RIP Bruno Pupparo

The Experimental Center of Cinematography remembers with affection and emotion Bruno Pupparo, a former student and teacher at the National School of Cinema who died prematurely on November 30, 2009. Born in Rome on July 28, 1959, Bruno Pupparo graduated with honors at the CSC as a sound engineer. Since 1988 he was professor of "filming technique of sound" and, since 1999, teacher mentor Section "Sound", in collaboration with Federico Savina, at the National School of Cinema. In 1986 he began his work in film, television and advertising. In addition to numerous commercials, he worked on the construction of over one hundred feature films, working with numerous directors including: Pupi Avati, Marco Bellocchio, Roberto Benigni, Sergio Citti, Cristina Comencini, Roberto Faenza, Carlo Lizzani, Gabriele Muccino, Giuseppe Piccioni, Michele Placido, Paolo and Vittorio Taviani, Paolo Virzi and Carlo Verdone. In 2007 he won the David di Donatello award for Best Sound for the film "My Brother is an Only Child" by Daniele Luchetti.


PUPPARO, Bruno
Born: 7/28/1959, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Died: 11/27/2009, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Bruno Pupparo's western - recording director, sound mixer
My West (aka Gunslinger's Revenge) - 1998

RIP Tony Kendall

Tony Kendall, whose real name was Luciano Stella, died November 28 in Rome in a hospital in Trigoria, after a serious illness. He was born August 22, 1936, and had to his credit over 50 popular films from the sixties until the eighties after starting his career as a model and in fotoromanzi.  He changed his name to Tony Kendall at the suggestion of Vittorio De Sica.

He made his debut in 1959, acting under his own name in “Femminie Tre Volte”, but then had to wait some years for a major role, in “Brennus Enemy of Rome”,1963, where he first used the Tony Kendall name. He was also known as a part of a double act with Brad Harris in several action movies, starting with “The Pirates of the Mississippi”. After the success of the Bond films and the German Jerry Cotton series, Kendall became a star in the seven films in which he played a private eye Joe Walker, aka Commissioner X, while Harris played his foil, police captain Tom Rowland.

Then, following the successful television series of “Batman”, Harris and Kendall were together again in “The Three Fantastic Superman”, 1967. Kendall’s work ranged across numerous genres, from horror to giallo, with his last appearances being in “On the Dark Continent” in 1993 and “Alex l’ariete” in 2000.


KENDALL, Tony (Luciano Stella)
Born: 8/22/1936, Rome, Lazio, Italy
Died: 11/28/2009, Trigoria, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Tony Kendall's westerns - actor:
River Pirates of the Mississippi – 1963 (Black Eagle)
Black Eagle of Santa Fe – 1965 (Chief Black Eagle)
Hate is My God – 1969 (Il Nero/Carl)
Brother Outlaw – 1970 (Dakota Thompson)
Django Defies Sartana – 1970 (Django)
The Twilight Avengers – 1970 (Tony/John Garrison)
Gunman of 100 Crosses – 1971 (Santana/Django/Sartana)
White Fang and the Kid – 1977 (Franky James)

RIP Gilles Carle

Celebrated Canadian filmmaker Gilles Carle dies at 80 in Quebec

The Canadian Press

MONTREAL — Gilles Carle, one of Quebec's most celebrated filmmakers, has died. He was 80.

His common-law wife says Carle died early Saturday in a hospital in Granby, Que.

Carle had been battling Parkinson's disease for the past few years and was recently hospitalized following a heart attack and complications from pneumonia.

The filmmaker was born in Maniwaki, Que. in 1929 and grew up in Abitibi before moving to Montreal in 1940.

He made some 30 films in over his decades long career and won dozens of awards including the Palme d'Or for the short film 50 ans (50 Years), in 1990.

He was awarded the Order of Canada in 1999.


CARLE, Gilles
Born: 7/31/1929, Maniwaki, Quebec, Canada
Died: 11/28/2009, Granby, Quebec, Canada

Blood of the Hunter (TV) – 1994
The Other Side of the Law (TV) – 1994

RIP Bernard Bonnin

Original ‘Palos’ Bernard Bonnin dies By ROWENA JOY A. SANCHEZ November 23, 2009, 11:34am The local entertainment industry has lost yet another of its veteran actors in Bernard Bonnin who passed away Saturday, Nov. 21. He was 70.

Bonnin, whose death came two days after Johnny Delgado’s demise on Nov. 19, died of multiple organ failure due to diabetes.

A week prior, the actor was confined due to a stroke.

Concerns about the health of the former LVN star hit the headlines a few years back when he suffered a stroke that required him to use a wheel chair thereafter.

Bonnin, the half-Spanish father of beauty queen Charlene Gonzales-Muhlach and actor Richard Bonnin, catapulted to fame via the movie “Palos,” which was the Philippine version of “James Bond.” ABS-CBN remade “Palos” into a TV series in 2008 starring Jake Cuenca and with Bonnin in a support role.

Dubbed the “Pretty Boy of the 60s,” Bonnin starred in over 170 movies in a career that spanned four decades. Some of these films were “Gagamba,” “Ako ang Lalagot sa Hininga Mo,” “Code Name: Bomba,” “Target: Captain Karate,” and his first film, “Ay Pepita.”

Bonnin has a son with former love team Lourdes Medel, and two more with non-showbiz wife, Digna, whom he was living with at the time of his death.

