Emmy Award-winning American character actress Kathryn Joosten, a regular on Desperate Housewives and The West Wing, died of lung cancer on June 2, aged 72. Her other numerous TV credits include episodes of 3rd Rock from the Sun, Prey, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The X Files, Charmed and Joan of Arcadia. She was also in Hellraiser: Inferno, Bedtime Stories and Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.
British-born actor turned game-show host Richard Dawson (Colin Lionel Emm) died of complications from oesophageal cancer the same day, aged 79. Best known for his recurring role in Hogan’s Heroes (1965–71) and as the host of Family Feud from 1976–85, he also appeared in Munster Go Home! and The Running Man, along with episodes of The Outer Limits, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Mr. Terrific and Fantasy Island. Dawson’s first wife was actress Diana Dors.
British actress Caroline [Frances] John, who played Doctor Who’s companion Dr Elizabeth Shaw opposite Jon Pertwee’s Time Lord in 1970, died of cancer on June 5, aged 71. She recreated the role of Liz Shaw in The Five Doctors (1983) and a number of spin-off video and audio productions. John also appeared in the 1982 TV version of The Hound of the Baskervilles (starring Tom Baker as Holmes), The Woman in Black (1989), and episodes of The Rivals of Sherlock Holmes, The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes and the mini-series A Very British Coup.
Veteran American character actor Frank Cady died on June 8, aged 96. A regular on the 1960s TV sitcoms Green Acres, Petticoat Junction and The Beverly Hillbillies as general-store owner Sam Drucker, he appeared in the movies The Sky Dragon, The Great Rupert, The Next Voice You Hear . . ., When Worlds Collide, The Atomic City, Alfred Hitchcock’s Rear Window, The Bad Seed (1956), 7 Faces of Dr. Lao and Disney’s The Gnome-Mobile and The Million Dollar Duck, along with an episode of TV’s The Monster Squad.
Canadian-born Hollywood leading lady [Therese] Ann Rutherford died of heart failure on June 11, aged 94. Best known for her role as Scarlett O’Hara’s younger sister in Gone with the Wind and her recurring role as Mickey Rooney’s girlfriend in the popular Andy Hardy movies, she also appeared in A Christmas Carol (1938, as the Ghost of Christmas Past), The Ghost Comes Home, Whistling in the Dark, Whistling in Dixie, Whistling in Brooklyn and The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (with Boris Karloff). Rutherford was married to Batman TV producer William Dozier and retired from acting in 1976.
Japanese singer Emi Itô (Hideyo Itô) who, with her twin sister Yumi, performed as part of the music duo The Peanuts, died on June 15, aged 71. The sisters appeared as the tiny Shobijin Fairies in Toho’s Mothra, Godzilla vs. the Thing and Ghidorah the Three-Headed Monster.
Iconoclastic American actress and artist Susan Tyrrell (Susan Jillian Creamer, aka SuSu) died on June 16, aged 67. In April 2000 the Oscar-nominated actress lost both legs as the result of a rare blood disease. Her films include Wizards (1977), Midnight Lace (1981), Night Warning, Forbidden Zone, What’s Up Hideous Sun Demon, Fire and Ice, Angel and Avenging Angel, Flesh + Blood, The Offspring, Big Top Pee-Wee, Rockula, Digital Man, Powder and the video compilation The Boneyard Collection. She also appeared in episodes of TV’s The Hitchhiker, Shades of LA and Tales from the Crypt.
Veteran British stuntman George Leech, who worked on eleven James Bond films from Dr. No (1962) to A View to a Kill (1985), died on June 17, aged 90. His other credits include Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Superman (1978) and The Masks of Death (starring Peter Cushing as Sherlock Holmes).
Welsh-born British comedy actor Victor Spinetti died of cancer on June 18, aged 82. Best remembered for appearing with The Beatles in A Hard Day’s Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour, the Tony Award-winning actor’s other screen credits include Digby the Biggest Dog in the World, The Little Prince, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (1979), The Princess and the Goblin, The Adventures of Indiana Jones: Attack of the Hawkmen, The Adventures of Indiana Jones: Adventures in the Secret Service and Wednesday, a horror short written and produced by David McGillivray.
