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1-16 of 16
- Peggy Cummins was an Irish actress, appearing in several films between 1940 and 1961. Her best known role was that of trigger-happy bank robber Annie Laurie Starr in the film "Gun Crazy".
In December, 1925, Cummins was born under the name of "Augusta Margaret Diane Fuller" in Prestatyn, Denbighshire, Wales. Her parents were an Irish couple from Dublin, who visited Prestatyn during their vacation. They were reportedly seeking shelter from a storm there. Cummins' parents were Franklin Bland Fuller (1897-1943) and his wife, the actress Margaret Cummins (1889-1973). Through her father's side of the family, Cummins was a great-granddaughter of famed architect and novelist James Franklin Fuller (1835-1924).
Cummins was mostly raised and educated in Killiney, Dublin. As a child, she attended the Abbey School of ballet in Dublin. She was eventually spotted there and chosen for a non-speaking role in a performance of the play "The Duchess of Malfi" (1613/1614) by John Webster. Cummins played one of the play's murdered children and she was (in her words) "only seen in silhouette". This was her theatrical debut.
In 1938, Cummins made her London stage debut at the St James's Theatre. She performed in the role of Maryann, the juvenile lead in the children's review "Let's Pretend", In 1940, Cummins had her film debut in the drama "Dr. O'Dowd" . The film concerned Marius O'Dowd (played by Shaun Glenville) , an alcoholic doctor who has lost his license and the affection of his only son, but later attempts to befriend his young, estranged granddaughter Pat O'Dowd (Cummins).
Being only 15-year-old during her film debut's production, Cummins was (by agreement) limited to working 5 hours per day, and only under the supervision of a governess. The film was a success, and helped Cummins being cast in supporting roles in subsequent films. Meanwhile she continued her theatrical career. In 1943, Cummins played the 12-year-old Fuffy in a theatrical adaptation of the short story collection "Junior Miss" (1941) by Sally Benson. In 1944, Cummins played the leading role of Alice in a theatrical adaptation of the novel "Alice in Wonderland" (1865) by Lewis Carroll.
In 1944, Cummins played notable roles in the comedy film "English Without Tears" (1944) and the World War II-themed drama "Welcome, Mr. Washington". In 1945, Darryl F. Zanuck, head of 20th Century-Fox, brought Cummins to Hollywood. Cummins was considered for roles in both "Cluny Brown" (1946) and "Forever Amber" (1947), but was rejected for being "too young". Her first leading role in an American film was playing the blackmailer Belle Adair/Rose Lynton in the film noir "Moss Rose" (1947). The film was praised by the press but was a box office flop. Zanuck claimed that the losses from the film amounted to 1,300,000 dollars.
Cummins subsequently appeared in a handful of American films. She played Eleanor Apley, daughter of an upper-class Bostonian family, in the romantic comedy "The Late George Apley" (1947). She played Dora Winters, an escaped prisoner's love interest, in the thriller "Escape" (1948). She played Carey Greenway, the love interest of a Wyoming-based horse owner, in "Green Grass of Wyoming" (1948).
Cummins then returned to the United Kingdom to have a role in the romance film "That Dangerous Age" (1949), about a neglected wife who finds romance with a lover. Cummins played a supporting role to the film's female lead Myrna Loy. Cummins returned to the United States to play a femme fatale role as bank robber Annie Laurie Starr in the film "Gun Crazy" (1950). The film was released by the film studio United Artists,This was Cummins' last appearance in a film shot in the United States. In retrospect, the film has been considered culturally significant and chosen for preservation by the Library of Congress.
In the rest of the 1950s, Cummins mainly worked in British films. Among her best known roles in this period was the role of female lead Joanna Harrington in the cult-themed horror film "Night of the Demon" (1957). Receiving modest praise in its original release, their film has since been evaluated as one of the gems of the horror genre.
In the early 1960s, Cummins only appeared in comedies. They included the divorce-themed farce "Your Money or Your Wife" (1960), the crime comedy "Dentist in the Chair" (1960), and the veterinarian-themed comedy "In the Doghouse" (1961). "In the Doghouse" was Cummins' last film appearance, as she largely retired from acting at the age of 36. Her few subsequent appearances were guest-star roles in television.
From the 1970s onward, Cummins devoted her time to the national charity Stars Organisation for Spastics. She chaired the management committee of a holiday center for children with disabilities in Sussex. In 2008, the charity organization changed its name to Stars Foundation for Cerebral Palsy, with Cummins still among its volunteers.
In December 2017, Cummins suffered a stroke and died in London, where she had spend her last years. She died eleven days following her 92nd birthday. - Producer
- Writer
- Actor
Danny Breen was born on 11 October 1950 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was a producer and writer, known for The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003), The Net (1995) and Casual Sex? (1988). He was married to Nonie Newton-Riley. He died on 29 December 2017 in Los Angeles, California, USA.- Bob Morrisey was born on 15 August 1946 in Somerville, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for The Terminal (2004), Eagle Eye (2008) and The X-Files (1993). He died on 29 December 2017.
- Carmen Franco was born on 14 September 1926 in Oviedo, Spain. She was married to Cristóbal Martínez-Bordiú. She died on 29 December 2017 in Madrid, Spain.
- Larry Moran was born on 2 March 1939 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for The Magic Door (1962). He was married to Janet Gilleland. He died on 29 December 2017 in New Buffalo, Michigan, USA.
- Writer
- Director
Jackson Hunsicker was born on 14 May 1948 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was a writer and director, known for The Frog Prince (1986), Oddball Hall (1990) and Ten Little Indians (1989). She was married to Christopher Pearce and Leon Ichaso. She died on 29 December 2017 in Studio City, California, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Pedro Osinaga was born on 15 December 1936 in Pamplona, Navarra, Spain. He was an actor, known for Estudio 1 (1965), Antología de la zarzuela (1979) and Novela (1963). He was married to Tomasa Losa Fernández. He died on 29 December 2017 in Madrid, Spain.- José Louzeiro was born on 19 September 1932 in São Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. He was a writer, known for Corpo Santo (1987), Estranhas Relações (1983) and Fruto do Amor (1981). He died on 29 December 2017 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Actor
- Producer
Alan Naggar was born on 18 May 1963 in Manhattan, New York, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Lovely & Amazing (2001), Universal Remote (2006) and Thrilled to Death (1988). He died on 29 December 2017.- Jim Baikie was born on 28 June 1940 in Scotland, UK. He was married to Fiona. He died on 29 December 2017 in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK.
- Frank Price was born on 26 July 1922 in Lozells, Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, UK. He died on 29 December 2017 in Spain.
- Rudy Tronto was born on 14 July 1928 in Peekskill, New York. He died on 29 December 2017 in Rancho Mirage, California, USA.
- Myriam Warner-Vieyra was born on 25 March 1939 in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. She was married to Paulin Vieyra. She died on 29 December 2017 in Tours, Indre-et-Loire, France.
- Additional Crew
- Producer
Dan Talbot was born on 21 July 1926 in The Bronx, New York, USA. He was a producer, known for A Bedfull of Foreigners (1996), Point of Order! (1964) and Echoes of Foreign Films: The Talbots' Legacy. He was married to Toby Tolpern. He died on 29 December 2017 in New York, New York, USA.- Actor
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Sam Woodring was born on 18 May 1972 in the United States. He was an actor, known for Ombis: Alien Invasion (2013) and Alive: An Undead Survival Series (2014). He died on 29 December 2017 in the USA.- Nicholas James West was born on 29 October 1979. Nicholas James died on 29 December 2017 in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA.