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- Actress
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On the viewing horizon since the late 1980s, actress Maura Tierney has been a steady product of independent features, some hits and some misses, for close to a decade and a half. An odd and compelling beauty, she came from an upscale Bostonian family and was raised in the Hyde Park district.
Born February 3, 1965, the eldest child of three of Pat, a real estate agent, and Joseph M. Tierney, a prosperous politician and city councilman, Maura Lynn Tierney initially studied at New York University. She left school prior to graduation when she hooked up with the Circle-in-the-Square theater school. Following some stage plays including "Baby with the Bathwater" and "Danny and the Deep Blue Sea," she moved to the West Coast in the late 1980s finding minor roles here and there in TV-movies and making the rounds on episodic shows such as Growing Pains (1985), Family Ties (1982) and Law & Order (1990). She met actor/husband Billy Morrissette after both were fired from the set of an eventually-scrapped Ralph Macchio series.
After a few other failed pilots and a short-lived TV series, Maura made a minor film debut with The Linguini Incident (1991) and progressed to leading lady status in the B-movie spoof Dead Women in Lingerie (1991), which didn't go over well. She finally hit paydirt on TV when she won a female co-lead as smart but insecure newswriter Lisa Miller on the comedy series NewsRadio (1995). The show sailed along for a number of seasons due to the fine comedy instincts of Dave Foley, Andy Dick and the late Saturday Night Live (1975) player Phil Hartman. The show lost its oomph, however, as well as its audience after Hartman's tragic 1998 gunshot slaying, despite an assured replacement in fellow Saturday Night Live (1975) alumni Jon Lovitz. The show couldn't escape its bad aura, and it was gone the following year.
Maura's work on the TV sitcom thrust her into the film comedy limelight with prominent roles in such films as the Jim Carrey vehicle Liar Liar (1997). She also showed up as sly, darker-edged femmes in the thriller Primal Fear (1996), Primary Colors (1998) and Instinct (1999).
Into the millennium, Maura received one of her best art-house roles as a heavy in her husband's feature Scotland, Pa. (2001) which he wrote and directed. Following that came a mixture of offbeat parts in such films as the mystery thriller Insomnia (2002) starring Al Pacino and Robin Williams; the romantic comedy Welcome to Mooseport (2004) with Gene Hackman and Ray Romano; the Paul Rudd dramedy Diggers (2006); the sports comedy Semi-Pro (2008) with Will Ferrell and Steve Guttenberg; the Tina Fey/Amy Poehler slapstick comedy Baby Mama (2008); and, more recently, Nature Calls (2012), Anything (2017) and Beautiful Boy (2018) opposite Steve Carell.
She also found steady TV work with the role of Abby, who was first a nurse and then a doctor, in the long-established and critically-acclaimed medical drama series ER (1994), where she remained on the staff until the show left the air in 2009. She also found recurring roles on Rescue Me (2004), The Good Wife (2009) and The Affair (2014), and co-starred in the short-lived legal drama The Whole Truth (2010) with Rob Morrow.- Actress
- Producer
Bridget Regan is an American actress and producer. Her film credits include Devil's Gate (2017) opposite Milo Ventimiglia, John Wick (2014), The Leisure Class (2015), The Best and the Brightest (2010) alongside Neil Patrick Harris, Sex and the City (2008), Weak and the upcoming feature Canvas opposite Joanne Kelly. In television she presently appears on ABC's The Rookie (2018) where TVLine declared her performance as Monica Stevens "deserved her own spinoff series." In 2021 Regan brought to life the iconic DC supervillain Poison Ivy in Batwoman (2019). Cody Schultz of Bang Smack Pow declared "Regan delivered a performance nothing short of outstanding... Regan's portrayal of Poison Ivy was nuanced and layered, bringing a depth and complexity to the character that we haven't seen before in live-action." In 2020 Bridget Regan starred in Paramount's gothic mystery series Paradise Lost (2020) opposite Josh Hartnett, Barbara Hershey and Nick Nolte. Prior to that she starred as the villain Rose, a.k.a. Sin Rostro, the sexually fluid crime lord on the Golden Globe nominated series, Jane the Virgin (2014) for five seasons. This, as well as portraying the Marvel's original Black Widow, the Soviet trained assassin Dottie