Former professional model and pin-up girl Kay Christopher died of complications from diabetes the same day, aged 86. After signing a contract with RKO Radio Pictures, she appeared as Tess Trueheart in Dick Tracy’s Dilemma (1947) and made an uncredited appearance as a nurse in Mighty Joe Young (1949) before leaving the industry in 1954.
Memorable American character actor Richard [Hugh] Lynch, best known for his villainous portrayals, was found dead at his home on June 19, aged 72 or 76 (reports varied). Instantly recognisable from his blond hair and scarred features (he accidentally set himself on fire in 1967 after taking LSD), his numerous movie credits include God Told Me To (aka Demon), Good Against Evil, Deathsport, Vampire, The Ninth Configuration, The Sword and the Sorcerer, Cut and Run, Invasion USA, The Barbarians (aka The Barbarian Brothers), Bad Dreams, Aftershock, Alligator II: The Mutation, Trancers II, Puppet Master III: Toulon’s Revenge, Merlin (1993), Necronomicon, Scanner Cop, Cyborg 3: The Creation, Terminal Virus, Werewolf (1996), Curse of the Forty-Niner, Ancient Warriors, Corpses Are Forever, The Mummy’s Kiss, Wedding Slashers, Mil Mascaras vs. The Aztec Mummy, Halloween (2007), Laid to Rest, Dark Fields (aka The Rain), Resurrection, Gun of the Black Sun and The Lords of Salem. A regular on the shortlived TV series The Phoenix (1981-82), Lynch also appeared in episodes of The Bionic Woman, Battlestar Galactica (1978), Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, Galactica 1980, Manimal, Blue Thunder, Automan, The Last Precinct (“Never Cross a Vampire”), Werewolf, Super Force, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Highlander and Charmed.
Dependable British actor Anthony Bate died the same day, aged 84. He appeared in episodes of TV’s Out of This World, The Avengers, The Saint (“The House on Dragon’s Rock”), The Champions, Shadows of Fear, Out of the Unknown, The Guardians and Nigel Kneale’s Beasts, along with the 1974 films Ghost Story.
British character actor James [David] Grout, often typecast as policemen and best known for his recurring role as Chief Superintendent Strange in TV’s Inspector Morse (1987–2000), died on June 24, aged 84. He also appeared in The Abominable Dr. Phibes (with Vincent Price), The Ruling Class, and episodes of The Guardians, Thriller (1973), Orson Welles’ Great Mysteries, BBC2 Play of the Week (“Fairies”, as Sir Arthur Conan Doyle) and The Box of Delights.
Former professional American football player Ben Davidson (Benjamin Earl Davidson), who played Rexor in Conan the Barbarian (1982), died on July 2, aged 72. He was also in the pilot for Lucan and an episode of Fantasy Island.
Beloved American actor Andy [Samuel] Griffith, who starred in the TV series The Andy Griffith Show (1960–68) and its various spin-offs, Matlock (1991–95) and Salvage 1 (1979), died of a heart attack on July 3, aged 86. He also appeared in such movies as Angel in My Pocket, The Demon Murder Case and Spy Hard, along with episodes of The Bionic Woman and Fantasy Island.
Much-loved British comedy actor, director and scriptwriter Eric Sykes CBE died after a short illness on July 4, aged 89. He starred in his own eponymous TV series from 1960–65 and 1972–79, and his other credits include Theatre of Blood (with Vincent Price), The Others and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, along with episodes of The Return of Sherlock Holmes (“The Six Napoleons”) and Gormenghast (as Mollocks).
