Sad news this morning, folks, as we learn of the passing of Oscar winning actress Patricia Neal. Neal won her Oscar for her role in 1963′s Hud, opposite Paul Newman, and was nominated for the Best Actress category a few years later in The Subject Was Roses. Her mainstream debut was in The Fountainhead in 1949, and later appeared opposite Michael Rennie in The Day The Earth Stood Still. Other film appearances include Breakfast At Tiffany’s, A Face In The Crowd, All Quiet On The Western Front (1979) and Operation Pacific.
Patricia Neal died at her home in Massachusetts. She was 84.
Sad news out of Hollywood this morning, with news of legendary screenwriter Tom Mankiewicz passing away. Makiewicz was responsible for the screenplays of the first two Christopher Reeve Superman films, as well as Bond films Diamonds Are Forever and Live And Let Die. Among his other credits, includes work on Ladyhawke, The Eagle Has Landed and Hot Pursuit.
He also worked on television series’ such as Hart To Hart, Tales From The Crypt, and TV Movie The Beat Of The Brass.
Mankiewicz died over the weekend, at his home in Los Angeles, aged 68.
A quick note this morning, as we learn of the passing of Caddyshack actor Dan Resin, over the weekend. Resin appeared as Dr Beeper in the comedy classic, and had roles in films as diverse as The Man With one Red Shoe, God Told Me To, Hail,The Happy Hooker, and New York Undercover.
Dan Resin was 79.
Currently, we are unable to source an image of Dan Resin. If any of our readers are able to provide one to complete this post, please email: fern...@gmail.com.
A tinge of sadness this week as we learn of the passing of one of Hollywood’s quiet gentlemen, Maury Chaykin. Usually cast as slightly larger, verbose characters, Chaykin appeared in numerous projects since his mainstream debut in the TV series King Of Kensington. Personally, I came to recognise Chaykin’s ability in the vastly underrated Cutthroat Island, co-starring alongside Matthew Modine and Geena Davis. While not a household name by any stretch, the number of films he appeared in would indicate a popularity within the industry. Among the many films he appeared in, are WarGames, Iron Eagle II, Dances With Wolves, My Cousin Vinny, Devil In A Blue Dress, A Life Less Ordinary, MouseHunt, The Mask Of Zorro and Entrapment.
Chaykin died on his 61st birthday, from complications of a heart valve problem. He will most certainly be missed.
Just a quick update to the news of another talented actor who has left us this week, and I speak of American character actor James Gammon. His name might not immediately be recognisable, but his face sure is. Gammon is best known for his work in the Western genre, in films as diverse as Silverado, Wyatt Earp, Cold Mountain and most recently in Appaloosa. He has also appeared in numerous other films, including Major League, Any Which Way You Can, Natural Born Killers, Point Break, The Iron Giant, The Cell and In The Electric Mist.
Gammon also appeared in numerous television series across his career, including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, The Waltons, Charlie’s Angels, Murder She Wrote, The Equalizer, The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles and most recently, Grey’s Anatomy.
Considering the quality of projects he was involved in, you’d think his name might be more recognised!
Gammon passed away this week from a variety of cancers. He was 70.
Quick post today, to let you know of the passing of one of Britains legends of cinema, Alan Hume. Hume was a cinematographer on films as diverse as Return Of The Jedi, the James Bond classic A View To A Kill, A Fish Called Wanda and Shirley Valentine. But it is for his work on many of the British Carry On… films that he gained his reputation in the industry. We tip our had to his body of work today.
Just a quick tip of the hat today, in honour of the original voice of Cinderella, Ilene Woods, who passed away last week aged 81. Woods came to fame as the voice of Disney’s animated princess in 1950, and while her career never reached the same heights again, she remained active well into her senior years. She was awarded Disney Legend status in 2003 for her work on Cinderella.
Woods died on July 1st, at a nursing home in LA, from complications of Alzheimers Disease.
Ronald Neame (With actress Shirley MacLaine) - 1911-2010
British director Ronald Neame’s most famous cinematic effort was the 1972 disaster epic, The Poseiden Adventure, which was remade by Wolfgang Petersen a few years ago. Neame made a name for himself during his early Hollywood career as an assistant cameraman on Blackmail in 1929, for Alfred Hitchcock, before going on to a fairly adventurous cinematographers life. He worked on films as diverse as This Happy Breed and Blithe Spirit, before being nominated for an Oscar for his work on One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing, for visual effects.
He then became a producing/screenwriting partner with famed director David Lean and fellow alum Anthony Havelock-Allan, being co-nominated at the Oscars for his work on classic films Brief Encounter and Great Expectations (1946). After this, he became a director on films such as The Card and Tunes Of Glory, with actor Alec Guinness, as well as Judy Garland’s last film I Could Go On Singing, and Maggie Smith’s Oscar winning role in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie. He also worked with Albert Finney (and Guinness again) in the musical Scrooge.
However, the film he found his most commercial success with was The Poseiden Adventure, produced by the master of disaster, Irwin Allen. He followed this disaster film with another, the unmemorable Meteor. After Poseiden has become a success, he went on to direct screen legend Walter Matthau in two films, Hopscotch and First Monday In October.
Ronald Neame’s final film was Foreign Body, in 1986, and he died on June 16th, following a fall. He was 99.
