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1-21 of 21
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Miiko Taka came into the world as Betty Miiko Shikata in Seattle, Washington, a Nisei born of Japanese immigrant parentage. She spent much of her upbringing in Los Angeles. In 1942, Betty and her family were removed from their homes and interned in the Gila River War Relocation Centre in Arizona, a concentration camp which had been set up following Japan's attack on Pearl Harbour. One of her fellow detainees was the actor Pat Morita. Betty's internee file described her as a semi-skilled dressmaker and seamstress and suggested stenographer or typist as 'potential occupations'. Little is known of Betty's life prior to her debut in Joshua Logan's Sayonara (1957) , except that she had no prior acting experience and was employed as a clerk at a travel agency in L.A..
The role of Hana-Ogi, the celebrated Matsubayashi dancer who defies tradition by having a secret affair with an American pilot (Marlon Brando), had originally been earmarked for Audrey Hepburn. When Hepburn turned it down, Logan cast the unknown Miiko Taka in the part. Sayonara ultimately grossed $ 10.5 million and won four Oscars, including one for co-star Miyoshi Umeki as Best Supporting Actress. Miiko's performance was lauded by Variety and by Bosley Crowther of the New York Times who described her as "a flute-like beauty - a really lovely, serene and soothing impulse".
In the wake of Sayonara, Miiko was cast as a geisha opposite Glenn Ford in Cry for Happy (1961), a predictable comedy about the assorted romantic affairs of four G.I.'s on leave in Japan during the Korean War. She had further high profile roles in Operation Bottleneck (1961) (as a girl guerrilla), A Global Affair (1964) (with Bob Hope), The Art of Love (1965) (with James Garner) and Walk Don't Run (1966) (with Cary Grant in his last film appearance). On television, she was mostly typecast amid exotic backgrounds in such escapist entertainments as Hawaiian Eye (1959), Adventures in Paradise (1959), I Spy (1965) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964). Her penultimate screen appearance was as a Japanese noblewoman in James Clavell's miniseries Shogun (1980).
Miiko Taka was thrice married. Her first husband was the actor Dale Ishimoto with whom she had a son and a daughter.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Arthur Duncan was drafted into a dance team with two friends while in school. He initially resisted, but they insisted he give it a try. He liked it, and began to take tap lessons.
For a few years Arthur worked in Australia, where he was a popular performer who was even offered his own TV show. Feeling that he was too young and experienced for the responsibility that would have come with the show, he turned it down. He explained that he was working regularly, so he didn't miss much. While in Australia he met and worked with Ken Delo, who he would later work with for many years on the Lawrence Welk show.
After returning to the US, Arthur asked an acquaintance in the business to inquire if Lawrence Welk had any interest in adding a performer like Arthur to his show. After a long wait, he was asked to an audition, and then a few months later to make a guest appearance. After another couple of guest appearances, Arthur appeared with the show during a run in Lake Tahoe. At the end of the last show there, Lawrence asked Arthur out onto the stage, commented to the audience that Arthur had become popular with them, and announced that he'd like Arthur to "join the Welk musical family". Arthur accepted, and thus began a run of decades on the show, during which it was very rare not to see Arthur have a tap solo, along with other dance numbers with fellow members of the cast.
It shouldn't go without mention that when Lawrence Welk put Arthur Duncan on his show, black performers were generally not well received by TV audiences of the time. Welk showed real courage in breaking the color barrier, and Arthur Duncan obviously won the admiration and respect of both live and TV audiences with his incredible talent, good humor, and pleasant personality.
(The above is based on an interview of Arthur Duncan on the Lawrence Welk shows syndicated on PBS).- Fay Weldon was born on 22 September 1931 in Worcester, England, UK. She was a writer, known for She-Devil (1989), Puffball: The Devil's Eyeball (2007) and Flood Warning (2020). She was married to Nicolas P Fox, Ronald Weldon and Ronald G. Bateman. She died on 4 January 2023 in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England, UK.