Academy Award-winning actor Ernest Borgnine (Ermes Effron Borgnine) died of renal failure on July 8, aged 95. The burly star’s movie credits include The Vikings, Willard (1971), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The Neptune Factor, The Devil’s Rain, The Ghost of Flight 401, Disney’s The Black Hole, Escape from New York, Deadly Blessing, Alice in Wonderland (1985), L’isola del tesoro, Merlin’s Shop of Mystical Wonders, Gattaca and Small Soldiers. He was also a regular on the short-lived TV series Future Cop (1976–77), voiced Mermaidman in SpongeBob SquarePants (1999–2011), and appeared in episodes of Captain Video and His Video Rangers, Highway to Heaven, Early Edition and Touched by an Angel. Married five times, Borgnine’s wives included actresses Katy Jurado and, very briefly (32 days), Ethel Merman.
American stuntman and stunt co-ordinator Conrade Gamble II died on July 12, aged 45. The Gulf War veteran was a stunt d
ouble for actor Ving Rhames and he worked on Spider-Man 2, The Skeleton Key, Evan Almighty, G.I. Joe The Rise of Cobra, The Green Hornet and episodes of the TV series Alias.
American voice actress Ginny Tyler (Merrie Virginia Erlandson) died on July 13, aged 86. Her credits include Disney’s Son of Flubber, The Sword in the Stone, Mary Poppins and Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, along with Doctor Dolittle and episodes of TV’s The New Casper Cartoon Show (as the voice of Casper the ghost), Mister Ed, Space Ghost, The Adventures of Gulliver and The Fantastic Four (as Sue Richards/Invisible Girl). Tyler also narrated a number of Disney record albums, including Bambi and Babes in Toyland.
The body of Sage [Moonblood] Stallone, the son of actor Sylvester Stallone, was found in his Hollywood Hills home the same day. He was aged 36 and died of heart disease. Sage Stallone was the co-founder/president of Grindhouse Releasing, dedicated to restoring obscure exploitation films, and he appeared in the movies The Evil Inside Me, Reflections of Evil, Chaos and Moscow Zero.
Oscar-winning Hollywood and Broadway actress Celeste Holm died on July 15, aged 95. She had been hospitalised with dehydration following a fire in Robert De Niro’s apartment in the same Manhattan building, but had requested to be allowed home two days before her death. Although best known for such movies as The Snake Pit, All About Eve and High Society, she also appeared in Jack and the Beanstalk (1956), Cinderella (1965), Death Cruise, Midnight Lace (1981) and Murder by the Book, along with episodes of TV’s Wonder Woman, Lucan, Fantasy Island, Matt Houston and Touched by an Angel. In her later years a bitter feud with her two sons wiped out Holm’s $2 million fortune and left her dependent on social security.
Welsh-born actress Angharad [Mary] Rees CBE, who played Jack the Ripper’s murderous daughter in Hammer’s Hands of the Ripper (1971), died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer on July 21, aged 63. Her other film credits include Jane Eyre (1970), Baffled!, The Curse of King Tut’s Tomb and The Wolves of Kromer, and she appeared in episodes of TV’s The Avengers, Thriller (1974), Bedtime Stories and Robin of Sherwood. After she retired from acting, she designed jewellery for a shop she owned in London. From 1973–94 Rees was married to actor Christopher Cazenove.
British actor Simon Ward, the father of actress Sophie Ward, died after a long illness on July 23, aged 70. He played (uncredited) one of the schoolboy’s in Lindsay Anderson’s If . . . (1968) before going on to appear in Hammer’s Frankenstein Must Be Destroyed (with Peter Cushing), Quest for Love (based on a story by John Wyndham), Dracula (1974, as Arthur), Holocaust 2000, Dominique (aka Dominique is Dead, based on a Weird Tales story by Harold Lawlor), The Monster Club (based on the book by R. Chetwynd-Hayes), Supergirl (as Zor-El) and Wuthering Heights (1992). Ward also appeared in an episode of TV’s Orson Welles’ Great Mysteries (Arthur Conan Doyle’s “The Leather Funnel” with Christopher Lee) and the 1989 mini-series Around the World in 80 Days.
