Charles Middleton, Roddy McDowall and Janet Leigh

Who was born on this date:

Actor Charles Middleton was born on October 3, 1874 in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. During a film career that began at age 46 and lasted almost 30 years, Middleton appeared in nearly two hundred films and is best remembered for his performance as Ming the Merciless opposite Buster Crabbe in the 1930s Flash Gordon serial. His career as a character actor came into full flower with the advent of sound movies. His ominous baritone voice was perfect for villainous roles, and he became an excellent foil for some of the legends of comedy. Charles Middleton died from a heart attack in Los Angeles on April 22, 1949 and was buried at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Who died on this date:

On October 3, 1998, actor Roddy McDowall died. He was born on September 17, 1928in Herne Hill, England. He made his film debut at the age of 12 in How Green was my Valley (1941). This role made him a household name and he then starred in Lassie Come Home (1943), a movie that introduced a girl who would become his lifelong friend, Elizabeth Taylor. He then appeared in My Friend Flicka (1943), The Keys of the Kingdom (1944) and The White Cliffs of Dover (1944). McDowall continued his career successfully into adulthood, but it was usually in character roles in films and television, such as Cleopatra (1963), It! (1966), The Planet of the Ape movie series (1968-1973), The Poseidon Adventure (1972), Dirty Mary, and Crazy Larry (1974),  Fright Night (1985), and Overboard (1987). McDowall died on October 3, 1998 from lung cancer at his home in Studio City and his ashes were scattered at sea.

On October 3, 2004, actress Janet Leigh died. She was born on July 6, 1927 in Merced, California. Discovered by actress Norma Shearer, Leigh secured a contract with MGM and began her film career in the late 1940s. She made her film debut in The Romance of Rosy Ridge (1947). She appeared in numerous films over the following decade, including If Winter Comes (1947), The Hills of Home (1948), The Stratton Story (1949), Living It Up (1954), Safari (1958), Touch of Evil (1958), Psycho (1960) for which she was nominated for a best supporting Academy Award, The Manchurian Candidate (1962), and The Fog (1980). She co-starred with third husband Tony Curtis in five films Houdini (1953), The Black Shield of Falworth (1954), The Vikings (1958), and Who was that Lady (1960). She also appeared in two horror films with her daughter, Jamie Lee Curtis. Leigh died at her home on October 3, 2004, after suffering cardiac arrest and is buried at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Gene Autry, Greer Garson, Trevor Howard, Tony Curtis

Who was born on this date:

Actor Gene Autry was born on September 29, 1907 in Tioga, Texas. He is best known for being the Singing Cowboy on radio, in movies and on television for more than three decades beginning in the 1930s. Autry was also owner of the Los Angeles Angels from 1961 to 1997. He also owned several television and several radio stations in Southern California. Although his signature song was "Back in the Saddle Again," Autry is best known today for his Christmas songs, Here Comes Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Autry died from lymphoma on October 2, 1998 at his home in Studio City, California and is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park – Hollywood Hills.

Actress Greer Garson was born on September 29, 1904 in London, England. She never intended to become an actress, educated at London University. She aspired to be a school teacher, but ended up working in an advertising agency. To make ends meet, she sought out work as a part-time actress in small, local London theaters. She quickly gained a reputation as a talented actress and was discovered by MGM studio boss, Louis B. Mayer, while on a talent expedition in London. Signed to a contract by MGM, the vivacious actress took Hollywood by storm appearing for the first time onscreen in 1939’s Goodbye, Mr. Chip’s, in which she garnered the first of seven best actress Oscar nominations. In a television and film career that spanned four decades (1939-1982), she appeared in only twenty-four feature motion pictures. She often played a courageous mother character, but in later years was able to break out of this type casting to play comedic and other forms of dramatic parts. She was often paired with actor Walter Pigeon, and the two appeared together in eight motion pictures.   

She won the golden statuette only once in 1943 for her portrayal of the courageous house wife, Mrs. Miniver in Mrs. Miniver (1942). Her other Academy Award nominated films are Blossoms in the Dust (1941), Madame Curie (1943), Mrs. Parkington (1944), Valley of Decision (1945), and Sunrise at Campobello (1960). By the late 1940’s, her film career began to wane with less than spectacular box office successes. In 1960 she made a comeback with Sunrise at Campbello (considered by many to be her best performance) but this new found success was short lived and she soon found herself with few opportunities. She retired in the late 1960’s with her husband Buddy Fogelson to their New Mexico, ranch. In the 1980’s, she suffered from chronic heart problems which drastically slowed her environmental and charity work. She underwent quadruple bypass heart surgery in 1988. On April 6, 1996 while in residence at the Dallas Presbyterian Hospital, she had another heart attack and died. Greer Garson’s final resting place is found in the Fogelson family plot at Sparkman Hill Crest Memorial Park in Dallas, Texas.  

