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1-50 of 88
- Actress
- Soundtrack
After graduating with two degrees (arts and music) from Mather College (Western Reserve) in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1935, Janis headed to New York with aspirations of embarking on a musical career in opera. Supporting herself by waitressing, singing in churches, modeling (Conover) and writing radio scripts, she won an audition with the Met. However, a case of nerves assured her failure and an end to that ambition. Landing on her feet, she got a part in the Broadway musical I Married An Angel. DuBarry Was A Lady soon followed and then Panama Hattie, in which she had a solo number. Darryl Zanuck of 20th Century-Fox attended the opening night and was impressed enough with Janis to offer her a contract. She arrived in Hollywood in February 1941 and stayed for 12 years, making more than 30 movies for 20th Century-Fox, MGM, Columbia, and RKO. After leaving Hollywood for good, Janis headed back to New York and began a career working in television. She acted in numerous shows, both drama and comedy, and in 1954 became the hostess of the NBC quiz show Feather Your Nest, working with Bud Collyer. In 1956, Janis married Julius Stulman and retired from show business. With the same enthusiasm she had shown in other areas of her life, she involved herself in cultural activities of her community, serving in various capacities throughout the years, primarily in Sarasota, Florida.- Jackson 'Rock' Pinckney was born on 5 December 1960. He was an actor, known for Cyborg (1989) and Chasers (1994). He died on 13 August 2016 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- British serial killer, Peter Sutcliffe, who is infamous as the 'Yorkshire Ripper' was born under fairly normal surroundings. His father John Sutcliffe was a mill owner. Sutcliffe was very attached to his mother Kathleen. He was a loner in school and his grades were generally poor. Sutcliffe quit school at 15. He loved to visit the local wax museum where he was fascinated by specimens that showed the effect of venereal disease on the body.
He worked as a municipal gravedigger and mortuary assistant for a while. During this period he was known to steal things from the bodies he was burying. Some of his early tendencies towards necrophilia may have stemmed from here. He would later tell authorities that it was during this time that he started hearing the voice of God coming from a grave telling him to 'rid the world of harlots'. He attempted his first murder in 1969 with a home made weapon - a sock filled with bricks. On two occasions his victims escaped.
On Oct 30, 1975 however he had perfected his modus operandi. He used a ball peen hammer to bludgeon his victim to death. Then he stabbed them with a chisel or screwdriver to mutilate their bodies. He killed mainly in the cities of Leeds, Bradford and in the West Yorkshire area but two were in Manchester. His victims were all women. Though many were prostitutes, several were not - the only common factor being they were lone women who were out late at night. The age range of his victims was 16 to 47. One of his victims was even killed in her own apartment. In one case, Sutcliffe actually revisited the crime scene a week later to further mutilate the body before it was finally found by the police.
Sutcliffe was a schizoid personality who was able to remain a devoted husband at home while still committing his brutal crimes outside. The largest manhunt in British history was launched to catch the man who was dubbed "The Yorkshire Ripper". It involved interviewing 250,000 people and searching 20,000 houses. In June 1979 the police were sidetracked when they received a hoax tape and letters from someone claiming to be the Ripper. Sutcliffe was among those dismissed at this point as a suspect because he did not have the 'Wearside accent' of the hoax tape.
The last 'Ripper' murder took place on 17 Nov 1980. There had been 13 victims with at least eight attempted murders. On January 2, 1981 Sutcliffe was arrested by two Sheffield police officers on routine patrol for displaying false number plates on his Rover car. (The number plates actually belonged to a Skoda.) Peter Sutcliffe had stolen the plates from a scrapyard in nearby Dewsbury. He had a prostitute in his car with him at the time. He requested permission to 'pee' before going to the station. While he was being questioned at the station, one of the arresting officers decided to go and check the bushes where Sutcliffe had urinated. He found a hammer and chisel behind some shrubbery.
Sutcliffe quickly confessed to his crimes. he said he harbored a vendetta against prostitutes after one of them had swindled him of money and given him a venereal disease. On May 22, 1981 he was declared guilty of committing 13 murders and sentenced to spend not less than 30 yrs in prison. - Vin Welch was an actor, known for Emmerdale Farm (1972), Harrigan (2013) and Coronation Street (1960). He was married to Ann Ridley. He died on 28 September 2021 in Durham, England, UK.