The actor’s remains lie at the Heritage Park in Taguig City.


BONNIN, Bernard (Herman Bonnin)
Born: 9/8/1939, Himamaylan, Negros Occidental, Visayas, Philippines
Died: 11/21/2009, Quezon City, Philippines

Bernard Bonnin's western - actor:
The Arizona Kid - 1971

RIP Richard Carlyle

Richard Carlyle, March 20, 1914 – Nov. 15, 2009, movie, television and Broadway star, has died. He was 95.

He had a long time career going back to the 1950s appearing in a variety of theater productions and as a character actor on numerous television series. He was Rezin Bowie in “The Iron Mistress” in 1952 and Commander Don Adams in the 1959 Oscar-nominated war drama “Torpedo Run” starring Glenn Ford.

But it is Star Trek fans that might remember him most for his role as Lt. Karl Jaeger in the original 1967 Star Trek series episode “The Squire of Gothos.” And it is the Star Trek connection that seems to be intertwined with so much of Carlyle’s career.

First, Carlyle was a long-time member of the Los Angeles theater company, Theatre West, where several Star Trek veterans were involved including: Jim Beaver (Star Trek: Enterprise), Jim Beaver’s wife, Cecily Adams (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine), Barry Jenner (Deep Space Nine), Hal Lynch, Lee Meriwether and Malachi Throne, the last of which – Throne – was originally offered the role of Dr. McCoy but had turned it down but still appeared in three episodes of “Star Trek: The Original Series.”

Second, Carlyle also appeared in the drama series, “Studio One” (1950s) where he co-starred with DeForest Kelley. Kelley, of course, did take on the role of Dr. McCoy. Richard Webb (Star Trek episode “Court Martial”) also co-starred. This was seventeen years before they all worked together in the Gothos episode.

In fact, throughout the 1950s, Carlyle worked with numerous actors who would become involved with Star Trek including Richard Kiley, Tige Andrews, Celia Lovsky and Paul Lambert. In 1959, Carlyle worked with Leonard Nimoy in the western series “26 Men.”

Even late in his career, Richard Carlyle remained intertwined with Star Trek. In 1990 he made a brief appearance in the comedy feature film “Going Under.” Also starring in the film were Star Trek: Voyager actress Wendy Schaal and Star Trek: The Next Generation actor Chris Demetral.


CARLYLE, Richard
Born: 3/20/1914, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
Died: 11/15/2009, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Richard Carlyle's westerns - actor:
The Iron Mistress - 1952 (Rezin Bowie)
26 Men (TV) - 1959 (Jimmy Blaine)
Bronco (TV) - 1959 (Jeff Colton)
The Texan (TV) - 1959, 1960 (Lacey Winans, Clay Beaumont)
Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV) - 1959, 1960 (Mr. Phipps, Charlie Glover)
Death Valley Days (TV) - 1960 (Patrick Mahoney)
The Tall Man (TV) - 1961 (Swade Hiney)
Lawman (TV) - 1961 (Bride)
Rawhide (TV) - 1963
Gunsmoke (TV) - 1965 (Carl)
A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) - 1965 (Parks)

RIP William Davidson

DAVIDSON, William Donald - It is with great sadness the family announces the passing of our beloved Bill on Saturday, November 14, 2009. Predeceased by his parents William Burnett Davidson and Aileen Marguerite Davidson. Loving husband of Mary. Devoted father of Ann (Roy) and Wendy. Cherished grandfather of Tabitha. Bill began his career during the early days of the National Film Board and helped create, write and direct feature films, as well as youth programs at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, most notably RAZZLE DAZZLE, TIME OF YOUR LIFE and ADVENTURES IN RAINBOW COUNTRY. Memorial Service will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2009 from 3-4 p.m. at the GIFFEN-MACK 'DANFORTH' FUNERAL HOME & CREMATION CENTRE, 2570 Danforth Ave. (at Main St. subway), 416-698-3121. In lieu of flowers, the family request that donations be made to Skin Cancer Research at St. Michael's Hospital.


DAVIDSON, William Donald
Born: 4/24/1928, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died: 11/14/2009, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

William Davidson's westerns - producer, director:
Adventures in Rainbow Country (TV) - 1969-1970 [director]
Maire Ann - 1978 [producer]

RIP Paul Harper

Los Angeles, California

Paul William Harper, 76, passed away November 13, 2009, in Los Angeles, California following a brief illness. Memorial services will be held December 4, 2009, at the Van Nuys California Church of Christ.

Paul was born in Jackson, Tennessee, December 8, 1933, to Ernest R. and Ollie Poe Harper. He and his family moved to Little Rock, Arkansas when Paul was one month old, then to Abilene, Texas where he graduated from Abilene High School. Paul's abiding interest was drama and he was a student of the highly respected Ernest Sublett while attending Abilene, High.

A friend and fellow student of Paul's during this time said of him, "Paul Harper was better known for the last fifty years in Hollywood than in Abilene, his home town. Even as a teenager he was destined for the footlights by playing the "Love" interest in the famed state championship Abilene High Drama Department seeing as how he was obviously the most handsome lad in the class(1949-1952). "The Long Christmas Dinner" won the state championship for one act plays in '49. Perhaps he was best known in films as a character actor in some 30 odd films, like the character "Huey" in "The Wild Bunch." In television Paul gained iconic structure as the badmouthing Texans exclaiming "New York City?!?!" in the famous picante advertisement.

