On This Day

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On this day 17th May

68 years ago the actor Claude Johnson was born he had a minor role in How the West Was Won

70 years ago the actor and director Dennis hopper was born he appeared with John Wayne in True Grit and The Sons of Katie Elder
(From IMDB):-
Multi-talented and unconventional actor / director regarded by many as one of the true "enfant terribles" of Hollywood who has led an amazing cinematic career for more than five decades, Dennis Hopper was born on May 17, 1936, in Dodge City, Kansas. The young Hopper expressed interest in acting from a young age and first appeared in a slew of 1950s TV shows, including "Medic" (1954), "Cheyenne" (1955) and "Sugarfoot" (1957). His first film role was in Johnny Guitar (1954), which was quickly followed by roles in Rebel Without a Cause (1955), Giant (1956) and Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957). Hopper actually became good friends with James Dean and was shattered when Dean was killed in a car crash in September, 1955.

Hopper portrayed a young Napoleon Bonaparte (!) in the star-spangled The Story of Mankind (1957) and regularly appeared on screen throughout the 1960s, often in rather undemanding parts, usually as a villain in westerns such as True Grit (1969) and Hang 'Em High (1968). However, in early 1969 Hopper, fellow actor Peter Fonda and writer Terry Southern wrote a counterculture road movie script and managed to scrape together $400,000 in financial backing. Hopper directed the low-budget film, titled Easy Rider (1969), starring Fonda, Hopper and a young Jack Nicholson. The film was a phenomenal box-office success, appealing to the anti-establishment youth culture of the times. It changed the Hollywood landscape almost overnight and major studios all jumped onto the anti-establishment bandwagon, pumping out low-budget films about rebellious hippies, bikers, draft dodgers and pot smokers. However, Hopper's next directorial effort, The Last Movie (1971), was a critical and financial failure, and he has admitted that during the 1970s he was seriously abusing various substances, both legal and illegal, which led to a downturn in the quality of his work. He appeared in a sparse collection of European-produced films over the next eight years, before cropping up in a memorable performance as a pot-smoking photographer alongside Marlon Brando and Martin Sheen in Francis Ford Coppola's Vietnam War epic Apocalypse Now (1979). He also received acclaim for his work in both acting and direction for Out of the Blue (1980).

With these two notable efforts, the beginning of the 1980s saw a renaissance of interest by Hollywood in the talents of Dennis Hopper, and exorcising the demons of drugs and alcohol via a rehabilitation program meant a return to invigorating and provoking performances. He was superb in Rumble Fish (1983), co-starred in the tepid spy thriller The Osterman Weekend (1983), played a groovy school teacher in My Science Project (1985), was a despicable and deranged drug dealer in River's Edge (1986) and, most memorably, electrified audiences as foul-mouthed Frank Booth in the eerie and erotic David Lynch film Blue Velvet (1986). Interestingly, the offbeat Hopper was selected in the early 1980s to provide the voice of "The StoryTeller" in the animated series of "Rabbit Ears" children's films based upon the works of Hans Christian Andersen!

Hopper returned to film direction in the late 1980s and was at the helm of the controversial gang film Colors (1988), which was well received by both critics and audiences. He was back in front of the cameras for roles in Super Mario Bros. (1993), got on the wrong side of gangster Christopher Walken in True Romance (1993), led police officer Keanu Reeves and bus passenger Sandra Bullock on a deadly ride in _Speed (1994)_ and challenged gill-man Kevin Costner for world supremacy in Waterworld (1995). The enigmatic Hopper has continued to remain busy through the 1990s and into the new century with performances in The Night We Called It a Day (2003), The Keeper (2004) and Land of the Dead (2005).

As well as his acting / directing talents, Hopper is a skilled photographer and painter, having had his works displayed in galleries in both the US and overseas. He is additionally a dedicated and knowledgeable collector of modern art and has one of the most extensive collections in the US.

*7 years ago Antonio 'Tony' Aquilar was born in Mexico. During his career he appeared or directed 125 pictures with only one being made in the United tates namely The Undefeated.

128 years ago the classic actor Conway Teale was born he appeared as an attorney in The Hurricane Express.