- Kathleen Peterson was born on 21 February 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA. She was married to Michael Peterson and Fred Atwater. She died on 9 December 2001 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Patricia Peterson was born on 12 March 1943 in Paris, Arkansas, USA. She was married to Michael Peterson. She died on 8 July 2021 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Freda Black was born on 11 November 1960. She died in July 2018 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Frank Muller was born on 5 May 1951 in Netherlands. He was an actor, known for The Tattoo Chase (1989), Law & Order (1990) and Masala (1991). He was married to Erika. He died on 4 June 2008 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Patricia Hamilton was born on 13 October 1929 in England, UK. She was an actress, known for Hine (1971), Now Look Here (1971) and The Upper Crusts (1973). She was married to Derrick Moses and Ivor Dean. She died on 5 January 2019 in Darlington, County Durham, England, UK.
- David Bellamy was born on 18 January 1933 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Choices for Tomorrow (1975), Grange Hill (1978) and The Animal Game (1973). He was married to Rosemary Froy. He died on 11 December 2019 in Barnard Castle, County Durham, England, UK.
- Carmine Persico was born on 8 August 1933 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was married to Joyce Smoldone. He died on 7 March 2019 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Philippa Pearce was born on 22 January 1920 in Great Shelford, Cambridgeshire, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Tom's Midnight Garden (1999), Tom's Midnight Garden (1974) and Spine Chillers (1980). She was married to Martin Christie. She died on 21 December 2006 in Durham, England, UK.
- Producer
- Actress
- Director
Born in Bishop Middleham, County Durham Muriel claimed that her whole career came about through two mistakes. Her modeling career began when as a scenic design student in London she was mistaken for a drama student and she got her first television job by turning up at the audition on the wrong day. Through her time in television she's been an announcer, a quiz show host a weather girl ,a producer and a radio disc jockey. and having retired she turned to a new career as an artist which is ideal for someone living in such a scenic area as the Durham Dales. She returned to the North East in about 1988 when her producer husband, Cyril Coke got a job with Yorkshire Television and they took an apartment in Stanhope Castle in County Durham.- Bobby Robson is an English footballer and football manager. His career included periods playing for and later managing the England National Football Team and being a UEFA Cup-winning manager at Ipswich Town F.C..
Bobby Robson's professional playing career as an inside forward spanned nearly 20 years, during which he played for three clubs: Fulham F.C., West Bromwich Albion F.C., and Vancouver Royals. He also made 20 appearances for England, scoring four goals. After his playing career, he found success as both a club and international manager, winning league championships in both the Netherlands and Portugal, earning trophies in England and Spain, and taking England to the semi-finals of the 1990 FIFA World Cup, which remained the national team's best run in a World Cup since 1966 until they reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup. His last management role was as a mentor to the manager of the Republic of Ireland National Football Team.
Robson was created a Knight Bachelor in 2002, was inducted as a member of the English Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and was the honorary president of Ipswich Town F.C.. - Jovian was born in 1994 in Durham, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Zoboomafoo (1999). He died on 10 November 2014 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Jim Valvano was born on 10 March 1946 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for ESPN: NCAA Basketball (1979), The Cosby Show (1984) and College Basketball on NBC (1969). He was married to Pam Valvano. He died on 28 April 1993 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Production Designer
- Art Director
- Art Department
Charles Rosen was born on 10 November 1930. He was a production designer and art director, known for From Justin to Kelly (2003), Broadcast News (1987) and Taxi Driver (1976). He died on 26 June 2012 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Director
- Producer
- Script and Continuity Department
Cyril Coke was born on 29 July 1914 in London, England, UK. He was a director and producer, known for ITV Play of the Week (1955), ITV Television Playhouse (1955) and Mystery and Imagination (1966). He was married to Muriel Young. He died on 31 October 1993 in County Durham, England, UK.- Frank E. Franks was born on 27 May 1891 in Hebburn, Tyne & Wear, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Music Hall Parade (1939) and Cavalcade of Variety (1940). He died in 1974 in Durham, England, UK.
- Eli Woods was born on 11 January 1923 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Mr. H Is Late (1988), Little Dorrit (1987) and Spender (1991). He was married to Pamela. He died on 1 May 2014 in Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, England, UK.
- Production Manager
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
George Manasse was born on 1 January 1938 in Florence, Italy. He was a production manager and producer, known for Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995), Eraser (1996) and Indecent Proposal (1993). He died on 2 April 2021 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
- Producer
Ira Halberstadt was born on 6 September 1951 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA. She was an assistant director and production manager, known for The Hand That Rocks the Cradle (1992), Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Mr. Holland's Opus (1995). She died on 1 June 2018 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- J. Meade Falkner was born on 8 May 1858 in Manningford, Wiltshire, England, UK. J. Meade was a writer, known for Moonfleet (1955), Mystery and Imagination (1966) and Suspense (1949). J. Meade died on 22 July 1932 in Durham, England, UK.