Paul graduated from the University of Texas in Austin in 1958, receiving a CFA in Drama. While attending UT, Paul studied under B. Iden Payne. Two of the characters he played while attending were Domain in the production "Love Labors Lost" and Stephano in "The Tempest." For several summers, Paul acted in various productions of the Ashland, Oregon Shakespeare Festival. Two of the characters he portrayed were Edar in "King Lear" and Patroclus in "Troilus and Gressida."

In 1969, Paul was on his way to Mexico to act in scenes for "The Wild Bunch" and He stopped by El Paso, Texas to visit and Abilene High friend and fellow thespian, Georgelynn Scoggins, who was a Television Anchor in El Paso. Later they became engaged and were married in El Paso.

Paul was a character actor and acted in many films and series. Among these were Kung Fu, J.W. Coop, Bonanza and The Waltons. One of his films "Thrill Ride: The Science of Fun," was one of the first virtual reality films and Paul had the only speaking part. Dressed as an old prospector, he coaxed a group of anxious passengers on to an old dilapidated-looking train waiting to take them for a wild ride. When they returned looking half dead, Paul, speaking in a broad Texas accent, which was easy for him being a Texan himself, invited him, "want to go agin?"

One day Paul took a visiting sister out to Universal City Park and suddenly she said, "Paul, I hear your voice. Is that you?" He laughed and took her over to the theater. Thrill ride was playing there and the sound track was being broadcast loudly over the whole Park.

Just the night before his death, his son David accompanied Paul to the fortieth anniversary of the motion picture "The Wild Bunch." Paul and Ernest Borgnine, on of Paul's oldest and best friends were two of the four actors in the picture still living. His lat night could not have been more perfect. He dressed in his finest western attire and was in his element with many of his motion picture friends. Paul got to walk the red carpet once more as the huge search lights lit he sky for his prestigious event. He was recognized for his achievement in "The Wild Bunch" which many say is the greatest western movie ever produced. Paul signed autographs until he became to tired to sign any more.

In his later years Paul volunteered with fellow actors to many causes, such as serving Thanksgiving dinner to those who may not have had a place to go. He also enjoyed being with family and friends and told endless dramatic and entertaining stories in a manner that only he could deliver.

Preceding him in death were his parents Ernest and Ollie Poe Harper, a sister, Ernestine (Teenie) Harper Wood, a brother-in-law, William B. Gililland, and his wife Georgelynn Scoggins Harper. Survivors include one son, David Harper of Valley Village, California, two sisters, Mary Nell Gililland of Abilene, Texas, and Ann Youree of Nashville, Tennessee, two nephews, David Harper Gililland of Abilene, Texas and Charles Youree, Jr. of Nashville, Tennessee and three nieces, Martha Sue Gililland Jobe of Heath, Texas, Margaret Ann Bohannan Casey of Abilene, Texas, and Linda Lee Youree Hudson of Nashville, Tennessee. He is also survived by many great nieces and nephews and numerous friends.

HARPER, Paul William
Born: 12/8/1933, Jackson, Tennessee, U.S.A.
Died: 11/13/2009, North Hollywood, California, U.S.A.

Paul Harper's westerns - actor:
Fandango - 1969 (Greaser)
The Wild Bunch - 1969 (Ross)
Bonanza (TV) - 1970 (Sully)
J.W. Coop- 1972 (Warden Morgan)
Bloody Trail 0 1972
The Culpepper Cattle Co. - 1972 (Trapper)
The Bounty Hunter (TV) - 1972 (Hargus)
Kung Fu (TV) - 1972-1974 (Amos, Davey Peartree, Sam Wallace)
Wildside (TV) - 1985 (Wirtz)
Ghost Rock - 2004 (Lee O'Riley)

RIP Johnny Delgado

MANILA – Actor Johnny Delgado passed away Thursday afternoon after a long battle with lymphoma, or cancer of the lymph nodes, his daughter said. He was 61.

Ina Feleo, daughter of Delgado and wife director Laurice Guillen, made this confirmation in a text message to abs-cbnNEWS.com.

ABS-CBN News reported that Delgado died in his home past 1 p.m. He was surrounded by his family when he passed away. Bibeth Orteza, Delgado’s close friend, said the actor died peacefully.

Delgado was diagnosed with cancer in 2008. Early this year, Delgado assured that he was responding well to chemotherapy.

A healthy and strong Delgado even attended the birthday celebration of Sen. Jinggoy Estrada in February 2009. He announced there that he was in remission.

But, according to ABS-CBN News source, the cancer returned. Last week, he was brought to St. Luke’s Hospital in Quezon City. He was discharged Tuesday.

Delgado, Juan Marasigan Feleo in real life, was a noted actor and writer. He appeared in numerous films including "Tanging Yaman," "Kailangan Kita," "La Visa Loca," and "Ligalig."

He was nominated several times in different award giving bodies.

Among his acting awards were best supporting actor for "Ligalig" in 2006 and best actor for "Tanging Yaman" in 2000.