Actor Trevor Howard was born on September 29, 1913 in Cliftonville, England. His film credits include The Way to the Stars (1945), Brief Encounter (1945), I see a Dark Stranger (1945), Green for Danger (1946), They Made Me a Fugitive (1947), The Passionate Friends (1949), The Third Man (1949),and Sons and Lovers (1960), for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor. Over time Howard easily shifted to being one of England's finest character actors. Howard's later works included such films as Mutiny on the Bounty (1962), Von Ryan’s Express (1965), The Charge of the Light Brigade (1968), and Superman (1978). He died on January 7, 1988, from a combination of bronchitis and influenza and was buried at the St. Peter Churchyard in Arkley, England.

Who died on this date: 

On September 29, 2010, actor Tony Curtis died. He was born Bernard Schwartz On June 3, 1925 in the Bronx, New York. Following his discharge from the army following World War II, Curtis attended City College of New York under the G.I. Bill and studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York with the influential German stage director Erwin Piscator. He was discovered by a talent agent and casting director Joyce Selznick. Curtis claims it was because he "was the handsomest of the boys." Arriving in Hollywood in 1948 at age 23, he was placed under contract at Universal Pictures and changed his name to Tony Curtis, taking his first name from the novel Anthony Adverse and his last name from "Kurtz", a surname from his mother's family. Although the studio taught him fencing and riding, Curtis admitted he was at first only interested in girls and money. Nonetheless, he was not hopeful of his chances in becoming a major actor, and feared having to return to the Bronx, a failure.  

Although his early film roles were partly the result of his good looks, by the latter half of the 1950's he became a notable and strong screen presence. He began proving himself to be a “fine dramatic actor,” having the range to act in numerous dramatic and comedy roles. In his earliest parts he acted in a string of "mediocre" films, including swashbucklers, westerns, light comedies, sports films, and a musical. However, by the time he starred in Houdini (1953) with his wife Janet Leigh. He won his first serious recognition as a skilled dramatic actor in Sweet Smell of Success (1957) with co-star Burt Lancaster. The following year he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in another drama, The Defiant Ones (1958). Curtis then gave what many believe was his best acting, in a completely different role, the comedy Some Like It Hot (1959). Thomson calls it an "outrageous film," and it was voted the number 1 funniest film in history from a survey done by the American Film Institute. It costarred Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and was directed by Billy Wilder. That was followed by Blake Edwards’ comedy Operation Petticoat (1959) with Cary Grant. They were both “frantic comedies,” and displayed "his impeccable comic timing." He often collaborated with Edwards on later films. His most significant serious part came in 1968 when he starred in the true-life drama The Boston Strangler, which some consider his "last major film role." The part reinforced his reputation as a serious actor with his "chilling portrayal" of serial killer Albert DeSalvo. He gained 30 pounds and had his face "rebuilt" with a false nose to look like the real DeSalvo. 

Curtis was married five times. His first wife was actress Janet Leigh, to whom he was married from 1951 to 1962, and with whom he fathered actresses Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis. On July 8, 2010, Curtis, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was hospitalized in Las Vegas after suffering an asthma attack during a book signing engagement in Henderson, Nevada and died at his Henderson, Nevada home on September 29, 2010, of a cardiac arrest. He is buried at Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Tony Curtis & Roberto Rossellini

Due to a plethora of blogs and websites that devote their attention to the death dates of Hollywood celebrities, I have decided to revamp, broaden and somewhat narrow the scope of my blog (hmmm, confusing). In it, I will discuss both birth date anniversaries and death dates of the actors, actresses and directors who starred during the Golden Age of Hollywood, 1927-1960. Although this will include some people that overlapped from the silent era to talkies and some who transitioned into television, it is not my intention to include silent era or TV stars in this blog. The only other critieria is that they all must be deceased. This blog is devoted to the memories of the legendary actors, actresses and directors who made Hollywood great, it is a commemoration of their life stories and film achievements. This blog is not intended to celebrate death but since it is part of life...it must be included. Thanks and enjoy, MTB

Born on this date:

Today would have been actor Tony Curtis’ 86th birthday. His acting career spanned six decades, but had his greatest popularity during the 1950’s and early 1960’s. He acted in over 100 films in roles covering a wide range of genres, from light comedy to serious drama. In his later years, Curtis made numerous television appearances. Curtis was born Bernard Schwartz On June 3, 1925 in the Bronx, New York. Following his discharge from the army following World War II, Curtis attended City College of New York under the G.I. Bill and studied acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York with the influential German stage director Erwin Piscator. He was discovered by a talent agent and casting director Joyce Selznick. Curtis claims it was because he "was the handsomest of the boys." Arriving in Hollywood in 1948 at age 23, he was placed under contract at Universal Pictures and changed his name to Tony Curtis, taking his first name from the novel Anthony Adverse and his last name from "Kurtz", a surname from his mother's family. Although the studio taught him fencing and riding, Curtis admitted he was at first only interested in girls and money. Nonetheless, he was not hopeful of his chances in becoming a major actor, and feared having to return to the Bronx, a failure.