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Darrick Akey was born on 15 August 1975 in Auburn, Indiana, USA. He was an actor, known for Mad Max: Fury Road (2015), The Darkest Minds (2018) and Tenet (2020). He died on 26 April 2022 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Hannah Hauxwell was born on 1 August 1926 in Sleetburn Farm, Baldersdale, North Yorkshire, England, UK. She died on 30 January 2018 in West Auckland, County Durham, England, UK.
- Dorothy Ruth Pirone was born on 7 June 1921 in New York City, New York, USA. She was married to Dominick Pirone and Daniel Sullivan. She died on 18 May 1989 in Durham, Connecticut, USA.
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Production Manager
Charles Norton grew up in North Carolina and was very susceptible to colds, flu, etc. In the third grade he was sick in bed for the entire school year. The doctors told his parents that they would have to move to Florida for his health or construct a cottage at the beach to build him up, which they did at Atlantic Beach. By the time he was 9 years old his family had the cottage and he spent the summers swimming in the ocean and became a strong swimmer and rider of waves. He was the best on the beach and swam in all weather including storms.
When he was ten a boy took him sailing in a small sailboat. He fell in love with sailing immediately. The fact that you could utilize the wind to take you where you wanted to go was marvelous to him. He began sailing as crew in a racing scow the style of which dated back for centuries and the time of the Vikings. The old salts used hiking boards for ballast which they switched from side to side. No decks, about 22 feet long. They would sail in the ocean with 6 or 7 man crews and he'd be on the floor of the boat with a scooper bailing water over the side. The young man who owned the boat (which was fully equipped for racing), which utilized a storm jib, reefing, topsail, spinnaker and hiking boards was named Buzz Mitchell. The skipper was tough and he and his crew won most of their races against the old salts that had generations of experience. They demanded Norton get the water out which was hard work because the water poured over the gunnels without the obstruction that decks would have provided. It gave him great experience and an understanding of the ruthlessness of racing in heavy weather. But they supported him in learning and this was one of his lessons at a young age. Hard work under pressure with no let up. The point was to win and these were the sacrifices.
The next year he persuaded his father to buy him a 15 foot boat and spent the summer learning to sail by himself. He and his friends would turn the boat over in the middle of the sound and swim it to an island, turn it back up and start sailing again. His father realized how much he loved sailing and the following year had a Comet built for him which cost about $250 at the time. It was a miniature "Star", a sailboat known world wide, Charles rented a "Star" in Portofino years later and sailed around that area.
He and his friends quickly had a fleet of about 22 Comets. Initially one person was winning most of the races but during his boyhood illness he had become a tremendous reader and held on to this when he became well. He read a book called "The Aerodynamics of Sails" by Manifred Curry. To this day this book provides any sailor with an easy to understand explanation of why sails work. It elucidates the tools and knowledge needed to come out on top using tactics and strategy. He began to win all the races and set course records all over the Carolinas. And here he was only 11 years old!
When he was 15 he sailed his boat "The Popeye" 800 miles to New York and the Worlds Fair. The New York Herald Tribune says his arrival was at the Battery Pier A Thursday at 4 PM. They were featured on the cover of all the New York News Papers and the Christian Science Monitor on Friday August 2nd. It was remarked in the paper that not since Lindberg's historic flight across the Atlantic has there been such a hero's welcome in New York City. One person remarked that you might as well try to see the President. He was given the Key to New York City by the Mayor, a Trip around New York in the Mayor's Yacht with an escort and then the boat was put on view at the New York Worlds Fair in the Maritime Building with an escort around the fair and into all the exhibits through side doors. No waiting in line. This was 1940 and their was closed Circuit Television from the FAIR and he was on it. He was given many Honors for the sailing trip to New York. He was made a member of the Quiz Kids Hall of Fame and also Boy of the Month in "Youth of Today" and "Boys Life".
His competitors in races had accused his boat of not being regulation with more dead-rise in the bow than the other Comets. Years later he kept his boat at the Larchmont Yacht Club on Long Island Sound having been offered free berth because of all he had done for sailing. He worked in New York at CBS and because of his heavy schedule he raced in only one race week at Larchmont which is a 7 day race. Because of his job he could only race three days out of the seven and he took two first places and a second but he couldn't conceive that he could win anything overall so he didn't go to the banquet and found out later that he had indeed one a third place trophy as his time was that good on the three days he raced. Larchmont had his boat measured before the race and it conformed totally to the Comet measurements dispelling the earlier claims that it was not regulation.
