Advanced search

English character actress with a penchant for genteel aristocrats and kindly mothers. The daughter of teachers, she "spent some time selling shoes in Reading" before entering the acting profession. Aged eighteen, she studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and made her debut in repertory theatre at Amersham in 1955. Rosemary Leach enjoyed a prolific and varied career in both supporting and leading roles on the screen (though, by her own account, preferred radio and the stage). She became a familiar presence, most notably in television period dramas and sitcoms. Her roles have included Queen Victoria in Disraeli: Portrait of a Romantic (1978) (she also played Queen Elizabeth II on at least four occasions on both stage and screen),scatterbrained Aunt Fenny in The Jewel in the Crown (1984) (which fostered her fascination with India and resulted in several subsequent visits) , the swindled widow Joan Plumleigh-Bruce -- victim of 1930's social climbing con man Ralph Ernest Gorse -- in The Charmer (1987), one of three nannies working for wealthy families in Edwardian London's exclusive Berkeley Square (1998),the verger's wife, Mrs. Tope, in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1993) and Zoë Wanamaker's habitually Martini-imbibing mother Grace in My Family (2000). She was twice nominated for BAFTA awards, latterly as Best Supporting Actress for her role as the kindly Mrs. Honeychurch in A Room with a View (1985). Her own personal favourite roles have included Miss Adelaide in a 1973 Birmingham Repertory Theatre production of "Guys and Dolls" and that of eccentric real life author Helene Hanff in "84 Charing Cross Road" (1981, Ambassador Theatre, London) for which she received an Olivier Award as Best Actress.

Dick Cherney was born on 6 November 1914 in Kryvyi Rih, Russian Empire [now in Ukraine]. He was an actor, known for Hannah Lee: An American Primitive (1953) and Judd for the Defense (1967). He died on 21 October 2017 in the USA.

Gladys Holland was born on 7 July 1923 in Ponta, Texas, USA. She was an actress, known for Stargate (1994), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990) and Little Treasure (1985). She was married to Bill Zuckert. She died on 21 October 2017 in Hollywood, California, USA.

Not to be confused with the classical singer of the same name, screen-writer Robert Getchell was born in 1936 in Kansas City, Missouri and studied English at the University of Missouri in Columbia, graduating in 1965. After working as a free-lance writer and reviewer,he penned his first screen-play, 'Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore', which garnered him an Oscar nomination for best original screen-play of 1974 and gained him a British Film Academy award. He was also instrumental in turning the basic theme into a TV series, 'Alice', which ran intermittently from 1976 to 1981 with Linda Lavin as Alice and Diane Ladd reprising her role as Flo in later episodes. Flo went on to have her own series, also created by Getchell, with Polly Holliday taking over from Ladd. Getchell's recurrent theme in most of his films is the relationship between a parent or parent substitute and a child or young person in trying or dangerous situations, the exceptions being his biopics of country singers 'Bound For Glory', also Oscar-nominated, and 'Sweet Dreams'. His output has not been prolific due to his 'day job.' Since the mid-1990s he has been a teacher of Literature at the University of Missouri and the University of Miami, Ohio.

Blackie Fontana was born on 20 May 1985 in Los Angeles County, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Blackie Fontana x Spooky: Why You Lyin (2017). He died on 21 October 2017 in South San Jose Hills, California, USA.

Freddy Galavís was born on 3 October 1941 in Barquisimeto, Lara, Venezuela. He was an actor, known for El hombre de hierro (1985), La inolvidable (1996) and Esa muchacha de ojos cafe (1986). He died on 21 October 2017 in Caracas, Venezuela.

Lech Ordon was born on 24 November 1928 in Poznan, Wielkopolskie, Poland. He was an actor, known for Letters to Santa (2011), Zona dla Australijczyka (1964) and Hello, Fred the Beard (1978). He was married to Magda. He died on 21 October 2017 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.

Donald Bain was born on 6 March 1935 in Mineola, Long Island, New York, USA. He was a writer, known for Come Fly with Me: The Story of Pan Am (2011). He was married to Renee Paley-Bain. He died on 21 October 2017 in White Plains, New York, USA.

Martin Eric Ain was an actor and composer, known for Welcome to the 80's (2009), Celtic Frost: A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh (2006) and Celtic Frost: Jewel Throne, Live (1989). He died on 21 October 2017 in Switzerland.

Rosaura Barahona was born on 12 October 1942 in Mexico City, Mexico. She was a writer, known for La mujer (1971) and El destierro (1976). She died on 21 October 2017 in Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.

Herbert Strabel was born on 14 October 1927 in Berlin, Germany. He was an art director and production designer, known for Cabaret (1972), Enemy Mine (1985) and The NeverEnding Story (1984). He was married to Bärbel. He died on 21 October 2017 in Holzkirchen, Germany.

Carole Pohn was born in 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She died on 21 October 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Núria Font is known for El moviment perpetu (2013), A escena (2009) and Àrtic (2013). She died on 21 October 2017 in Girona, Girona, Catalonia, Spain.

Dennis Sook was born on 29 April 1945 in Marshall, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for 666 (1992). He was married to Rachel Stephens. He died on 21 October 2017 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Chuck Churn was born on 1 February 1930 in Bridgetown, Virginia, USA. He was married to Rita Smullin. He died on 21 October 2017 in Lady Lake, Florida, USA.

Luisa Fernanda Gaona was born in 1944 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain. She was an actress, known for Historias para no dormir (1966), I Hate My Body (1974) and Hospital Central (2000). She was married to 'Enrique Ciurana'. She died on 21 October 2017 in Madrid, Madrid, Spain.

Tom van Vollenhoven was an actor, known for Springbok (1976). He was married to Leonie Lawrence. He died on 21 October 2017 in South Africa.

Olga Camilleri was born on 20 June 1933 in Marylebone, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for St. Ives (1955), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Sheep's Clothing (1960). She died on 21 October 2017 in Hitchin, Hertfordshire, England, UK.