American comedy actor and singer Sherman [Alexander] Hemsley, who starred in TV’s All in the Family spin-off The Jeffersons (1975–85), died of complications from lung cancer on July 24, aged 74. He appeared in the movies Love at First Bite, Alice in Wonderland (1985), Ghost Fever and Casper: A Spirited Beginning, along with episodes of The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, The Twilight Zone (1985), What a Dummy, The New Adventures of Superman (as The Toyman), The Secret World of Alex Mack and the 2004 pilot of Mr. Ed (as the voice of the titular talking horse). Hemsley was also the voice of B. P. Richfield on Dinosuars (1991–94).
American actor Chad Everett (Raymon Lee Cramton) died the same day of lung cancer, aged 76. His many TV credits include episodes of The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Hammer’s Journey to the Unknown, The Highwayman, Shades of LA, Touched by an Angel and Supernatural. He also appeared in the movies The Intruder Within, Star Command, When Time Expires, Psycho (1998) and Mulholland Dr.
British actress Mary Tamm, who portrayed the first incarnation of Tom Baker’s companion Romana (1978–79) on BBC TV’s Doctor Who, died after a long battle with cancer on July 26. She was 62. Tamm was also in the film Tales That Witness Madness and episodes of Jane Eyre (1983), Doghouse, Worlds Beyond, The New Adventures of Robin Hood (“Witches of the Abbey”), Crime Traveller, Jonathan Creek (“Satan’s Chimney”) and Twisted Tales. The actress’s husband, Marcus Ringrose, died of a suspected heart attack hours after giving a eulogy at her funeral on August 7.
American character actress Lupe Ontiveros (Guadalupe Moreno) died the same day of liver cancer, aged 69. Often cast as Latino housekeepers or maids, she appeared in the movies The Goonies, Dolly Dearest, Universal Soldier, Candyman: Day of the Dead, Mr. St. Nick and Dark Mirror, along with episodes of TV’s Tales from the Crypt and Reaper.
Gruff American character actor R. (Robert) G. (Golden) Armstrong [Jr.] died on July 27, aged 95. Often portraying sheriffs and generals, his numerous movies include The Legend of Hillbilly John (based on the stories of Manly Wade Wellman), Race with the Devil, The Car, The Pack, Heaven Can Wait (1978), Devil Dog: Hound of Hell, The Time Machine (1978), The Legend of the Golden Gun, Evilspeak, The Beast Within, Children of the Corn (1984), Predator, Dick Tracy (as Pruneface), Warlock: The Armageddon, Purgatory and Keeper of Souls (aka The Waking). On TV Armstrong appeared in the recurring roles of the ghostly Lewis Vendredi on Friday the 13th: The Series (1987–89) and The Old Man on Millennium (1997–98), along with episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Great Ghost Tales (“The Monkey’s Paw”), The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Time Tunnel, The Invaders, The Sixth Sense, Tales of the Unexpected (aka A Twist in the Tale), Salvage 1, Fantasy Island, Darkroom, Beauty and the Beast, Silk Stalkings and Quantum Leap.
Hollywood actor and singer Tony Martin (Alvin Morris), who co-starred in Ali Baba Goes to Town and the Bob Hope Jack the Ripper comedy Here Come the Girls (1953), died the same day, aged 98. His biggest hit was in 1950 with “There’s No Tomorrow”, later adapted for Elvis Presley as “It’s Now or Never”. After divorcing actress Alice Faye in 1941, Martin was married to Cyd Charisse for 60 years until her death in 2008.
British comedy actor Geoffrey Hughes, who was the voice of Paul in Yellow Submarine (1968), died of prostate cancer on July 27, aged 68. He also appeared in episodes of Randall and Hopkirk (Deceased), Shadows of Fear, Doctor Who (“The Trial of a Time Lord”) and Polterguests, along with small roles in the films Blood of Satan’s Claw and Revenge (aka Terror from Under the House).