Underwood, in Agent Carter (2015) opposite Hayley Atwell, and the MI6 spy turned con artist, Rebecca Lowe, opposite Matt Bomer on USA's White Collar (2009) made E! News declare her "The Ultimate Kick-Butt Villain... she may seem sweet and unassuming but this redhead is playing the most basass villains on TV." From 2015-2018 Regan starred opposite Eric Dane as the bad ass, multi-lingual Navy Intel Officer, Sasha Cooper, on the TNT's hit action drama series The Last Ship (2014) produced by Michael Bay. In 2010, she completed her run bringing to life the heroine, Kahlan Amnell, in ABC Signature's cult hit Legend of the Seeker (2008), produced by Sam Raimi. Her other television credits include The Company You Keep (2023), Grey's Anatomy (2005), The Good Wife (2009), Sons of Anarchy (2008), Person of Interest (2011) opposite Jim Caviezel, Hide (2011) alongside Carla Gugino, Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) among many others. Originally from Carlsbad, California, Regan relocated to New York City upon graduating from North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of theater legend Gerald Freedman (BFA '04). In 2007 Regan originated the role of Cecile Leroux on Broadway in the French farce IS HE DEAD? opposite Norbert Leo Butz written by Mark Twain, adapted by David Ives and directed by Michael Blakemore. Regan has produced multiple productions Off Broadway and at the iconic La MaMa Theater of the electro pop queer musical Camp Wanatachi written by Natalie Weiss and Bekah Brunstetter. She has a feature film off of Camp Wanatachi in development with Zaden Meron Productions. She lives in Los Angeles with her partner, film writer and director Eamon O'Sullivan, and their two children, Frankie Jean and Barney Moon.- Actor
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Nathan Lane is an American actor and singer from New Jersey who is known for playing Timon from The Lion King, Spot Helperman/Scott Leadready II from Teacher's Pet, Max Bialystock from The Producers, Snowball from Stuart Little, Hamegg from Astro Boy and Ernie Smuntz from Mouse Hunt. He is married to his husband Devlin Elliott since 2015.- Actress
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Isla Lang Fisher was born on February 3, 1976 in Muscat, Oman, to Scottish parents Elspeth Reid and Brian Fisher, who worked as a banker for the U.N. She spent her early childhood in Bathgate, Scotland, before moving to Perth, Australia with her family in the early 1980s. From a young age, Isla showed an interest in both acting and writing. At nine years old, she was appearing in Australian TV commercials. She landed some small parts in the Australian television series Bay City (1993). This led to a bigger part in the television series Paradise Beach (1993). When that show ended, she landed a role in the long-running Australian soap opera Home and Away (1988). While working on that show, she indulged in another of her passions, writing, and published two best-selling novels, "Seduced By Fame" and "Bewitched". In 1997, she was picked by the readers of FHM magazine as #35 on the list of the "100 Sexiest Women in the World", and in 2003, she placed 26th.
Isla has since appeared in the films Wedding Crashers (2005), The Lookout (2007), Hot Rod (2007) and Definitely, Maybe (2008), Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009), and Now You See Me (2013).- Director
- Actor
- Producer
Keith Gordon was born on 3 February 1961 in New York City, New York, USA. He is a director and actor, known for A Midnight Clear (1992), Waking the Dead (2000) and Mother Night (1996). He has been married to Rachel Griffin since 1998.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
English actor Warwick Davis was born in Epsom, Surrey, England, the son of Susan J. (Pain) and Ashley Davis, an insurance broker. Davis was born with the condition spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenital (SED), which caused his dwarfism. He was educated at City of London Freemen's School. When he was 11 years old, his grandmother heard a radio appeal for people under four feet tall to appear in Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi (1983). A huge Star Wars fan, Davis auditioned successfully and was cast as an extra, playing an Ewok. Kenny Baker was cast as lead Ewok Wicket, but fell ill so George Lucas chose Davis to replace him. The film was a smash hit, and Davis went on to reprise his role as Wicket in further TV projects - The Ewok Adventure (1984) and Ewoks: The Battle for Endor (1985).