The actor last appeared in Star Cinema’s “You Got Me” opposite Toni Gonzaga and Sam Milby. His recent television roles were GMA 7’s “Kamandag” and ABS-CBN’s “Maria Flordeluna” and “May Bukas Pa.” -With reports from Patty Ramirez, ABS-CBN.com, and Ginger Conejero, ABS-CBN News


DELGADO, Johhny (Juan Marasigan Feleo)
Born: 2/29/1948, Manila, Philippines
Died: 11/19/2009, Manila, Philippines

Johnny Delgado's western - actor:
San Basilio - 1981 (Señor Escobar)

RIP Dennis Cole

'Felony Squad' actor Dennis Cole dies

Ex-stuntman also appeared in 'Love Boat,' 'Charlie's Angels'
By Gregg Kilday

Nov 16, 2009, 06:51 PM ET
Dennis Cole, a stuntman who rose to TV stardom in the 1966 series "Felony Squad" and went on to dozens of guest-starring appearances throughout the 1970s and '80s, died Sunday at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. He was 69.

The cause of death was not released.

Although born in Detroit, Cole had the blond, athletic look of a quintessential California surfer, which earned him the attention of physique magazines and led to his casting as rookie detective Jim Briggs on "Felony." After that show's 2 1/2 year-run, Cole followed with the series "Bracken's World" and "Bearcats!" and a stint on the daytime soap "The Young and the Restless" that began in 1981.

Cole guest-starred on such series as "Medical Center," "Police Story," "The Love Boat" and "Charlie's Angels," where he met his second wife, Jaclyn Smith, to whom he was married from 1978-81.

He encountered tragedy in 1991 when his son Joe, from his first marriage to Sally Ann Bergeron, was murdered during a home invasion robbery. The case was never solved.

In recent years, Cole became a real estate broker in Fort Lauderdale with his wife, Ree Cole, whom he recently divorced amicably. He is survived by his brother Richard.


COLE, Dennis
Born: 7/19/1940, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.
Died: 11/15/2009, Fort Lauderdales, Florida, U.S.A.

Dennis Cole's westerns - actor:
The Comancheros - 1961 (blonde youth)
Lancer (TV) - 1969 (Bobby Cooper)
Powderkeg (TV) - 1971 (Johnny Reach)
Bearcats! (TV) - 1971 (Johnny Reach)
Barbary Coast (TV) - 1975 (Cash Conover)
The Quest (TV) - 1976 (Stormer)

RIP Edward Woodward

Veteran British actor Edward Woodward has died at the age of 79.

Woodward, best known for his roles in cult horror film The Wicker Man and hit TV series Callan and The Equalizer, passed away in hospital after battling illnesses including pneumonia.

In a statement, his agent Janet Glass says: "Universally loved and admired through his unforgettable roles in classic productions such as Breaker Morant, The Wicker Man, Callan, The Equalizer and many more, he was equally fine and courageous in real life, never losing his brave spirit and wonderful humour throughout his illness.

"He was further sustained by the love of his wife, Michele, children, Tim, Peter, Sarah and Emily, his grandchildren and numerous friends. His passing will leave a huge gap in many lives." »


WOODWARD, Edward (Edward Albert Arthur Woodward)
Born: 6/1/1930, Croydon, Surrey, England, U.K.
Died: 11/16/2009, Truro, Cornwall, England, U.K.

Edward Woodward's western - actor:
Charley On-Eye - 1972 (Holstrom)

RIP Jirí Holý

Czech actor Jirí Holý died in Prague, Czech Republic on November 11th at 86. Originally Jirí was to be a professional designer, after graduating from Business College after two years of studying graphics and painting until the Nazis in 1939 closed the Czech universities. He played in amateur theaters, and finally after the 2nd World War became a professional actor. In films he played a large number of small roles and in TV episodes, especially at a younger age he often was seen in negative characters (antihero). He first played in various regional theaters (theater workers in Zlín, Opava, Pardubice), then many years later, he worked in the Prague Theater E. F. Burian. In regional theaters also occasionally worked as set designer and costume designer. In 1986 he retired and appeared only occasionally.


HOLY, Jirí
Born: 11/27/1922, Ruzomberok, Czechoslovakia
Died: 11/11/2009, Prague, Czech Republic

Jirí Holý's western - actor:
The Noble Cowboy Sandy or Gamble Bride (TV) – 1964 (cardsharp)

RIP Jackson D. Kane

(Rockin '50s)

I just received word that Jack Kennelley of the Teen Kings died recently. I have no details except that he was in Littleton CO at the time. Jack went to Odessa High School with the Poor Boys but played for several years with the Teen Kings. I remember once when I was flippin' burgers at the old south side Otto's and he came in. He told me that Roy was changing the band name from the Wink Westerners to the Teen Kings to "keep current with the times" and had asked him (Jack) to be his bass player. Jack developed into a good upright bass player and Roy always had him sing "Sixteen Tons" at all of their shows and dances. Jack had a Tennessee Ernie Ford" type of deep resonant voice and at one time considered doing music ministry with the Baptist church. I don't know how many, if any, of Roy's recordings Jack was on but probably the Sun sessions at least. He went to Hollywood and was in some movies. Billed as "Jackson D. Kane", he was in "The Man Who Fell to Earth" with David Bowie and also was in one or two of the Clint Eastwood baboon movies. He also made TV commercials for GMC trucks. The last time I saw Jack was at a Rock 'n' Roll reunion in Odessa in 1989. He spent his childhood in Odessa in the 40's and 50's and everyone knew Jack Kennelley. He was considered one of the good guys. Jack Kennelley rest in peace.


