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- Actor
- Soundtrack
Part of the motley crew commandeered by Ernest Borgnine on the popular 1960s TV series McHale's Navy (1962), tall, gangly, beady-eyed, bulb-nosed comic actor Carl Ballantine was better known in other ports as the ultimate "magician". Billed as "The Amazing Ballantine," "The Great Ballantine" and "Ballantine: The World's Greatest Magician" during his long career, Carl made a comedy career out of being inept -- the magician who could never finish a trick or get the trick right in the first place. So successful was he, in fact, that in 2007 actor/magician Steve Martin presented Carl with the Lifetime Achievement Fellowship from the Magic Castle in Hollywood.
The Chicago native was born Meyer Kessler in Chicago on September 27, 1917, and became fascinated by the magic tricks his barber use to show him at a young age. He immediately began studying the art. Deciding to legit as a magician, he gradually realized that his potential as a comic was much better than as a magician so he decided to spoof his magic act -- pulling up laughs instead of rabbits out of a hat. Changing his name to the more agreeable marquee moniker ("Ballantine") in the early 1940s, it took Carl some time to refine his act as a "bad" magician but eventually he found a successful formula. He later went on to perform at such top establishments as the Palace Theatre in New York, as well as a number of Las Vegas niteries (the first "magician" to do so). The act also made its way to the small screen, becoming a popular time-filler on the TV variety circuit during the 1950s and 1960s.
Carl began showing up as an actor in the early 1960s, appearing on such comedy shows as "Car 54, Where Are You?" (recurring role) before hitting the big time with McHale's Navy (1962), which was similarly styled to Phil Silvers' service comedy "Sergeant Bilko". He played crewmen Lester Gruber for four seasons. Carl also was featured in such film comedies as The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968) with Don Knotts, The World's Greatest Lover (1977) with Gene Wilder, Just You and Me, Kid (1979) with George Burns and Mr. Saturday Night (1992) with Billy Crystal. His last film was a bit part in Aimee Semple McPherson (2006) (aka "Sister Aimee"). Carl also was part of the regular cast on the sitcoms The Queen and I (1969) and One in a Million (1980). Every now and then his magician alter ego would reappear on such shows as "Fantasy Island," "Night Court" and "The Cosby Show".
In later years Carl made a strong dent in the cartoon voice-over field and lent his voice to hundreds of regular commercials, including one for the California Raisins. Long married to actress Ceil Cabot, their 45 year marriage ended with her passing on January 27, 2000. They had two daughters, Molly, and actress/voice artist Sara Ballantine. Working practically to the very end, Carl succumbed to age-related problems on November 3, 2009, at age 92.- Actress
- Make-Up Department
- Producer
Lorissa McComas was born on 26 November 1970 in Columbus, Ohio, USA. She was an actress and producer, known for The Bare Wench Project (2000), Droid Gunner (1995) and Lap Dancing (1995). She was married to Doug Taylor. She died on 3 November 2009 in Waverly, Virginia, USA.- Actor
- Music Department
Brother Blue is an internationally renowned storyteller. Trained as an actor at Yale and as a pastor at the Harvard Divinity School, Brother Blue has been telling stories since the late 1960's. He has told in prisons, on the streets, for the U.N. and more. Brother Blue's life work is storytelling, both performance and inspiring others to tell stories. He believes and teaches that storytelling can change the world.- Christian Barbier was born on 28 June 1924 in Saint-Ouen, Seine-Saint-Denis, France. He was an actor, known for Army of Shadows (1969), Le théâtre de la jeunesse (1960) and Messieurs les jurés (1974). He died on 3 November 2009 in Manosque, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, France.
- Dodo Chichinadze was born on 28 December 1924 in Kutaisi, Georgia, USSR. She was an actress, known for Bashi-Achuki (1956), Nino (1959) and Tsiskara (1955). She died on 3 November 2009 in Tbilisi, Georgia.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Jyrki Kovaleff was born on 2 January 1954 in Tampere, Finland. He was an actor, known for Putkinotko (1998), Uuno Turhapuro muuttaa maalle (1986) and Comet in Moominland (1992). He died on 3 November 2009 in Helsinki, Finland.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Erik Sædén was born on 3 September 1924 in Vänersborg, Älvsborgs län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Svenska bilder (1964), Carmen (1960) and Don Giovanni (1987). He died on 3 November 2009.- Shel Dorf was born on 5 July 1933 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He died on 3 November 2009 in San Diego, California, USA.
- Additional Crew
Mark Glazebrook was born on 25 June 1936 in Cheshire, England, UK. Mark is known for Painting with Light (1987). Mark was married to Cherry Moorsom, Wanda Osinska and Elizabeth Claridge. Mark died on 3 November 2009 in London, UK.- Vilhelmas Vaicekauskas was born on 23 January 1936 in Padubysys, Lithuania. He was an actor, known for Neatmenu tavo veido (1988), Tamangai (1995) and Vaikai is Amerikos viesbucio (1990). He died on 3 November 2009 in Kaunas, Lithuania.