He graduated from the University of North Carolina in 1949 with a BA in English and Minors in Business and Dramatics. Membership in the Honors Society, "The Order of the Old Well", in recognition of High Attainment in Scholarship and Leadership was conferred on him at that time. He was captain of the University Boxing Team and won two Gold Medals in pole vaulting. He is a Navy Veteran having served during World War II and was stationed at Guantanamo air station in Cuba. He had made the highest qualifying grades for Air Corps training in his squadron and was made Assistant to the Duty Officer while awaiting call up for flight training. The war ended and he returned to Carolina.
He started in the mail-room at CBS in 1950 and was later accepted into the Directors Guild of America in 1952. He became Assistant to Robert Stevens, Producer and Director of "Suspense" and performed the jobs of script supervisor and stage manager as well. Essentially they did everything to prepare the show and on the day of the live shoot a crew and First Assistant Director were brought in. Robert Mulligan who had been Steven's assistant prior to Charlie was the First Assistant who came in. He went directly to Hollywood to Direct "To Kill a Mocking Bird" with Gregory Peck who won the Oscar for his performance. When Charlie went to work for CBS, he signed a contract that they would own anything he created while there so he left CBS to produce a pilot film based on four books by William B. Seabrook which he optioned. His technical advisor was Dr. J.B. Rhine of Duke University Head of the Department of Para Psychology and author of the acclaimed book "New World of the Mind". The Pilot Film Charles Produced Starred Franchot Tone, Darren McGavin, John Baragrey, Robert Middleton and Blanche Yurka. It was directed by Harold Young who had Directed "The Scarlett Pimpernell" with Merle Oberon and Leslie Howard. He directed 75 other films as well. Charles rejected a deal with CBS to produce the series because they wanted a different producer who was familiar with California production. They offered him the job of Assistant Producer. He turned it down at the advice of his attorney and never had another solid offer. The pilot is written up on the Internet and can be purchased on a DVD entitled, "Lights Out."
He returned to work at NBC as Staff Associate Director and Directed episodes for "Wide, Wide, World" and other shows. He left N.B.C. to form a Company with James Hammerstein, Son of Oscar. They had a screenplay written by Norman Brooks who had written "Fragile Fox", an acclaimed play on Broadway, which was made into the successful motion picture "Attack" by Robert Aldrich and starring Jack Palance and Eddie Albert.
Through Lillian Small their Agent, they made contact with David Miller, who was in New York Directing "Happy Anniversary" with David Niven and Mitze Gaynor. David wanted to direct the movie but first wished to supervise a rewrite of the Screenplay. Jim and I agreed that was a good idea and thought it would be cheaper to take the writer and his wife to California than pay per diem to David and have him stay in New York. Wrong, they should have done it by mail and then they would have had a paper trail. They refused an umbrella deal with Columbia which Lillian engineered. Another big mistake.
Money ran out and Norton headed back to North Carolina with his wife and two daughters and within 2 weeks landed a position as Director of Public Information at the Research Triangle Institute where he was given top security clearance and wrote news releases to the papers on projects that were government financed. RTI had an annual report done the year before by an Advertising Agency that he wanted to improve on. Charles was given the assignment and wrote and laid out a report style that is still being followed.
After this, he was asked by the Mayor of Durham to try to bring the School of Performing Arts to the Research Triangle. He brought Durham, Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Hillsboro together and made a pitch. Winston Salem out pledged us and won the Contract. Richard Adler, Sidney Blackman, Agnes DeMille and Mayor Grebarak then asked Charles to start a professional Equity Theater in Durham which he did with Buck Roberts. They cast in New York and had a successful season. In addition, Charles brought Wayne Rogers, a friend from California, to star in one of the plays. Also, he brought Rick Wyler to Star in "Streetcar" with Mary Jane Wells.
When Charles directed his first Television Show, he shot 15 5/8 pages the first day with 3 moves, totally startling everyone, and brought the entire show in 7 hours ahead of schedule. It turned out to be one of their best episodes. He directed a second episode "Bang,Bang,Bang" starring a monkey.
He directed "No Hard Feelings" in Africa, a picture which he also wrote and which contained 7 original songs by Jim Wetherly who wrote "Midnight Train to Georgia". Jimmy Haskell wrote the music. It was an action movie he had been inspired to write about rapes that were taking place on the U.C.L.A. campus when his daughter was arranging to go there. He wanted to alert the board of Governors to ways they could protect their Students and Secretaries.
The picture, which he brought in a week ahead of schedule, received two stars in "Movie Guide" when J. Lee Thompson's Film, "King Solomon's Mines", starring Richard Chamberlain, Sharon Stone and John Rhys-Davies received a "Turkey." For bringing it in a week ahead of schedule, the company gave him a free trip to the Sabi-Sabi Game reserve which was a tremendous thrill.