KANE, Jackson D. (Jack Kennelley)
Born: 6/30/1937, Odessa, Texas, U.S.A.
Died: 10/9/2009, Littleton, Colorado, U.S.A.

Jackson D. Kane's westerns - actor:
Thomasine & Bushrod - 1974 (Adolph)
Paper Hearts - 1993 (Wesley)
Posted by Tom B. at 2:19 PM

RIP Paul Wendkos

Paul Wendkos, who directed the 1959 surfing classic "Gidget" and two sequels, died early Thursday at his home in Malibu.

Published November 12, 2009
By Frank Swertlow

Wendkos, who was 87 (although some reports put his age at 84), had been ill for several years following a stroke.

"Gidget," which starred Sandra Dee and James Darren, was followed by "Gidget Goes Hawaiian" in 1961and "Gidget Goes to Rome" in 1963.

Wendkos' films helped popularize surfing in the U.S. and around the world.

Wendkos was a prolific director, with credits on more than 110 projects, including films, TV movies and miniseries.

He directed primetime network shows including "Playhouse 90," "Route 66," "Naked City," "The Untouchables," "Dr. Kildare," "Ben Casey," "The Big Valley," "The FBI," "I Spy," "Rawhide" and "Hawaii Five-O."

In 1977, he produced and directed the miniseries "Harold Robbins' 79 Park Avenue."

Wendkos was nominated for an Emmy Award for directing 1988's "The Taking of Flight 847: The Uli Derickson Story," starring Lindsay Wagner.

His feature film credits include 1961's "Angel Baby," with George Hamilton and Mercedes McCambridge, and 1971's "The Mephisto Waltz," starring Alan Alda and Jacqueline Bisset.

He is survived by his wife, producer Lin Bolen, a former NBC programming executive.


WENDKOS, Paul
Born: 2/20/1922, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Died: 11/12/2009, Malibu, California, U.S.A.

Paul Wendkos' westerns - director:
Bitter Heritage (TV) - 1958
Face of a Fugitive - 1959
Law of the Plainsman (TV) - 1960
Two Faces West - 1960
The Rifleman (TV) - 1961, 1962
A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) - 1965
The Big Valley (TV) - 1965
Guns of the Magnificent Seven - 1969
Cannon for Cordoba - 1970

RIP David Lloyd

David Lloyd dies at 75; TV comedy writer wrote the classic 'Chuckles
Bites the Dust' sitcom episode

Over four decades, he wrote jokes and scripts for 'The Mary Tyler
Moore Show,' 'Taxi, 'Cheers' and many others.

By Dennis McLellan

5:20 PM PST, November 12, 2009

David Lloyd, an Emmy Award-winning television comedy writer who wrote
the classic "Chuckles Bites the Dust" episode of "The Mary Tyler Moore
Show," has died. He was 75.

Lloyd died of prostate cancer Tuesday at his home in Beverly Hills,
said his son, writer-producer Christopher Lloyd.

"I do think he was the preeminent writer of television comedy," said
Les Charles, co-creator of "Cheers," for which Lloyd wrote numerous
episodes.

"If you consider how long his career was and how much he wrote for
such really popular shows, he's got to have been responsible for a
record number of laughs in this world," Charles said.

His four-decade comedy career began with writing jokes for Jack Paar
on "The Tonight Show" in 1962 and included writing for "The Bob
Newhart Show," "Phyllis," "Rhoda," "Lou Grant," "Taxi," "Frasier" and
many other shows.

"He was a remarkable writer," said Allan Burns, who created "The Mary
Tyler Moore Show" with James L. Brooks and began working with Lloyd
when he moved to Hollywood from New York in 1974 to write for the
series.

"The word 'wit' doesn't come up an awful lot when you're talking about
television comedy, but that's what David was -- a genuine wit," said
Burns. "And he was just remarkable in his ability to write wonderful
stuff very quickly.

"I would sit at my desk and laugh out loud, which I don't do often.
His drafts always made me laugh out loud and with such unexpected,
off-the-wall humor."

Said Brooks: "From the moment he came out until now, he was the very
best. I mean, I was saying the other day he was a one-man writing
staff. The work was always that good and that witty. And it was
extraordinary that it was that fast.

"He was a perfect writer and a great guy and was a major part of every
show he was connected to."

Lloyd's most famous piece of writing is his Emmy Award-winning 1975
script “Chuckles Bites the Dust,” in which the WJM-TV news staff deals
with the death of a Minneapolis TV station colleague: kiddie-show host
Chuckles the Clown, who died while serving as grand marshal for a
visiting circus.

As Ed Asner's Lou Grant informs the newsroom staff: "It was a freak
accident. He went to the parade dressed as Peter Peanut . . . and a
rogue elephant tried to shell him."

Chuckles' clown credo was "A little song, a little dance, a little
seltzer down your pants," and the reaction to his being crushed to
death by an elephant quickly generates newsroom quips.

Although Mary thinks there is nothing funny about Chuckles' death,
even she gets a case of uncontrollable giggles at the funeral for the
man whose characters included Mr. Fee-Fi-Fo, Billy Banana and -- the
preacher's particular favorite -- Aunt Yoo-Hoo.

"I think it was David's sort of mordant take on what is funny and what
isn't," Burns said of the episode, "and that you can make death a
subject and wring a lot of humor out of it. I mean, a lot. As people
say, it's the funniest episode we ever did."