(From IMDB)
This West Point-educated actor was a tall, dark and handsome American co-star who romanced some of the most illustrious femme stars ever to appear on the silent silver screen. Conway Tearle was born in New York City on May 17, 1878 to a family of entertainers. Christened Frederick Levy, his father, Jules, was a jazz musician, and mother Marianne Conway, an American actress. Divorced when Conway was quite young, his mother subsequently married British Shakespearean actor/theatre manager Osmond Tearle and Conway was raised in England from the age of 10. He gained experience on his stepfather's stage and was alternately billed as Frederick Levy and Frederick Conway before settling on the name Conway Tearle. Having returned to the U.S. in 1905, he made his Broadway debut with "Abigail" that same year and would make a name for himself as a reliable romancer for nearly a decade before attempting films in 1914. His two half brothers, Godfrey Tearle and Malcolm Tearle would also become actors on both the stage and screen. Conway's more famous films were deemed "women's pictures" where he appeared meticulously as a dashing hero or ardent lover. Among his more notable were Helene of the North (1915) opposite Marguerite Clark, The Foolish Virgin (1916) and The Common Law (1916) both starring Clara Kimball Young, Stella Maris (1918) with Mary Pickford, A Virtuous Vamp (1919) with Constance Talmadge, She Loves and Lies (1920) and The Eternal Flame (1922), both opposite Norma Talmadge, Lilies of the Field (1924) featuring Corinne Griffith, and Dancing Mothers (1926) starring Clara Bow. Conway made a smooth transition into sound pictures and remained a leading star or prime support in "B" level pictures. He ended his film career spurned by Mae West in Klondike Annie (1936) and with a lesser role in the lavish production Romeo and Juliet (1936) starring Norma Shearer and Leslie Howard. He died of a heart attack at age 60.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

Thanks for that information Jay, I agree with you Hopper did a lot to rehabilitate his life.

On this day 18th May

89 years ago the Scottich actor James Donald was born. He appeared in Cast A Giant Shadow.

(From IMDB)
Scottish-born actor James Donald was born in Aberdeen on May 18, 1917, and took his first professional stage bow some time in the late 30s. He finally attained a degree of stardom in 1943 for his sterling performance in Noel Coward's "Present Laughter" which starred Coward himself. Subsequent post-war theatre work included "The Eagle with Two Heads" (1947), "You Never Can Tell" (1948) and "The Heiress" (1949) with Ralph Richardson, Peggy Ashcroft and Donald Sinden.

Rather humorless in character with a gaunt, intent-looking face and no-nonsense demeanor, James made his debut in British films in 1942, fitting quite comfortably into the stoic war-era mold with roles in such noteworthy military sagas as In Which We Serve (1942) and The Way Ahead (1944). Ably supporting such top-notch actors as Spencer Tracy and Deborah Kerr in Edward, My Son (1949) and Elizabeth Taylor and Stewart Granger in _Beau Brummell (1954/I)_ , he also managed to head up a number of films including White Corridors (1951) in which he and Googie Withers play husband and wife doctors who try to balance career and marriage; Charles Dickens' The Pickwick Papers (1952) as Nathaniel Winkle, and The Net (1953) as a scientist obsessed with his work. In addition, he earned superb marks for a number of quality films in the 1950s and 1960s. His portrayal of painter Vincent Van Gogh's brother Theo in Lust for Life (1956) with Kirk Douglas, was quite memorable, as was his trenchant work in the WWII POW dramas The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957), The Great Escape (1963), and King Rat (1965). Most of the men he played were intelligent, moral-minded and honorable.

While continuing to perform on stage, he also gained TV exposure. James received an Emmy nomination for his role as Prince Albert opposite Julie Harris in Victoria Regina (1961) (TV), and performed the part of the cruel-eyed stepfather Mr. Murdstone in the period remake of David Copperfield (1969) (TV) toward the end of his career. Off the screen for a number of years, he died of stomach cancer on August 3, 1993 in England. He was 76.