Charles had studied directing in University and with Lee Strasberg at the American Theatre Wing while working as an Associate Director at NBC. Charles trained many of the 2nd Assistant Director "Trainees" for the DGA and has lectured at several universities on film Production. He gave a three hour lecture at the Art Center College of Design that was very well received. His daughter graduated there in Illustration) and was just named teacher of the year at the "Pace Academy" in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.- Frances Gray Patton was born on 19 March 1906 in Raleigh, North Carolina, USA. Frances Gray was a writer, known for Good Morning, Miss Dove (1955). Frances Gray died on 28 March 2000 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Ted Sampley was born on 17 July 1946 in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Secession Path (2008) and Weaponology (2007). He was married to Kiku Uehara and Robin Owen. He died on 12 May 2009 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Actor
- Stunts
Don McCracken was born on 15 August 1907 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor. He died on 15 July 1982 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Mal Moore was born on 19 November 1939 in Dozier, Alabama, USA. He died on 30 March 2013 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Olive Field was born on 18 March 1886. She died on 20 June 1973 in Darlington, County Durham, England, UK.
- Lifelong devotees of the macabre, twins Alan & Mark Upchurch were born in Durham, North Carolina and began their filmmaking careers in 1971, when the family acquired an 8mm movie camera. Upon Graduating Alan used his mastery of languages to pursue a career as a freelance translator. In 1993 he curated the first American retrospectives of Barbara Steele and Italian film director Mario Bava. Diagnosed with AIDS, he was in the process of researching a book about Steele when his final illness overtook him. He returned home, where his parents cared for him until his death at age 37.
- Reginald Daye was born on 3 November 1964 in Durham, North Carolina, USA. He died on 13 April 2011 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Tommy Thompson was born on 22 July 1937 in St. Albans, West Virginia, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Far North (1988), Carolina Low (1997) and Silent Tongue (1993). He died on 24 January 2003 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Additional Crew
John Hope Franklin was born on 2 January 1915 in Rentiesville, Oklahoma, USA. He is known for Separate But Equal (1991), American Masters (1985) and From Swastika to Jim Crow (2000). He was married to Aurelia E. Whittington. He died on 25 March 2009 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- John Straffen was born on 27 February 1930 in Bordon Camp, Hampshire, England, UK. He died on 19 November 2007 in Frankland Prison, Brasside, Durham, County Durham, England, UK.
- Writer
- Art Department
Mike Wieringo was born on 24 June 1963 in Vicenza, Italy. He was a writer, known for Young Justice (2010) and Adventures Into Digital Comics (2006). He died on 12 August 2007 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- George Scott was born on 18 March 1929 in Notasulga, Alabama, USA. He was an actor, known for The Fighting Temptations (2003) and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992). He was married to Ludie Lewis Mann Scott. He died on 9 March 2005 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Bradley Lowery was born on 17 May 2011 in County Durham, England, UK. He died on 7 July 2017 in County Durham, England, UK.
- Music Department
- Composer
Joseph Eger was born on 9 July 1925 in Hartford, Connecticut, USA. He was a composer, known for Hidden Fears (1993). He was married to Dorita Beh and Dixie Blackstone. He died on 13 January 2013 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- Kenneth C. Royall was born on 24 July 1894 in Goldsboro, North Carolina, USA. He died on 25 May 1971 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Mary Lou Williams was born on 8 May 1910 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. She is known for Night Teeth (2021), Boy! What a Girl! (1947) and Head in the Clouds (2004). She was married to John Williams. She died on 28 May 1981 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.- LeRoy Walker was born on 4 June 1918 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He died on 23 April 2012 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Maxwell Fry was born on 2 August 1899 in Liscard, Wallasey, Cheshire, England, UK. He died on 3 September 1987 in Darlington, County Durham, England, UK.
- Ron Hogg was born in 1951 in Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland, UK. He died on 17 December 2019 in Darlington, County Durham, England, UK.
- Brian Bainbridge died on 11 May 2006 in Langdon Beck, County Durham, England, UK.
- Enos Slaughter was born on 27 April 1916 in Roxboro, North Carolina, USA. He was married to Helen Spiker, Ruth Darlington Rohleder, Mary Peterson Walker, Josephine Antoinette Begonia and Hughle Isabelle Powell. He died on 12 August 2002 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Wallace Fowlie was born on 8 November 1908 in Brookline, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 16 August 1998 in Durham, North Carolina, USA.
- Bruce Boyce was born in 1910 in London, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for Don Giovanni (1947) and The Beggar's Opera (1953). He died on 11 May 1996 in Bishop Auckland, Durham, England, UK.