Davis next big role came with a part specifically written for him, as the titular hero in Willow (1988). Other successes followed with roles in such projects as Prince Caspian and the Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1989) and two distinctly different film series - the 'Harry Potter' and 'Leprechaun' film series. In 2006, he appeared in a cameo role in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's hit sitcom Extras (2005), which led to the pair writing a series specifically for Davis, the comic mockumentary Life's Too Short (2011).
Davis, along with his father-in-law Peter Burroughs, is also the director of an acting agency for very short and tall actors called Willow Management. He is married to Samantha Davis and they have a son and a daughter.- Actress
- Producer
- Additional Crew
This elegant lady has defined the television version of the rich, sophisticated businesswoman who knows what she wants, and will do whatever it takes to get it. She was born Patsy Ann McClenny on February 3, 1950 in Dallas, Texas. She began acting as a child, when her mother enrolled her in drama lessons after she was too shy to give a book report in class. From the age of 10, she performed in children's plays. Later, she would do dinner theater and stock productions in Dallas. She chose Morgan as a stage name. In 1973, Morgan decided to pursue a career in television; just 6 weeks after moving to New York, she landed the key role of Jennifer in the daytime soap opera Search for Tomorrow (1951); she stayed on until 1977.
Morgan moved to Los Angeles, where she originated the role of Jenna Wade on the wildly popular nighttime soap opera Dallas (1978) (Jenna was later portrayed by Priscilla Presley). Morgan made numerous guest appearances on television series. She played Constance (Weldon) Carlyle in Flamingo Road (1980), and she was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress; that was her breakout series that propelled her to stardom.
Morgan continued to perform in live theater, her acclaimed portrayal of Skye in the off-Broadway comedy "Geniuses" helped make it one of the "Top Ten Plays" of the year according to Time Magazine and the New York Times. Other stage appearances have included productions of "Goodbye Charlie" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes." On television, she played the naughty Racine in the soap opera Paper Dolls (1984) in 1984. Later, she starred in the soap opera Falcon Crest (1981) from 1985-86, having made a niche for herself playing ambitious beauties. Morgan received an Emmy nomination for a special episode of Murphy Brown (1988).
Morgan has shared some of her beauty secrets by authoring the book "Super Looks" which is a complete guide that includes makeup, exercise, and diet tips. Morgan is a member of the Entertainment Industry AIDS Task Force. She is an active speaker on environmental issues and helped found the Environmental Communications Office, which encourages entertainment industry professionals to become better educated and more active on environmental issues. Morgan is a collector of movie memorabilia (particularly anything about Marilyn Monroe) and antique clothing. She is a ballet fan and is also interested in anthropology and paleontology; Morgan is truly a brainy beauty.- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Tim Heidecker was born on 3 February 1976 in Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA. He is a writer and actor, known for Tim and Eric's Bedtime Stories (2013), Us (2019) and Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007). He has been married to Marilyn Porayko since 2 June 2007. They have two children.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Anthony J. Russo is an American filmmaker and producer who works alongside his brother Joseph Russo. They have directed You, Me and Dupree, Cherry and the Marvel films Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Captain America: Civil War, Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame. Endgame is one of the highest grossing films of all time.- Actress
- Writer
Aimee Lou Wood is an English actress who starred as Aimee Gibbs, a central character in the Netflix comedy series Sex Education, in 2019 alongside co-stars Asa Butterfield and Gillian Anderson.