92 years ago the actor Robert Wilkie was born. He appeared as a villian in numerous westerns, often as part of a gang, I don't think he was ever a good guy in any of his westerns and is perhaps best known as the cowboys who is killed by James Coburn in the duel in The Magnificent Seven.On reflection he may have been a loyal person if not a good one in the role of first mate to James Mason's Captain Nemo in 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
From IMBD

'Prolific American character actor of primarily villainous roles. The son of German parents, Cincinnati feed-store manager August Wilke and his wife Rose, Robert Joseph Wilke grew up in Cincinnati. He worked as a lifeguard at a Miami, Florida, hotel, where he made contacts in the film business. He was able to obtain work as a stuntman and continued as such until the mid-'40s, when he began getting actual roles in low-budget westerns and serials. A prominent appearance as one of the heavies in High Noon (1952) led to work in higher-quality films. He worked extensively in television as well as movies, and became an enormously familiar face, though a fairly anonymous one to the general public. His weathered visage made him a perfect western bad guy, but he occasionally played sympathetic parts as well, as in Days of Heaven (1978). An expert golfer, he was said by his friend Claude Akins to have earned more money on the golf course than he ever did in movies. He died in 1989'

95 years ago the Norwegian actress Sigrid Gurie was born. She appeared in Three Faces West.

(From IMDB)
Sigrid Gurie was a very talented artist and devoted her time in San Miguel Allende to painting and drawing and to her friends who adored her. She was a fine human being and well loved and missed after her death. She had been estranged from her brother for many years, as his treatment of her had been cold and even cruel.

Although she was married three times she had no fond feelings for her ex-husbands. She credited the strain of living in Hollywood at that time and the difficulties of her failed marriages as contributing to her health problems.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 19th May

105 years ago the actress Natalie Kingston was born she appeared in His Private Secretary.

11 years ago the minor actor Andy Shufard died aged 77 he had an un-credited part in The big Trail.

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Arthur

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On this day 20th May

98 years ago the legendary actor James Stewart was born. He supported John Wayne in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance and The Shootist as well as being a mega star in his own right in such films as Winchester 73 The Far Country, The Man From Laramie The Glenn Miller Story and others far too numerous to mention.

87 years ago the comedian George Gobel was born. He starred in I Married A Woman opposite the British actress Diana Dors and in which John Wayne played a cameo role with Angie Dickinson.

76 years ago the actor James McEachin was born. A supporting actor he was in True Grit and the Undefeated.

73 years ago the actress Constance Towers was born
From IMDB

Quote

This elegant singer/actress initially had designs on becoming an opera singer. Born in Montana on May 20, 1933, and christened Constance Mary Towers, she appeared on radio as a child singer. Her family moved to New York where she subsequently studied at the Julliard School of Music and the American Academy of the Dramatic Arts (AADA). A chance casting in a summer production of "Carousel" led her away from her operatic aspirations and into the musical theater arena. Before she settled into this, however, she gained early exposure on the chic nightclub circuit and fostered an attempt at stardom via films. She co-starred with Frankie Laine playing a school teacher in the modest movie musical Bring Your Smile Along (1955), and appeared in exceptionally strong ingénue roles in the movie dramas The Horse Soldiers (1959) starring John Wayne and Sergeant Rutledge (1960) opposite Jeffrey Hunter. Director Samuel Fuller cast her against type in some of his highly offbeat dramas in the early 1960s. She played a stripper girlfriend in Shock Corridor (1963) and in The Naked Kiss (1964) gave a no-holds-barred performance as a former prostitute trying to clean up her act. Films, however, were few and far between.

By this time she was starting to settle in as a pristine musical leading lady. After a 1960 performance as missionary Sarah in "Guys and Dolls," Constance made her Broadway debut in the title role of "Anya" (1965), in which she played the title role of the Russian princess Anastasia. Heralded performances in "Carousel" (1966) and "The Sound of Music" (1967), in which she won the Outer Critic's Circle Award as Maria, not to mention a Broadway revival of "The King and I" opposite Yul Brynner truly put her on the musical map. Her run with Brynner lasted nearly 800 performances. She had earlier played the school teacher Anna off-Broadway opposite Michael Kermoyan in 1972. Other sterling stage appearances included "Kiss Me Kate," "42nd Street," "Oklahoma!," "Camelot" and "Mame." She also starred in the musical "Ari," an adaptation of the Leon Uris novel "Exodus."