Said Brooks: "I think what made it memorable: We were laughing as hard
on the stage as we ever did. It was a joy to do."

Burns said he feels the irony that Lloyd’s most famous TV episode
dealt with death "and here we are mourning his death. And I wonder how
funny a funeral it's going to be. I have an idea it's going to be
funny, because that's what he'd want."

Born July 7, 1934, in Bronxville, N.Y., Lloyd majored in English at
Yale. After graduating in 1956, he served in the Navy and began
teaching English at Rutgers Preparatory School in New Jersey.

Lloyd had been writing plays in his spare time while writing jokes for
Paar and then Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" and later for "The
Dick Cavett Show" when he wrote a sample script for "The Mary Tyler
Moore Show."

"The producer [on the series] was Ed. Weinberger, who said, 'I've got
a guy in New York who could really help us,' " Burns recalled. "And he
handed me a script that David had written for our show, and it was
just spot-on. It was a shootable script, and I couldn't believe it. I
said, 'Boy, do we need him.' "

In addition to his son Christopher, Lloyd is survived by his wife,
Arline; and his other children, Julie, Stephen (also a writer and
producer), Amy and Douglas; his sister, Sally Lloyd; and two
grandchildren;

A funeral for Lloyd will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Holy Cross
Cemetery, 5835 W. Slauson Ave., Culver City.


LLOYD, David
Born: 7/7/1934, Bronxville, New York, U.S.A.
Died: 11/11/2009, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.

David Lloyd's western - producer, screenwriter:
Best of the West (TV) - 1982

RIP Albert Elms

Albert Elms: light music composer

Albert Elms was a pioneering contributor of incidental music to television and films in the 1950s and 1960s and a composer of military music.

He was born in Newington, Kent, in 1920 and, showing early musical promise, he joined the Royal Marines Band Service in Deal in 1934. He first went to sea in November 1937 and returned home in January 1939, having taken part in the evacuation of refugees from Valencia during the Spanish Civil War.

He spent the Second World War in light cruisers, including Arethusa, Ajax and Orion. While in Arethusa as part of the Royal Marines party serving the cruiser’s B-turret, he took part in the Norway evacuations in April 1940. In June that year he was also involved in the bombardment of Vichy French ships in Mers-el-Kebir, Algeria, ordered by Churchill to prevent their falling into German hands.

He then served on escort detail on Malta convoys throughout 1941. He was serving on the Orion when the Arethusa was torpedoed by aircraft in November 1942 and the entire Marine complement of B-turret perished.

His service career ended in 1949 and he found employment in Tin Pan Alley in Soho with Francis, Day and Hunter, where composition and arrangement of popular songs were the order of the day.

Extra earning opportunities arose when members of the public would arrive unannounced in Denmark Street singing a song or whistling a tune they had created which they wished to have scored for posterity. Sitting at the piano, Elms would coax the melody out of the client and write down the score for a fee of 15 shillings.

He then went freelance and composed incidental music for The Adventures of Robin Hood starring Richard Greene, The Adventures of Sir Lancelot starring Roger Moore, The Buccaneers and William Tell. In the 1960s film work included Bluebeard’s Ten Honeymoons (1960) starring George Sanders, The Breaking Point and Treasure in Malta.

For the BBC he wrote music for the series Thorndike. He scored the incidental music for The Champions and the hit series Man in a Suitcase as well as for 14 episodes of The Prisoner, starring Patrick McGoohan.

In the 1970s Elms worked on the film version of the TV show Love Thy Neighbour and was musical director on The Benny Hill Show. But it was a return to writing military band music that occupied him for the rest of the decade. Wembley Way had been commissioned for the 100th FA Cup Final at Wembley in 1972, and Blaze of Light and On Parade were to follow. However, it was a meeting with the principal director of the Royal Marines School of Music, who, weary of the 1812 Overture, requested “something about Trafalgar” and the march Battle of Trafalgar received its premiere at the 1974 Royal Tournament and at the Mountbatten Festival of Music in 1975. It became a favourite of the Royal Marines Band Service and was also performed at St Paul’s Cathedral as an orchestral work with the Bach Choir conducted by Sir Charles Groves in 1981, and later at the Albert Hall at the bicentenary of Trafalgar in 2005.

Elms’s wife, Jo, predeceased him and he is survived by three sons.

Albert Elms, light music composer, was born on February 28, 1920. He died on October 14, 2009, aged 89


ELMS, Albert George
Born: 2/28/1920, Newington, Kent, England, U.K.
Died: 10/14/2009, Southampton, England, U.K.

Albert Elms western - composer
Whiplash (TV) - 1960-1961

RIP Joe Maross

Actor Joe Maross dies at 86

Thesp's career started with early live TV

By VARIETY STAFF

Actor Joe Maross, whose career spanned four decades starting with early live TV, died Nov. 7. He was 86.Born in Barnsboro, Penn. he served in the Marines and then graduated in theater arts from Yale.

Maross started out in the early days of TV on "Lux Video Theater" in 1952, followed by roles in shows including "Philco Playhouse," "Kraft Television Theater," "The United States Steel Hour" and "Studio One."

Moving to Hollywood, he appeared in TV shows such as "The Twilight Zone," "Bonanza," "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," " "The Outer Limits." Other TV series in which he appeared include "The Fugitive," "Gunsmoke," "Hawaii Five O." "Mission Impossible," "Perry Mason," "Mannix," "The Rockford Files," "Charlies Angels," "Quincy," "Dallas" and "Murder She Wrote."