American character actor Norman Alden (Norman Adelberg) also died on July 27, aged 87. Best known as Lou the café owner in Back to the Future and Bill the colour-blind cameraman in Ed Wood, he also appeared in The Nutty Professor, Ben, Everything You Wanted to Know About Sex* *But Were Afraid to Ask and They Live, along with episodes of TV’s My Favorite Martian, Batman, Planet of the Apes, Electra Woman and Dyna Girl and Fantasy Island. Alden contributed voice work to Disney’s The Sword in the Stone, Transformers: The Movie and the Super Friends series (as Aquaman).
American character actor John Finnegan (aka J. P. Finnegan), who was a semi-regular on the TV series Columbo, died of pneumonia on July 29, aged 85. His movies include The Natural, School Spirit, Spellbinder, The Hunchback Hairball of L.A., Last Action Hero and Mars Attacks!, along with episodes of McCloud (“McCloud Meets Dracula”), Lucan, The Amazing Spider-Man, Galactica 1980 and Highway to Heaven. Finnegan also voiced the villainous Warren T. Rat in the animated An American Tail.
New Zealand-born actor and Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jonathan Hardy (aka Jonathon Hardy), who was the voice of galactic ruler Dominar Rygel XVI in TV’s Farscape (1999–2004), died in Australia the same day. He was 71. The bushy-browed actor also appeared in Mad Max, The Scarecrow (with John Carradine), Death Warmed Up and Bloodmoon, along with an episode of Twisted Tales (aka Twisted).
Roy Steffens (Roy Steffensen), who scripted and starred in the live 1955–56 TV show Captain Z-Ro, died on August 2, aged 98. He later became a TV art director on such shows as The Bionic Woman and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.
American actor and drama teacher Al(bert) [Cornelius] Freeman, Jr. died on August 9, aged 78. He appeared in the movies Finian’s Rainbow and Castle Keep.
American actress Phyllis [Schuyler] Thaxter (Phyllis St. Felix Thaxter), who portrayed Ma Kent in Superman (1978), died of complications from Alzheimer’s disease on August 14, aged 90. Her other credits include Arch Oboler’s Bewitched (1945) and episodes of TV’s Suspicion, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Thriller (“The Last of the Sommervilles”), The Twilight Zone, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and The Invaders.
American character actor Biff Elliot (Leon Shalek), the first person to portray PI Mike Hammer on screen, died on August 15, aged 89. He appeared in such movies as Brainstorm, Blood Bath (aka Track of the Vampire), The Navy vs. the Night Monsters, Destination Inner Space and The Dark, along with episodes of TV’s Lights Out, Science Fiction Theatre, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes and The Next Step Beyond.
Dependable American actor William Windom died of congestive heart failure on August 16, aged 88. Best known for playing Dr Seth Hazlitt on CBS-TV’s Murder She Wrote (1985–96), the actor won an Emmy in 1970 for his performance in the series My World and Welcome to It, based on James Thurber’s essays and cartoons. He also appeared in the movies Brewster McCloud, Escape, The Mephisto Waltz, Escape from the Planet of the Apes (as The President), Taste of Evil, Disney’s Now You See Him Now You Don’t, The Man, Space Rage, Attack of the 50 Ft. Woman (1993), Miracle on 34th Street (1994), Children of the Corn: The Gathering, Raising Dead and Dismembered. Windom was also a prolific guest star on TV shows, appearing in episodes of Lights Out, The Twilight Zone, Thriller (1962), The Wild Wild West, Star Trek (“The Doomsday Machine”), The Invaders, Rod Serling’s Night Gallery (“They’re Tearing Down Tim Riley’s Bar”), Ghost Story, Love American Style (“Love and the Ghost”), The Bionic Woman (“Black Magic”, with Vincent Price), The Incredible Hulk, Fantasy Island, The Greatest American Hero, Automan, Highway to Heaven and Knight Rider.
The Mammoth Book of Best New Horror 24 Page 47