TV proved a sturdy medium as well. In her early days she made singing appearances on Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town" and, in dramatic roles, was a frequent glamorous suspect on "Perry Mason." As she matured, her sharp, glacial, strikingly handsome features also worked very well for her in unsympathetic aristocratic roles on daytime. Winning regular spots on "Love Is a Many-Splendored Thing," "The Young and the Restless" and "Sunset Beach," she did her most consistent work on "Capitol" (1982), in which she played Clarissa McCandless for five seasons. She is currently courting favor with audiences and stealing scenes on a regular basis on "General Hospital" (1963), in which she plays, at age 72, the inherently wicked Helena Cassadine, a role originated by the legendary Elizabeth Taylor. Recent films have included The Next Karate Kid (1994), The Relic (1997) and A Perfect Murder (1998) starring Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow, in which she played Paltrow's mother. Constance also enjoyed a resurgence on prime-time TV with a sprinkling of guest parts on "L.A. Law," "Designing Women," "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Caroline in the City," "Frasier," "Baywatch," and "Providence." She received an Emmy nomination for her role in the single episode drama special "Once in Her Life."

Constance has been married since 1974 to one-time actor and former Mexican ambassador John Gavin. It was the second marriage for both. The handsome couple have two children: Cristina and Maria Gavin. Constance also has two children, Michael and Maureen McGrath, from her prior marriage to Panamanian businessman Eugene McGrath. As a result of her current husband's civic work, she became actively involved in a multitude of charities. "Project Connie" not only offered aid to those in need of medical and rehabilitation assistance after the Mexican earthquake of 1985, it has served as an adoption placement agency to hundreds of children from Mexico to El Salvador. She has also involved herself with the Children's Bureau of California, the National Health Foundation, and the Red Cross and the Blue Ribbon of Los Angeles.

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40 years ago the Mexican bull fighter Carlos Arruza was killed in an automobile accident , he was 46. Famous in Mexico for his exploits in the bullring he only appeared in three pictures. In the one we are concerenced with he was Lt Reyes in The Alamo.

12 years ago the actress Dorothy Neumann died aged 80 she had appeared in an un-credited role in The Greatest Story Ever Told.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 21st May

117 years ago the actor Arthur Hohl was born he appeared in College Coach.

101 years ago the actor Bill Williams was born he appeared in a number of westerns many of them A pictures including the part of the sheriff of Blackthorne in Rio Lobo.

64 years ago the actress Paulette Goddard (of Reap the Wild Wind fame) married Burgess Meridith (of In Harm's Way fame)

40 years ago the actor Pat O'alley died aged 75. He had a small role in The Quiet Man.
(from IMDB)

Quote

Often confused with the British-born comic actor J. Pat O'Malley, who is the better remembered, silent dramatic film star Pat O'Malley had an enduring career that stands on its own. He was of solid Irish-American stock, born in Forest City, Pennsylvania in 1890. A one-time railroad switchman, he also had circus experience by the time he discovered an interest in movie making. He began with the Kalem Studio in 1913 and appeared in a few Irish films before signing on with Thomas Edison's company in 1914. The following year he married actress Lillian Wilkes and three of their children, Eileen, Mary Katherine, and Sheila, would become actors as well. His brother Charles O'Malley was a sometime actor, appearing in westerns on occasion. His first identifiable film is The Alien (1913). He began freelancing in 1916 and from then on appeared in scores of silents as both a rugged and romantic lead, some classic films being The Heart of Humanity (1918), My Wild Irish Rose (1922), and The Virginian (1923). He did not age well come sound pictures and he was quickly relegated to supporting parts. He appeared in hundreds upon hundreds of bits (mostly unbilled) until 1956, when he retired. He died a decade later.

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Arthur

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On this day 22nd May we remember two supporting actors who passed away:

39 years ago the actor Bruce Kellog died aged 57 he only made 11 pictures but one of them was They Were Expendable.

9 years ago another minor actor Donald Curtis died aged 82 he also was in They Were Expendable, and also in In Old California.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 32rd May

96 years ago the actor Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart was born. He played a pilot in Flying Tigers.

On the same day the actor catman Crothers was born he played Moses in The Shootist.

117 years ago Vester Pegg was born. He played Hank Plummer in Stagecoach and was a barman in Born to the West.

We also said goodbye

38 years ago to James |Burke who died aed 81. He made 206 pictures in all his first being the 1932 picture HThe hollywood Handicap.

9 years ago The actress Dorothy Gullver died aged 88 She had appeared with JohnWayne in Stand Up & Cheer and The Shadow of the Eagle.

5 years ago Lita hevret died aged 92 she had played a Showgirl in Words and Music.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 24th May

90 years ago the actor Peter Whitney was born, he played the communist driver in Big Jim McLaine.