Aimee Lou Wood came from Manchester, England and studied acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art where she successfully graduated in 2017, obtaining BA Degree in Acting (H Level). During her time at RADA, Wood was involved in many productions, such as Scuttlers directed by Hannah Eidinow playing "Margaret", also as "Goody" in Vinegar Tom directed by Cressida Brown. Wood was " , "Jess" in Hen, a short film directed by James Larkin, "Yulia" in Summerfolk directed by Deborah Paige and many more. Her special skills include stand-up comedy, stage combat, singing soprano, flamenco dancing and writing.
In 2019, Wood made her screen debut as Aimee Gibbs, a main character in the Netflix comedy-drama series Sex Education, alongside co-stars Emma Mackey, Asa Butterfield, Ncuti Gatwa and Gillian Anderson. Woods had originally auditioned for the part of 'Lily' (played by Tanya Reynolds), but was more than happy to land the role of Aimee Gibbs. Wood's Agent is Lizzie Newell, Independent Talent Group.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Stephen McHattie was born on 3 February 1947 in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is an actor and director, known for Pontypool (2008), The Fountain (2006) and Watchmen (2009). He is married to Lisa Houle. They have three children. He was previously married to Meg Foster.- Actress
- Writer
- Director
Kathleen Kinmont Smith was born in Los Angeles, California to actress, Abby Dalton and businessman, Jack Smith. Kathleen is of Swedish, Irish and Welsh descent. She began her acting career in commercials as a young child and then moved on to a short lived modeling career before she started seriously pursuing acting in film and television as a young teen. Kathleen is best known for her roles in horror films, Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Meyers (1988) and Bride of Re-Animator (1989) Kathleen also starred in Stephen J. Cannell television series, Renegade (1992-1996) She starred and costarred in numerous feature films and worked with writer/director Nick Vallelonga in The Corporate Ladder (1997) and Tom Hanks writing and directorial debut, That Thing You Do! (1996) Brat's, Zoe Valentine (2019) Hallmark's, A Merry Christmas Match (2019) and feature films, The Silent Natural (2019) and Ernesto's Manifesto (2019) Kathleen has also stepped behind the camera to write, produce and direct short thriller, Mrs. Sweeney (2013) and TV pilot, Fame Game (2014)- Actress
- Soundtrack
Blythe Danner was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Katharine (Kile) and Harry Earl Danner, a bank executive. She has German, as well as English and Irish, ancestry. Danner studied acting and got her degree from Bard College and began her career in Boston theater companies. By 25, she won the Theater World Award for her work in Molière's "The Miser", at Lincoln Center. She also won the 1970 Tony award for her role in "Butterflies Are Free". She made her film premiere in the same year in the television production of Dr. Cook's Garden (1971). For 25 years, she has been a regular performer at the Williamstown Summer Theater Festival. She has also been nominated for Tonys for performances in "A Streetcar Named Desire" and "Betrayal". Married to director Bruce Paltrow, she is the mother of two acting children, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jake Paltrow.- Actor
- Director
- Writer
Born in Buffalo, N.Y. but raised in the Garden State, Fredric first appeared in small theater productions at the age of six, and in his teens spent weekends studying at The Neighborhood Playhouse and HB Studios in NYC. During the summer he apprenticed at The Peterborough Players in N.H. - New England's oldest summer stock company. At the age of 21 he debuted on Broadway in Ibsen's John Gabriel Borkman while one of his first films, Ordinary People, ran in theaters. In the decades since, Mr. Lehne has amassed a considerable resume, been hired by some of the industry's best directors (Hal Ashby, Robert Redford, Kathryn Bigelow, Christopher Nolan, Adrian Lyne, Barry Sonnenfeld) and become a very familiar face to television audiences for his work on such shows as Lost, American Horror Story, X-Files and Supernatural, to name just a few.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
John Hartman was born on 3 February 1984 in Annandale, Virginia, USA. He is an actor and writer, known for Ghosts (2021), Young Sheldon (2017) and The Good Place (2016).- Actress
- Producer
- Director