- Actor
- Script and Continuity Department
- Writer
Géza Morcsányi was born on 28 August 1952 in Budapest, Hungary. He was an actor and writer, known for On Body and Soul (2017), Magyar szépség (2003) and Paszport (2001). He was married to Judit Balog. He died on 4 January 2023 in Hungary.- Wyllie Longmore was born on 2 November 1940 in Stirling, St Ann, Jamaica. He was an actor, known for Love Actually (2003), Coronation Street (1960) and Waking the Dead (2000). He was married to Estelle Hampton. He died on 4 January 2023 in Manchester, England, UK.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Manfred Guthe was born on 16 October 1946 in Hessen, Germany. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (1987), Police Academy 3: Back in Training (1986) and Avonlea (1990). He died on 4 January 2023 in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.- Casey Hayden was born on 31 October 1937 in Austin, Texas, USA. She was married to Tom Hayden and Paul W. Buckwalter. She died on 4 January 2023 in Tucson, Arizona, USA.
- Animation Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Stunts
Jarno Cordia was born in the Netherlands. He is a 3D Animator & Compositor with a broad experience in post production work for TV Commercials and Film. Jarno is an accomplished wingsuit skydiver and basejumper with over 5000 jumps to his credit, and more than 1500 hours of windtunnel training. He is known within the sport for his skills and freefall camerawork
He has worked on specific wingsuit flying stunt sequences for various international TV Commercials, TV Series, Documentaries and film projects- Stan Hitchcock was born on 21 March 1936 in Pleasant Hope, Missouri, USA. He was married to Denise T. Hitchcock. He died on 4 January 2023 in Gallatin, Tennessee, USA.
- Director
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Jean Bertho was born on 23 January 1928 in Pont-à-Mousson, Meurthe-et-Moselle, France. He was a director and actor, known for En votre âme et conscience (1955), Lectures pour tous (1953) and Dim Dam Dom (1965). He died on 4 January 2023 in France.- Rosi Mittermaier was born on 5 August 1950 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany. She was married to Christian Neureuther. She died on 4 January 2023 in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Bavaria, Germany.
- David Cardenas was an actor, known for Wanderlust (2012), Rise of the Zombies (2012) and Spree (2020). He died on 4 January 2023 in the USA.
- Martha Carbillo was born on 30 May 1933 in Caracas, Venezuela. She was an actress, known for La revancha (1989), Más que amor, frenesí (2001) and La Zulianita (1977). She died on 4 January 2023 in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela.
- Brigitte Kueppers was born on 30 August 1939 in Bonn, Germany. She was married to Robert C. Lienhardt. She died on 4 January 2023 in Ojai, California, USA.
- Vladan Radosavljevic died on 4 January 2023 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Music Department
- Actor
- Writer
Beeyar Prasad was born in Mankompu, Alappuzha, India. He was an actor and writer, known for The Campus (2005), Nerku Ner (2004) and Vamanapuram Bus Route (2004). He was married to Sanitha . He died on 4 January 2023 in Changanassery, India.- Director
- Writer
- Editor
Pierre Joassin was born on 6 April 1943 in Amay, Belgium. He was a director and writer, known for Gros coeurs (1987), Maigret (1991) and Joséphine, ange gardien (1997). He died on 4 January 2023 in Belgium.- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Norman Fruchter was born on 11 August 1937 in Camden, New Jersey, USA. He was a director and writer, known for Troublemakers (1966), We Got to Live Here (1965) and Summer '68 (1969). He was married to Heather Lewis and Rachel Gillett . He died on 4 January 2023 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.- David Gold was born on 9 September 1936 in Stepney, London, England, UK. He was married to Beryl Hunt. He died on 4 January 2023.
- Production Designer
- Art Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Étienne Méry was born on 26 February 1953 in Juvisy-sur-Orge, Essonne, France. He was a production designer and art director, known for The Ray Bradbury Theater (1985), Inspecteur Médeuze (1993) and Kill the Referee (1984). He died on 4 January 2023 in Paris, France.- Jeremy Bullmore was born on 21 November 1929 in Thames Ditton, Surrey, England, UK. He was married to Pamela Green . He died on 4 January 2023 in the UK.