81 years ago the actor Pedro Gonzales Gonzales was born, appearing in a number of John Wayne pictures including The High and the Mighty and Rio Bravo, he always played the loyal person you could always depend on.

69 years ago the actyor and stuntman Robert Warner was born in Canada. Appearing as Will Fain in Big Jake he also performed stunts in Big Jake Hellfighters The Green Berets and The War Wagon.

20 years ago the legend Yakima Canutt died aged 90 i canott believe that there isn't a John Wayne fan who is unaware of the importance of Yakima to John Waynes and many other actors career.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 25th May

103 years ago in London the actress Binnie Barnes was born. she appeared in In Old California.

88 years ago Claude Aikins was born, coming to the screen later in life he appeared in Rio Bravo.

75 years ago the actor John Gabriel was born he played Pedro in El Dorado.

43 years ago Ethan Laidlaw died aged 63. He had a bit part in Pittsburgh.

Hi

On this special day May 26th the following actors share an anniversary with John Wayne-

122 years ago the actor Charles Winiger was born, he appeared in A Lady Takes a Chance.

116 years ago the choreographerSammy Lee was born he worked on Cheer Up and Smile.

94 years ago Jay Silverheels was born, he played a condemmed man in True Grit.

83 years ago James Arness was born, he appeared in a couple of Dukes films but concentrated on playing Matt Dillon in Gunsmoke, Happy 83rd birthday James.

Regards

Arthur

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Towards the end of hiscareer I seem to remember that he appeared in a number of comedy films and series sowing his complete versatility.

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On this day 27th May

98 years ago the screen writer Frank Nugent was born. He wrote the screenplays for some of John Fords greatest pictures including The Quiet Man, The Searchers, Fort Apache She Wore A Yellow Ribbon, 3 Godfathers and, although not in the same class as the others - Donovan's Reef.

116 years ago the actress Fritzi Brunette was born she played a small role in Stagecoach.
(From IMBD)

Quote

Fritzi Brunette was born in Savannah, Georgia on May 27, 1890. With the birth name of Florence Brunet. She was mostly a character actress whose career spanned mostly the silent era, although she made a successful transition to the sound period. Fritzi's debut came in 1913 when she was 23 years old. She was in two productions that year, ANNIE LAURIE and THE APPEAL. Toward the end of her career, she was in, mostly, uncredited roles such as the hit SAN FRANCISCO with Clark Gable and Jeannette MacDonald. Her last film was in 1941's MEET JOHN DOE. Fritzi died in Hollywood, California on September 28, 1943. She was 53 years old.

61 years ago the actor Lew Payton died aged 70. He only made 12 pictures with the penultimate one being Lady For A Night.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 28th May

89 years ago the actor Marshall Reed was born he made over 200 pictures including The Angel and the Badman.

(From IMDB)

Quote

American secondary 'bad guy' in hundreds of oaters from the mid-40s to the mid-50s.
Served in the Navy during WWII.
Following high school graduation, he toiled in a number of jobs before he hooked up with the movie business: mail clerk, addressograph operator, meter reader, bookkeeper, and department store clerk.
One-time horse trainer.

47 years ago the actor George Chesebro died aged 70 he appeared in almost 400 pictures two of which he appeared with John Wayne the second of which was New Frontier.
(From IMDB
[quote][I]Leading man in US action pictures of the silent era, then villain in hundreds of "B" westerns of the 30s through early 50s.
Mini biography
American character actor who after a few leading roles in silent films became an omnipresent bit player in B-Westerns. A native of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Chesebro became involved in traveling stock theatre productions before the age of 20 and by 1911 was a seasoned performer. He played in a musical spectacular which toured Asia for two years, then returned to America and played in stock and vaudeville. Moving to Los Angeles in 1915, Chesebro soon found work in movies to supplement his vaudeville career and quickly began moving up the ladder of film success. World War I interrupted his work. (Some sources say he served in the U.S. Navy, others the Army.) Following the war, he resumed his movie career, starring in several popular serials. His popularity and the size of his roles waned during the 1920s and with the arrival of talkies he was most often seen as heavies, henchmen, and cops in a huge number of Westerns and crime dramas, most of them low-budget. He became a fixture in B-Westerns, rarely billed but always familiar, and finished out his career in the 1950s with the demise of the B-Western. Occasional TV appearances marked his retirement, and he died in 1959, two months prior to his 71st birthday.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 29th May

107 years ago the actor Don Brodie was born he appeared in 256 pictures and was in minor roles in The Comancheros and A Man Betrayed.