He also appeared in feature films including "Run Silent Run Deep," "Elmer Gantry," "Sometimes a Great Notion" and "The Salzburg Connection."

He was a founding member of the Los Angeles based acting, writing and directing group "Projects 58" as well as a voting member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Maross is survived by a son.


MAROSS, Joe (Joseph R. Maross)
Born: 2/7/1923, Barnesboro, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.
Died: 11/7/2009, Glendale, California, U.S.A.

Joe Maross's westerns - actor:
The Restless Gun (TV) - 1958 (Kallell)
Jefferson Drum (TV) - 1958 (Peter Norse)
Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV) - 1958 (Frank Parish)
Gunsmoke (TV) - 1958, 1962, 1965 (Jim Branch, Dean Beard, Charlie Britton)
Lawman or Gunman (TV) - 1958 (Horace Towne)
The Rough Riders (TV) - 1959 (Johnny Dime)
Bonanza (TV) - 1960 (Jimmy Sutton)
Outlaws (TV) - 1961 (Bill Doolin)
Wagon Train (TV) - 1962 (Robert Waring)
Frontier Circus (TV) - 1962 (Al Buchanan)
Stoney Burke (TV) - 1963 (Whitey Kilgore, Vince Patterson)
The Virginiain (TV) - 1963, 1968 (Homer Slattery, Buck Stargel)
Texas John Slaughter (TV) - 1961 (Jimmy Deuce)
Gallagher Goes West (TV) - 1967 (Mr. Hatfield)
The Iron Horse (TV) - 1967 (Jess)
The High Chaparral (TV) - 1968 (Hank Munn)
Kung Fu (TV) - 1975 (Mike Barrow)
The Virginian (TV) -

RIP Carl Ballantine

Carl Ballantine dies at 92

Comic actor known for his role in 'McHale's Navy'

By Mike Barnes
Nov 4, 2009, 06:01 PM ET


Carl Ballantine, who performed feats of bumbling comic magic on
Vaudeville and on television, the movies and in Las Vegas, died Tuesday
of natural causes at his Hollywood home. He was 92.

Perhaps Ballantine's most famous role was as confident con artist and
torpedoman Lester Gruber on 1962-66 ABC comedy "McHale's Navy."

Ballantine, born Meyer Kessler on Chicago's South Side, learned magic
tricks at age 9 from his barber. By 13, he was performing and supporting
his family.

One night, a trick went haywire and he threw out some funny lines to
cover things. The audience loved it, the club owner told him to "keep it
up" -- and the Amazing Ballantine was born.

Ballantine caught the end of Vaudeville and the early days of
television. He played the Palace in New York City, the Hippodrome in
Baltimore and many other huge venues of the day.

On TV, he did magic on the shows of Gary Moore, Steve Allen, Milton
Berle, Dinah Shore, Andy Williams, Dean Martin, Ed Sullivan and David
Copperfield. He played a magician on such series as "Fantasy Island,"
"The Cosby Show" and "Night Court" and appeared in scores of other
shows.

Ballantine also did many commercials, including one for the California
Raisins in which he supplied the voice for a character that looked very
much like him.

Ballantine was the first magician to play Las Vegas when he was put on
the bill in 1956 with Harry James, Betty Grable and Sammy Davis Jr. To
promote the act, he rode the Strip on a horse.

His film credits include "The Shakiest Gun in the West" (1968), "The
World's Greatest Lover" (1977), "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992) and
"Speedway" (1968).

In 1971, he starred on Broadway in the 1971 revival of "A Funny Thing
Happened on the Way to the Forum" with Phil Silvers.

Ballantine is survived by his sister, Esther Robinson; his daughter
Saratoga, an actress; and his daughter, Molly, an advertising executive.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to adoption
agency Used Pets in Inglewood, Calif.


BALLANTINE, Carl (Meyer Kessler)
Born: 9/27/1917, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.
Died: 11/3/2009, Woodland Hills, California, U.S.A.

Carl Ballantine's westerns - actor:
Laredo (TV) - 1967 (Laemuel Beamish)
The Shaiest Gun in the West - 1968 (Abel Swanson)
The Virginian (TV) - 1971 (Matt)
Saga of Sonora (TV) - 1973 (Ringo)

RIP Jorge Vargas

Mexican ctor Jorge Vargas passed away on Monday do to a bacterial infection, a few days ago he was operated on for colon cancer that was detected a month ago. Ricardo Cervantes, nephew of the actor, indicated that the actor, singer passed away around the 18:00 hours of November 2nd in the National Institute of Cancerología, where he was hospitalized for a week. Everything happened due to bacteria that lodged itself in his body, which complicated the recovery after the operation on Vargas' colon and although the doctors tried to help, the ex-husband of Lupita D' alessio did not resist the treatments. Ricardo said that the news took the family by surprise, since everything seemed to indicate that he would be okay after the operation, nevertheless, due to the bacteria his body could no longer resist the treatments and this put him behind a schedule of recovery and died. Cervantes commented that the body of the actor of melodramas such as "Maria Isabel" has been transferred in hours to Gayosso de Sulivan, where the cremation of the body will be carried out and at some future date it will be determined where Jorge Vargas will be buried.