Sad news in the Aussie TV community this evening, with news out of Sydney that long time television personality Adriana Xenides has passed away. Xenides co-hosted the Australian version of long-running gameshow Wheel Of Fortune, with Ernie Sigley, Tony Barber, John Burgess and John Elliot. At the time, she was once the longest serving co-host of a TV gameshow anywhere in the world, lasting 18 years on the production. I know this isn’t exactly movie-related news, but I grew up with Adriana on my TV, and like a nice warm blanket she became part of the establishment: this is a personal thing. Her position on the show afforded her a particularly powerful fashion platform, with which to show off local clothing designers wares. This fashion identity made her famous across the country.
Xenides had health issues in later years, and died today after complications from a ruptured intestine. Xenides’ family have asked the Liverpool Hospital where she was being treated to release no further details.
A tip of the hat today to one of the Golden Girls, Rue McClanahan, who passed away overnight from a stroke. McClanahan played slightly slutty Blanche Devereaux in the long running sitcom, co-starring alongside Betty White and Bea Arthur, as well as the late Estelle Getty. The Golden Girls ran from 1985 to 1992. Previously, McClanahan had a part on the Bea Arthur based series Maude, playing the title character’s best friend.
After the success of The Golden Girls, McClanahan appeared in numerous TV shows throughout the years, as well as a number of made-for-TV movies.
Ill health in her later years prevented any manjor acting roles, and after sufferring a stroke while in hospital for a heart bypass in January, died last night from another major stroke. Rue McClanahan was 76.
The film world goes into mourning today, as one of it’s rebellious sons passes away. Dennis Hopper, who made a name for himself early in films such as Easy Rider, Rebel Without A Cause (with James Dean), and a bit part in Giant (also with James Dean), died overnight from complications of prostate cancer. Among Hoppers early screen appearances, were roles in Gunfight At The OK Corral, Cool Hand Luke and Hang ‘Em High, before he hit the big time with Easy Rider, the biker film he directed while acting alongside Peter Fonda and Jack Nicholson.
After the success of Easy Rider, a modestly budgeted film which eventually took in over $US60m, Hopper had the world at his feet. Unfortunately, the influence of drugs and alcohol around this time saw the actor take on more obscure roles, and develop an uneasy relationship with many of the major studios of the time. Renowned as a difficult star, Hoppers fame dwindled during the 70′s, where he appeared mainly in low budget B-movie trash. Among his last major films of the 70′s was 1979′s Apocalypse Now, which in an eerie coincidence, I was watching when news of his passing broke. Hopper eventually entered rehab for his addictions, and began to take on more serious roles. Appearances in Rumble Fish and and The Osterman Weekend were acclaimed critically, as well as roles in Blue Velvet, Hoosiers, and Chattahoochee. However, modern audiences would come to see his most iconic role as that of crazed bomber Howard Payne in 1994′s Speed, alongside Keanu Reeves and Sandra Bullock. This role gave Hopper a much needed career boost, and over the next few years appeared in films as diverse as Waterworld (alongside Kevin Costner, again as the villain), Basquiat and EdTV (as Matthew McConaughey’s long lost father).
Dennis Hopper remained active until 2009, appearing in many low budget films, voicing video game characters, and narrating documentaries. His appearance in March at the unveiling of his Hollywood star showed the world just how frail he was looking due to his cancer. Hopper died overnight, aged 76.
I’ll leave you now with the dialogue I am most familiar with for Hopper: this key sequence from Speed. Ride on, Mr Hopper.
Today the entertainment industry mourns the passing of Diff’rent Strokes actor, Gary Coleman, who died last night of a brain haemorrhage. Coleman is best known as the short statured Arnold Jackson on the TV show Diff’rent Strokes, with his oft parodied catchphrase “Whatchoo talkin’ ’bout Willis?” the show’s most recognisable line. Coleman, who’s career stalled to B-movie projects and reality TV in the years since Strokes went off air, had a turbulent life in and out of court (he successfully sued his parents for misappropriation of the wealth he accumulated on Diff’rent Strokes) before slipping and banging his head during the week, after suffering the haemorrhage.
Gary Coleman was only 42.
Simon Monjack - 1970-2010 (Posing with his wife Brittany Murphy)
In a bizarre twist to the Christmas death of Hollywood actress Brittany Murphy, news coming out of LA tonight indicates that her husband, British screenwriter Simon Monjack, has been found dead at his home. Initial police reports indicate Monjack died of natural causes, although no doubt an autopsy and coroner’s report is still to be done. Monjack was said to be heartbroken by the death of Murphy on December 20th last year. In an even more bizarre twist, it is understood that Murphy’s mother discovered the unconscious body of Monjack in his master bedroom. Paramedics were called to the scene, but could not revive him.
Monjack’s most prominent career highlights include a directorial role on Two Days, Nine Lives in 2000, and a story credit on Factory Girl. Monjack was 39.
Another Hollywood legend has left us, with the news that yet another member of the Redgrave family has passed away. Lynn Redgrave, sister of fellow actress Vanessa Redgrave. Lynn appeared in numerous films throughout the years, following her debut in Tom Jones in 1963. Her resume includes appearences in The Happy Hooker, Antony & Cleopatra, Gods and Monsters, Shine, Peter Pan (2003) and even a cameo in Confessions of A Shopaholic.
Just wanted to let you know of the recent passing of a true cinema genuis. Italian screenwriter Furio Scarpelli, who wrote the genre classic western The Good, The Bad and The Ugly, and was nominated for an Oscar for his work on the films Il Postino, I soliti ignoti, and Casanova 70, has passed away. During his careers, he worked on 120 movies, the majority of which were in his native italian. However, it’s for his work on Sergio Leone’s classic spaghetti western that he is most fondly remembered.