Elisa's film career began when she played the role of Amber in the Paramount Pictures feature-film -Clueless (1995). She went on to play Amber for three seasons in the follow-up television series. She then went on to three seasons of the ABC and then WB TV-series Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996), playing Morgan Cavanaugh. She's also had recurring roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990), Judging Amy (1995-2005) , and Jack & Jill (1999-2001). Among many film roles, she was most notably featured alongside Will Ferrell and Chris Kattan in the comedy feature-film A Night at the Roxbury (1998) . And last year co-starred in the film A Golden Christmas (2009), with Andrea Roth, Nicholas Brendon, Bruce Davison and Alley Mills. Elisa stars in the indie film A Valentine's Date (2011), a romantic comedy set to be released in February of 2011. She stars opposite Emmy winner Tom Skerritt, John Schneider and Brad Rowe. Elisa also co-stars in the Warner Bros/CW web series The Lake (2009), which reunites her with 90210 pal Jason Priestley, who directs the series. Elisa begins shooting the second season in Fall 2010. Last Christmas, Elisa starred in the ABC Family movie The Dog Who Saved Christmas (2009) (cable's number one program in its time slot, & was the seasons most watched cable movie in total viewers), opposite Dean Cain, Gary Valentine and Mindy Sterling. Elisa also co-stars in the sequel The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation (2010), which will air Christmas, 2010. Elisa is the star of the NBC Universal Digital Studio hit web series In Gayle We Trust (2009), created by Brent Forrester. Also a writer, Elisa premiered her one-woman show, "Sweet Dreams" - which she is now developing into a book - in 2008 at The Geffen Playhouse, LA. Elisa's piece Already Perfect was published in Chicken Soup For The Teenage Soul II, and she regularly works as a mentor with young women who have eating disorders. Originally from Northport, Long Island, Elisa grew up studying acting, dance and photography, as well as riding horses competitively. She graduated from The New School University in NYC, where she studied dramatic literature, acting and writing. She lives in Los Angeles.
In 2021, Elisa's first book, "Wake Me When You Leave", was published by Llewellyn Worldwide and Penguin Randomhouse Audio. The book is in development as a film which will be her directorial debut.- British actress Pamela Franklin has worked with many notable actors and directors throughout her career. A somewhat underrated actress, she had a wide range of emotions that she brought to her many versatile characters. Franklin was born in Yokohama, Japan, and her father was an importer/exporter. She initially studied dance at the Elmhurst School of Ballet in England (now the Elmhurst School for Dance). She made her film debut at age 11 as "Flora" in The Innocents (1961) alongside Deborah Kerr and a year later appeared as "Tina" in The Lion (1962) with William Holden and Trevor Howard. She has worked with many directors including Ronald Neame, Jack Clayton, and John Huston. Franklin is most remembered for her performance as the rebellious "Sandy" in the The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1969) which starred Maggie Smith and also as the hapless kidnap victim in The Night of the Following Day (1969) in which she appeared with Marlon Brando and Rita Moreno.
Franklin later carved out a niche as a "scream queen" in a handful of 1970s horror features. She portrayed the psychic medium in The Legend of Hell House (1973) which also featured Roddy McDowall. For many years, Franklin made several guest appearances on hit TV shows. In the early 1970s, she married actor Harvey Jason whom she met on the set of Necromancy (1972) and had two children. Franklin retired from acting in the early 1980s. - Director
- Writer
- Producer
Michael Cimino studied architecture and dramatic arts; later he filmed advertisements and documentaries and also wrote scripts until the actor, producer and director Clint Eastwood gave him the opportunity to direct the thriller Thunderbolt and Lightfoot (1974). But his biggest success was The Deer Hunter (1978) which won the Oscar for Best Picture. For another successful film, The Sicilian (1987), he got into trouble with critics when they accused him of portraying as a hero the Italian criminal Salvatore Giuliano.- Actor
- Script and Continuity Department
Kadiff Kirwan is a British actor of stage and screen.