VARGAS, Jorge
Born: 6/25/1941, Aguascaliente, Aguascalientes, Mexico
Died: 11/2/2009, Ciudad, Mexico

Jorge Vargas' western - actor:
El corrido de Lino Rodarte - 2003

RIP Cinematographer Rosalío Solano Quintanar died on 20 Solano

Cinematographer Rosalío Solano Quintanar died on 20
August 2009 in Cuernavaca; he was 94 years old. Born in
August 1914 in Querétaro, "Chalío" Solano entered the
film industry in 1932, advancing to become a director of
photography in the late 1940s. His final screen credit
came in 1992, capping 60 years of professional work.
Solano won an Ariel Award for Talpa and one for La
pachanga (he tied with Toni Kuhn that year; he was also
nominated 4 other times)--plus the IMCINE award in 1993
and a lifetime achievement Ariel he received in 2007--and
four Diosas de Plata for his photography.
Rosalío Solano is survived by his wife Sofía Aupart
González, four daughters, 11 grandchildren and 12 greatgrandchildren


Rosalío, Solano (Rosalío Solano Quintanar)
Born: 8/30/1914, Bernal, Querétaro, Mexico
Died: 8/20/2009, Cuernavaca, Federal District, Mexico

Solano Rosalío's westerns - camer operator, cinematographer.
Pancho Villa Returns - 1950 [camera operator]
Tierra de hombres - 1956 [cinematographer]
La estampida - 1959 [cinematographer]
El puma - 1959 [cinematographer]
La ley del mas rapido - 1959 [cinematographer]
A tiro limpio - 1960 [cinematographer]
Yo no me caso compadre - 1960 [cinematographer]
La carcel de Conanea - 1960 [cinematographer]
Remolino - 1961 [cinematographer]
Mi guitarra y mi caballo - 1961 [cinematographer]
Ay Chabela...! - 1961 [cinematographer]
Los hermanos Del Hierro - 1961 [cinematographer]
Martin Santos el llanero - 1962 [cinematographer]
El caballo blanco - 1962 [cinematographer]
Nido de aguilas - 1967 [cinematographer]
El silencioso - 1967 [cinematographer]
Todo por nada - 1969 [cinematographer]
El tunco Maclovio - 1970 [cinematographer]
Nido de fieras - 1971 [cinematographer]
Los marcados - 1971 [cinematographer]
Hardcase (TV) - 1972 [cinematographer]
Pistoleros ahorcarlos antes - 1974 [cinematographer]
Pistolero del diablo - 1974 [cinematographer]

RIP José Luis López Vazquez

Spanish actor José Luis López Vazquez, died at his home in Madrid today November 2nd after a long illness at the age of 87. With more than 200 films to his name, including ‘Novio a la vista’, ‘El pisito’, ‘Atraco a las tres’ and ‘Plácido’ he was one of the most prolific actors of film and stage in Spain. Lopez Vazquez began his career in the performing arts at the the Teatro Español Universitario in 1951. Jose Luis was born in Madrid on March 11, 1922 his first film work was as an assistant director. He was honoured with awards such as the Gold Medal for Fine Arts, the National Theatre Prize and a Goya of Honour. He was awarded an Emmy in 1973 for the TV film, ‘La Cabina’. He had spent the last few years of his life as a recluse, suffering from breathing, hearing and vision difficulties.


VAZQUEZ, José Luis López (José Luis López Vázquez de la Torre) [
Born: 3/11/1922, Madrid, Madrid, Spain
Died: 11/2/2009, Madrid, Madrid, Spain


José Luis López Vazquez's western - actor:
The Legend of Frenchie King – 1971

RIP Norton Buffalo

Published: Sunday, November 1, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.


Blues harmonica virtuoso Norton Buffalo died Friday, following a brief battle with lung cancer.

Buffalo, 58, learned in September he had cancer and was attempting to beat the disease. Friends learned he went into a coma Thursday night and then died Friday afternoon, said Bill Bowker, a longtime Sonoma County DJ and music promoter and longtime acquaintance of Buffalo’s.

“He was really a master of the harmonica,” said Bowker on Sunday. “For years he was a mainstay of Sonoma County music scene here. We all had hopes that he could beat it.”

“He was just one of these wonderful characters we’ve had and been blessed with in Sonoma County,” Bowker said.

Buffalo had been posting updates on his fight with the illness on his website, including information that the cancer was at an advanced stage and had spread to his brain.

Buffalo played rock for years with the Steve Miller Band in the 70s, but had the ability to play many genres, with an emphasis on blues, rock and honky tonk. He toured this summer with Steve Miller and had many plans in the works when he learned he was sick, according to his website.

Buffalo and his family had lived in Glen Ellen until a few years ago when he moved to Paradise, near Chico.

“He was back in town so often. He played with Roy Rogers often at the Mystic [in Petaluma]. We did see him often,” said Bowker.

Bowker, who offers a blues show on Sunday nights on KRSH, 95.9 FM, said he’d be dedicating time to Buffalo tonight.

“I’ll be playing some old shows he did…I’m going to play the bluesy side of what he did,” said Bowker.


BUFFALO, Norton (Philip Charles Jackson)
Born: 9/28/1951, Oakland, California, U.S.A.
Died: 10/30/2009, Paradise, California, U.S.A.

Norton Buffalo's western - actor:
Heaven's Gate - 1908 (Private)