96 years ago Malcolm 'Bud' McTaggart was born he played a pilot in Flying Tigers.

19 years ago the costume designer Howard Shoup died aged 83 he was responsible for the gowns in I Married A Woman.

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 30th May

95 years ago The actor Douglas Fowley was born he played Alsop in The High And The Mighty.

110 years ago the director Howard Hawks was born depending which side you support he was second only to John Ford or above even that director.

21 years ago the comediane George K Arthur d He featured in Stand up And Cheer

Regards

Arthur

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On this day 31st May we have to go way back to find two of our performers

118 years ago the starring actor Jack Holt (insert) was born he was in Maker of Men and They Were Expendable

This is what IMDB has to say of him:-

Quote

Staunch, granite-jawed American leading man of silent and early talkie films, much associated with Westerns. A native of New York City, Holt often claimed to have been born in Winchester, Virginia, where he grew up. The son of an Episcopal minister, he attended Trinity School in Manhattan, then the Virginia Military Institute, from which he was expelled for bad behavior. Giving up his vague hopes of becoming a lawyer, he went on the road, engaging in numerous occupations. He mined gold in Alaska, worked as both a railroad and a civil engineer, delivered mail, rode herd on cattle, and played parts in traveling stage productions. While looking for work as a surveyor in San Francisco in 1914, he volunteered to ride a horse over a cliff in a stunt for a film crew shooting in San Rafael. In gratitude, the director gave him a part in the film. Holt followed the movie people to Hollywood and began getting bits and stunt jobs in the many Westerns and serials being made there. He impressed a number of co-workers at Universal Pictures, among them Francis Ford and his brother John Ford, and Grace Cunard. Holt soon became a frequent supporting player in their films, and then a star in serials.

A move to Paramount studios in 1917 cemented his leading man status, and he became one of the studio's great stars, particularly in a very successful series of Westerns based on the novels of Zane Grey. Talkies proved no problem for Holt, and his career thrived, although mostly in run-of-the-mill adventure films. At the outbreak of the Second World War, Holt entered the U.S. Army at the age of 54, serving at the request of General George C. Marshall as a horse buyer for the cavalry. Upon his return to pictures following the war, he alternated between character roles in major films such as John Ford's They Were Expendable (1945) and leading roles in minor Westerns. He made a cameo appearance in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) which starred his son Tim Holt. That same year father and son played father and son in a B-Western, The Arizona Ranger (1948). Less than three years later, on January 18, 1951, Holt died of a heart attack at the Los Angeles Veterans Hospital in Sawtelle, a couple of blocks west of the Los Angeles National Cemetery where he is now buried

And going even further back to the end of the American Civil War

141 years ago the veteran supporting actor Emmett King was born. He played an old man in the ballroom scene in Reap The Wild Wind.

Coming more up to date

29 years ago Lloyd Perryman died aged 60 he was a member of the Sons of The Pioneers and featured in The Searchers and Rio Grande.

Regards

Arthur

Hi

On this day The Glorious 1st of June

86 years ago the actor Robert Clarke was borne he played a soldier in Back to Bataan

From IMDB:-

Quote

A movie-crazy kid in his native Oklahoma City, Robert Clarke decided at an early age that he wanted to be an actor, but nevertheless suffered from stage fright in his first school productions. He acted in University of Oklahoma radio plays and on stage at the University of Wisconsin before hitching a ride to California to try to break into the picture business. After screen tests at 20th Century-Fox and Columbia, Clarke landed a berth as a contract player at RKO. When RKO dropped his option three years later, he began freelancing. Clarke married Alyce King of the singing King Sisters in 1956 and, a decade later, began appearing on TV and on tour with "The King Family". His autobiography To "B" or Not to "B": A Film Actor's Odyssey was published in 1996

57 years ago the actor Russell hicks died of a heart attack aged 61 he appeared in over 300 pictures made over four decades and appeared in three films with John Wayne A Man Betrayed, Seven Sinners and Sea Spoilers.

43 years ago Rod Taylor married Mary Hilem.

58 years ago the director Nicholas Ray married the actress Gloria Graham

81 years ago The producer and director Howard hughes married Ella Rice.

Regards

Arthur