Kadiff Paterson Kirwan was born in Plymouth, Montserrat, to parents Matilda and Peter Kirwan. In July 1995, Montserrat's Soufrière Hills volcano, dormant for centuries, erupted and buried the island's capital, Plymouth, destroying its airport and docking facilities, and rendered part of the island, uninhabitable and not safe. With Montserrat being an internally self-governing overseas territory of the United Kingdom in 1998 Kadiff and his family moved and settled in Preston, Lancashire.
At the age of 18 Kadiff moved to London to pursue a career in acting. He graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama in 2011 after studying a 3 year degree in Acting.
He starred in the National Theatre's Production of HOME alongside Michaela Coel and Antonia Thomas in 2013/14. He has starred in various productions at theatres including the Donmar Warehouse and The Old Vic.
On Screen Kadiff is best known for playing Aaron in BAFTA award winning show Chewing Gum, and Chester in BLACK MIRROR (Netflix). Other credits include Strike (BBC/HBO), Timewasters (ITV), QUEERS (BBC) Crims (BBC) and Call the Midwife (BBC).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Brandon Micheal Hall was born on 3 February 1993 in Anderson, South Carolina, USA. He is an actor, known for Search Party (2016), God Friended Me (2018) and The Mayor (2017).- Actor
- Soundtrack
Typical of busy character actors, Fiedler made his face (and voice) recognizable to millions. Many know the bald-pated Fiedler as therapy patient "Mr. Peterson" on The Bob Newhart Show (1972); others might first recognize him for the 1968 movie, The Odd Couple (1968), and spin-off TV show, The Odd Couple (1970), or perhaps even from the Broadway play that preceded them. Even kids would know that helium-high voice from animated Disney features like Robin Hood (1973), The Fox and the Hound (1981) and the "Winnie the Pooh" stories, in which he voiced "Piglet". The son of an Irish-German beer salesman, Fiedler knew he wanted to be an actor from his childhood days, when he had a full head of reddish-yellow hair. He made his first professional appearances onstage, branched out into live TV in New York and, then, during the 20 years he lived in Hollywood (1960-80), he turned up in many movies and an ever greater number of popular TV shows.- Producer
- Additional Crew
- Costume and Wardrobe Department
Andrew Form was born on 3 February 1969 in the USA. He is a producer, known for A Quiet Place (2018), A Quiet Place Part II (2020) and The First Purge (2018). He has been married to Alexandra Daddario since 2022. He was previously married to Jordana Brewster.- Actor
- Producer
- Special Effects
Matt Winston was born on 3 February 1970. He is an actor and producer, known for Little Miss Sunshine (2006), Halloween H20: 20 Years Later (1998) and Jurassic Park (1993). He has been married to Amy Smallman since 11 October 1998. They have two children.- Niko Terho was born on 3 February 1996 in Barbados. He is an actor, known for The Thing About Harry (2020), Station 19 (2018) and Grey's Anatomy (2005).
- Larger than life, Laughtonesque, and with an eloquent, king-sized appetite for maniacal merriment, a good portion of the work of actor Victor Buono was squandered on hokey villainy on both film and television. Ostensibly perceived as bizarre or demented, seldom did Hollywood give this cultivated cut-up the opportunity to rise above the deliciously hammy arrogance that flowed through so many of his cartoonish characters. He loved to make people laugh and while he could have approached his career with more serious attention, the real money was in his madness. In the end, the actor's chronic weight and accompanying health problems took their toll -- a fatal heart attack at the untimely age of 43 -- and a wonderful actor/writer/poet/chef had exited way before his time.
Born on February 3, 1938 in San Diego, California, the son of Victor Francis Buono and Myrtle Belle (née Keller), his interest in entertainment was originally encouraged by his grandmother, Myrtle Glied (1886-1969), who had once been a vaudevillian on the Orpheum Circuit. It was she who taught Victor how to sing and recite in front of company. His initial choice of career was somewhere in the direction of medicine but the pure joy he experienced from several high school performances (playing everything from Aladdin's evil genie to Hamlet himself) led him to dismiss such sensible thinking and take on the bohemian life style of an actor.