Although his early film roles were partly the result of his good looks, by the latter half of the 1950's he became a notable and strong screen presence. He began proving himself to be a “fine dramatic actor,” having the range to act in numerous dramatic and comedy roles. In his earliest parts he acted in a string of "mediocre" films, including swashbucklers, westerns, light comedies, sports films, and a musical. However, by the time he starred in Houdini (1953) with his wife Janet Leigh. He won his first serious recognition as a skilled dramatic actor in Sweet Smell of Success (1957) with co-star Burt Lancaster. The following year he was nominated for an Oscar for Best Actor in another drama, The Defiant Ones (1958). Curtis then gave what many believe was his best acting, in a completely different role, the comedy Some Like It Hot (1959). Thomson calls it an "outrageous film," and it was voted the number 1 funniest film in history from a survey done by the American Film Institute. It costarred Jack Lemmon and Marilyn Monroe, and was directed by Billy Wilder. That was followed by Blake Edwards’ comedy Operation Petticoat (1959) with Cary Grant. They were both “frantic comedies,” and displayed "his impeccable comic timing." He often collaborated with Edwards on later films. His most significant serious part came in 1968 when he starred in the true-life drama The Boston Strangler, which some consider his "last major film role." The part reinforced his reputation as a serious actor with his "chilling portrayal" of serial killer Albert DeSalvo. He gained 30 pounds and had his face "rebuilt" with a false nose to look like the real DeSalvo.

Curtis was married five times. His first wife was actress Janet Leigh, to whom he was married from 1951 to 1962, and with whom he fathered actresses Kelly and Jamie Lee Curtis. On July 8, 2010, Curtis, who suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), was hospitalized in Las Vegas after suffering an asthma attack during a book signing engagement in Henderson, Nevada and died at his Henderson, Nevada home on September 29, 2010, of a cardiac arrest. He is buried at Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Who died on this date:

On June 3, 1977, director Roberto Rossellini died. He was born on May 8, 1906 in Rome. His father built the first cinema in Rome, granting his son an unlimited free pass; the young Rossellini started frequenting the cinema at an early age. When his father died, he worked as a sound maker for films and for a certain time he experienced all the accessory jobs related to the creation of a film, gaining competence in each field.

In 1937, Rossellini made his first documentary, Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune. After this essay, he was called to assist Goffredo Alessandrini in making Luciano Serra pilota, one of the most successful Italian films of the first half of the 20th century. In 1940 he was called to assist Francesco De Robertis on Uomini sul Fondo. His first feature film, La nave bianca (1942) was sponsored by the audiovisual propaganda centre of Navy Department and is the first work in Rossellini's "Fascist Trilogy", together with Un pilota ritorna (1942) and Uomo dalla Croce (1943). To this period belongs his friendship and cooperation with Federico Fellini and Aldo Fabrizi. When the Fascist regime ended in 1943, just two months after the liberation of Rome, Rossellini was already preparing Roma città aperta (Rome, Open City 1945). Fellini assisted on the script and Fabrizi playing the role of the priest, while Rossellini self-produced. Most of the money came from credits and loans, and film had to be found on the black market. This dramatic film was an immediate success. Rossellini had started now his so-called Neorealistic Trilogy, the second title of which was Paisà (1946), produced with non-professional actors, and the third, Germany, Year Zero (1948), sponsored by a French producer and filmed in Berlin's French sector. In Berlin also, Rossellini preferred non-actors, but he was unable to find a face he found "interesting"; he placed his camera in the center of a town square, as he did for Paisà, but was surprised when nobody came to watch.

In 1948, Rossellini received a letter from a famous foreign actress proposing collaboration:

Dear Mr. Rossellini,

I saw your films Open City and Paisan, and enjoyed them very much. If you need a Swedish actress who speaks English very well, who has not forgotten her German, who is not very understandable in French, and who in Italian knows only "ti amo", I am ready to come and make a film with you.

Ingrid Bergman

With this letter began one of the best known love stories in film history, with Bergman and Rossellini both at the peak of their careers. Their first collaboration was Stromboli terra di Dio (1950). This affair caused a great scandal in some countries (Bergman and Rossellini were both married to other people); the scandal intensified when Bergman became pregnant. Rossellini and Bergman had three children, Isabella Rossellini (actress & model) and her twin, Ingrid Isotta, as well as a son Roberto Ingmar Rossellini. Europa '51 (1952) and Journey to Italy (1953), La paura (1954) and Giovanna d'Arco al rogo (1954) were the other films on which they worked together.

In 1957, Jawaharlal Nehru, the Indian Prime Minister at the time, invited him to India to make the documentary India and put some life into the floundering Indian Films Division. Though married to Bergman, he had an affair with Sonali Das Gupta, a screenwriter, who was helping develop vignettes for the film. Given the climate of the 1950’s this led to a huge scandal in India as well as Hollywood. Nehru had to ask Rossellini to leave. Rossellini's films after his early Neo-Realist films, particularly his films with Ingrid Bergman were commercially unsuccessful, though Journey to Italy is well regarded in some quarters. Roberto Rossellini died of a heart attack on June 3, 1977 in Rome, Italy and is buried at the Cimitero Monumentale del Verano in Rome, Italy.


http://www.michaelthomasbarry.com/, author of "Fade to Black: Graveside Memories of Hollywood Greats, 1927-1950"