film role was in 1999's La bomba... She passed away on January 14, 2006... On her 90th birthday... In Memoriam Remembers: Shelley Winters

Four weeks ago her name appeared on here in order to recognize her birthday. Now I am here to acknowledge the 31st anniversary of her passing. The legendary star of stage, screen and television (seen on the right with long time co-star and best friend Lucille Ball) died on this day at the age of 70... In Memoriam Remembers: Vivian Vance

Happy Birthday to a wonderful character actress! -She appeared in numerous films in the 1930's -She provided the voice of Daisy Duck in many Disney animation shorts between 1945-1950 -She guest starred on programs such as "I Love Lucy" and "Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre" -She had a recurring role as Honeybee Gillis on "The Life of Riley" from 1953 to 1958 -Her final acting role was on the animated series "Calvin and the Colonel" from 1961 to 1962... On her 95th birthday... In Memoriam Remembers: Gloria Blondell

A very special 100th birthday post in honor of Miss Jane Wyatt. Even though she will always be remembered as Margaret Anderson on the sitcom "Father Knows Best" (1954-1960) it shouldn't be forgotten that this lady had a career on stage, screen and television that spanned seven decades! She made several appearances on Broadway in the 1930's, 1940's and finally ended her run in 1951. On television she made guest appearances on such shows as "What's My Line?", "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show", "Password All-Stars", "The United States Steel Hour", "Wagon Train", "Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre", "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour", "The Love Boat", "Happy Days" and "Hotel." In 1967 she became beloved by all "Star Trek" fans when she appeared as Amanda Grayson, the Earth mother of Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy). She reprised the role in the 1986 motion picture Star...

Birthdays today ------ Marion Lorne (1883) Joe Besser (1907) Marjorie Reynolds (1916) People that left us on this day---------- Henry Fonda (1982) Loretta Young (2000) Merv Griffin (2007)

These performers left us on August 8th... Richard Deacon (born May 14, 1921 died in 1984) Louise Brooks (born November 14, 1906 died in 1985) Alan Napier (born January 7, 1903 died in 1988) Edna Skinner (born May 23, 1921 died in 2003) Fay Wray (born September 15, 1907 died in 2004) Barbara Bel Geddes (born October 31, 1922 died in 2005)

Happy Birthday to: Billie Burke (8/7/1884-5/14/1970) -Best known as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wizard of Oz (1939) Ernestine Wade (8/7/1906-4/15/1983) -Best known as Sapphire Stevens, wife of George "Kingfish" Stevens (on radio Freeman Gosden, on television Tim Moore) on the long running radio and television program "Amos 'N' Andy" We Lost the Following on this day: Oliver Hardy (1/18/1892-8/7/1957) -One half of the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy, who were the pioneers in physical comedy. Brion James (2/20/1945-8/7/1999) -Appeared in such movies as Blade Runner and also provided the voice of the villianous Parasite on "Superman: The Animated Series" in 1996 and 1997.

99 years ago a legend was born. The comedy queen of the TV screen started her life in Jamestown, NY and worked her way all the way to Hollywood... Between 1933 and 1951 she appeared in more than 70 motion pictures...and she worked with the best in the business: Katharine Hepburn Ginger Rogers Eve Arden Eddie Albert Bob Hope Red Skelton Ann Miller and many more! It was a quiet domestic radio sitcom that paved the way on her road to becoming a legend...in 1948 she began work on the series "My Favorite Husband" and by 1951 CBS thought so much of her talent that they offered her a chance to bring the show to the small screen.... History has already told us what she had to go through to get her series on the air... "I Love Lucy" began on October 15, 1951 featuring the actress with her real life husband Desi Arnaz (married in 1940) as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo along with William Frawley and Vivian Vance as neighbors Fred and Ethel Mertz.......179 half hour shows, 1 lost...

15 years after passing she is still one of the most beloved screen legends ever... Born on February 4, 1918 she began in the 1930's as a film actress and appeared in 1939's Adventures of Sherlock Holmes which starred Basil Rathbone as the popular sleuth... As the film roles began to become less and less she turned to directing and became one of the first women directors in Hollywood... Television guest appearances weren't far away...she appeared on such programs as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Twilight Zone", "The Donna Reed Show", "Bewitched", "Batman" and "Charlie's Angels" just to name a few. In her "Twilight Zone" appearance she co-starred with Martin Balsam in a story about an aging actress who insisted in living on the past and refused to acknowledge that she had age i.e. the basis for the film Sunset Blvd... She headed up her own sitcom with then husband Howard Duff in 1957 called ...

Happy Birthday to the silver screen's most dazzling set of eyes! Born on this day 105 years ago she started in films in 1925 and spanned seven decades before ending in 1980. She appeared in such films as The Jazz Singer, Double Wedding and Cheaper By the Dozen... Above she is featured with actor William Powell...she and Powell appeared in 14 films together but it was six very important detective stories that made them one of Hollywood's favorite screen couples. The films were: The Thin Man After the Thin Man Another Thin Man Shadow of the Thin Man The Thin Man Goes Home Song of the Thin Man which were made between 1934 and 1947. She made her final acting appearance in 1981 and her final public appearance in any medium was as the 63rd Annual Academy Awards in 1991. She was presented with an Academy Honorary Award but illness prevented her from attending. Her thank you speech was shown on video tape... She died on December 14, 1993... Happy 105th Birthday! In Memoriam R...