The already hefty-framed hopeful started appearing on local radio and television stations in San Diego. At age 18, he became a member of the Globe Theater Players where he was cast in Shakespeare and the classics ["Volpone", "A Midsummer Night's Dream", "Knight of the Burning Pestle", "The Man Who Came to Dinner", "Witness for the Prosecution", "Henry IV, Part I (as Falstaff)", "As You Like It", "Hamlet" (as Claudius)].
In 1959, a Warner Bros. agent happened to scope out the talent at the Globe Theatre and caught Victor's wonderfully robust portrayal of Falstaff (a role he would return to now and then) and gave him a screen test. Looking older than he was, the studio set upon using Victor in weird and wacky ways, such as his bearded poet Bongo Benny in an episode of 77 Sunset Strip (1958). His wry and witty demeanor, fixed stare, huge girth and goateed mug was guaranteed to put him in nearly every television crime story needing an off-the-wall character or outlandish villain.
Following an unbilled appearance in The Story of Ruth (1960), Victor was intriguingly cast by director Robert Aldrich to play Edwin Flagg, the creepy musical accompanist and opportunist who tries to use one-time child celebrity Bette Davis for his own piggy bank in the gothic horror classic What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962). He held his own beautifully opposite the scenery-chewing Davis and was nominated for a Best Supporting Oscar for his efforts. This role also set the tone for the increasingly deranged characters he would go on to play.
Cast as the title menace in The Strangler (1964), Victor delved wholeheartedly into the sick mind of a mother-obsessed murderer and offered a startling, tense portrayal of a child-like monster who gives new meaning to the art of "necking" with women. Director Aldrich used Victor again (albeit too briefly) for his Southern-baked "Grand Guignol" horror Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964) this time as Ms. Davis' crazed father. Victor also showed up in The Greatest Story Ever Told (1965) starring Max von Sydow where he flamboyantly took on the High Priest Sorak role in this epic but criticized retelling of Jesus.
He enhanced a number of lightweight 1960s movies including 4 for Texas (1963), Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), The Silencers (1966) and Who's Minding the Mint? (1967) with his clever banter and gleeful menace. The lurid title said it all when Victor gamely took on the horror movie The Mad Butcher (1971) [aka The Strangler of Vienna] wherein he played a former mental patient preying on women again. This deranged low-budget German/Italian co-production added a "Sweeney Todd" meatpie tie in.
Victor's hearty, scene-stealing antics dominated late 1960s television series. Recurring madmen included his Count Carlos Manzeppi on The Wild Wild West (1965) and King Tut who habitually wreaked havoc on Gotham City on Batman (1966). One could always find his unsympathetic presence somewhere on a prime-time channel (Perry Mason (1957), Get Smart (1965), I Spy (1965)) but his roles ended up more campy than challenging. However, one heartfelt, serious portrayal was his portrayal of President William Howard Taft in the epic miniseries Backstairs at the White House (1979). Elsewhere, he recorded a self-effacing comedy album ("Victor Buono: Heavy!") and even wrote comic poetry ("Victor Buono: It Could Be Verse". He was indeed a sought-after raconteur on daytime and nighttime talk shows.
Continuing with the theatre but on a more infrequent basis, his one-man stage shows included "Just We Three", "Remembrance of Things Past" and "This Would I Keep". He also appeared as Pellinore opposite Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence in a 1975 performance of "Camelot" and earned minor cult status for his memorable performance in the play "Last of the Marx Brothers' Writers" in a return to the Old Globe Theatre in 1977.
The never-married actor felt compelled to conceal his homosexuality. A well-regarded gourmet chef and an expert on Shakespeare, he died of a massive heart attack at his ranch in Apple Valley, California on January 1, 1982. Before his death was announced, Buono had just been cast in the Broadway-bound play "Whodunnit?" by Anthony Shaffer. The show finally arrived in New York without him and almost a year to his death (December 30, 1982).