The nervous man, put upon husband, the silly servant and the distinct voice are all phrases that describe actor Edward Everett Horton. Horton was born in Brooklyn in 1886 and started his career working on the New York stage while he was studying at Columbia in 1907. He then was hired by the Dempsey Light Opera Company to perform Gilbert and Sullivan operettas on Staten Island. Horton moved to Los Angeles and rented a theater where he produced and acted in plays. He was also available to take movie roles in the 1920's. His career took off when talkies came into being and his distinctive voice and deadpan delivery made him a very popular character actor. He appeared in films with Fred Astaire, Miriam Hopkins, Carey Grant and Katherine Hepburn.
Edward Everett Horton was also very popular on television appearing on scores of television shows. It was for his voice over work that most people remember him best. He was the narrator of "Fractured Fairy Tales" on "The Rocky and Bullwinkle Show". Horton never had a studio contract always working free-lance. He was known to be very frugal and through his frugality he and his brother bought several acres of land in Encino where Horton built a series of houses for himself and his family. His property was in the path of the Ventura Freeway and had to be sold cutting his street short. After his death the shortened street was named after him. He lived in Encino with his long time companion actor Gavin Gordon who was 15 years his junior. Edward Everett Horton died in 1970 at the age of 84.
Bela Lugosi's dead
The bats have left the bell tower
The victims have been bled
Red velvet lines the black box
The last years of Bela Lugosi's life were not the stuff of glamour, not those of an international star. Dracula made him famous to the point of infamous and it was Dracula that made his life a hell. His hell came to an end in a small apartment on a quiet street across from an elementary school in an at that time less than fashionable Hollywood neighborhood. The mansion in the hills was long gone, the money and the acclaim as well. What was left was a gaunt pale Hungarian looking very like the un-dead after a long battle with a heroin addiction.
The road from the Budapest stage to Harold Way in Hollywood was a long and colorful route filled with the very heights of stardom and the misery of typecasting. There were five wives along this route as well as a son.
Lugosi after years of drug addiction had a very hard time finding work sometimes making personal appearances at horror conventions. Notoriously bad film maker Ed Wood seeing name recognition value in Lugosi used him in several of his low budget movies. This part of Lugosi's life was captured in Tim Burton's bio-pic "Ed Wood" portrayed by Martin Landau. Wood's films were shot on the fly scenes for "Plan 9 From Outer Space" were shot on the street in front of Lugosi's Harold Way apartment.
It was in the Harold Way apartment that Lugosi spent his last days and where he died. He was found dead on the sofa in his living room by his fifth wife Hope. Lugosi died at the age of 73 on August 16, 1956. It was rumored that Lugosi was holding a script written by Wood and that his funeral was paid for by Frank Sinatra these rumors are both false. Lugosi was buried in his Dracula costume.
February 24th is Abe Vigoda's birthday. On this day he has turned 93. Abe Vigoda the sad faced actor made his first real mark in Hollywood as gangster Sal Tessio in Frances Coppola's Godfather. He was then cast in Barney Miller as long suffering detective Fish. The character of Fish then got his own sitcom where Vigoda played Phil Fish along side Florence Stanley as his wife Bernice. The show ran for two seasons.
It was in 1982 that People magazine reported that Abe Vigoda had died and it was pick up by other media outlets. This has become a long running joke that Vigoda has enjoyed for over three decades. Yes Abe Vigoda is alive and 93.
Carl Switzer was the actor best known for playing Alfalfa in the Our Gang series in the 1930's. Switzer was born in Illinois and when on a family vacation in Los Angeles Carl and his brother Harold were discovered by Hal Roach while they were performing at the Our Gang Café across the street from the Hal Roach studios. Both brothers were signed to contracts and went to work immediately in the Our Gang shorts. Harold eventually was used a mainly an extra but Carl was cast as Alfalfa the kid with the cowlick and off key singing voice.
During the run of the series Carl Switzer was his families main source of income. He was also the most troublesome of the Our Gang kids. Switzer was often the cause of trouble on the set and was considered a mean kid by many of the other cast members and despised by the crew. In 1938 MGM bought the series from Hal Roach and production was moved to the MGM lot. The series focus became much more centered on the Alfalfa character for the next two years. Switzer left the series in 1940 when he was 12 years old. His career never really took hold after this time he played mainly bit parts in B movies. He did have some small roles in bigger films but he never achieved the status he once had as a child.
In the early 1950's Switzer appeared on television in guest star roles and supplemented his income with raising and training hunting dogs as well as bartending. In 1954 he was set up on a blind date with a woman named Dian Collingwood the heiress from Kansas. They were married three months later in Las Vegas. They were running low on money as Switzer's family had used up most of his earnings from Our Gang. He and his wife had a child (Justin) and little to no income so they accepted the gift of a farm in Kansas. Switzer tried to be a farmer but wasn't cut out for it and the marriage suffered. He and his wife were divorced in 1957. Switzer then moved back to Los Angeles and was more actively involved in the breeding of hunting dogs.
In the late 50's Switzer had a couple of problems with the law. He was arrested in the Sequoia National Forrest in December of 1958 for cutting down pine trees. One of his hunting dog clients Bud Stilz, lost his dog on a hunting trip and Switzer set about finding the dog offering a $50 reward for the return of the dog. Several days later a man contacted Switzer and agreed to come to the bar in Studio City where Switzer was working at the time. Several days later on January 12,1959 Switzer and a friend were drinking and decided that Stilz "owed" Switzer the $50. They drove to the house where Stilz was living in Mission Hills and pounded on the door demanding the money. A fight ensued and Stilz pulled out a revolver. Switzer then pulled out a switchblade and lunged at Stilz who shot him. Carl Switzer was shot in the groin and bled to death on the way to the hospital. He was 31 years old.
Howard McNear was a character actor born in Los Angeles in 1905. His life and his career was almost entirely spent in Los Angeles. McNear did for a time work in a San Diego theater but he was soon back to his hometown. He worked steadily after World War II on radio, in films and television. McNear was on the radio version of "Gunsmoke" he originated the character of Doc Adams playing it for 9 years. He is most know for the nervous and vague character Floyd the barber on the Andy Griffith Show. He played the character for many years stopping briefly after he had a stroke. He was off the show for almost a year recovering. When he returned to the series he was partially paralyzed and could not stand or walk well. He disability was hidden with camera tricks and props.
Howard McNear also appeared in dozens of movies. He was always cast as a goofy or nervous man often as a barber oddly enough. Some of the films he was in are classics like "Bell Book and Candle","Irma La Douce" and "Kiss Me, Stupid".
It was Floyd that made him a recognized face though. The cast of the Andy Griffith show claimed that he wasn't acting that he was just being himself.
Howard McNear died in 1969 from pneumonia after having another stroke. He was 63.
In September of 1965 America was introduced to one of the most confused characters in network television history, Dr. Alfred Bellows played by veteran character actor Hayden Rorke. Hayden Rorke played the role of Dr. Bellows the NASA psychiatrist a man obsessed with Tony Nelson and the strange goings on in his life on "I Dream of Jeannie". Hayden Rorke played the character with just enough pathos that you felt bad for Dr. Bellows when he was always tricked by Jeanine and made to look the fool. Even Dr. Bellow's wife sometimes had her doubts in her husband's sanity.
Hayden Rorke was born, William Henry Rorke in New York in 1910 to stage and screen actress Margaret Rorke. He took his stage name Hayden from his mother's maiden name. Rorke studied at the American Academy of Dramatic arts in the 1920's and began a stage career in the 1930's. He enlisted in the army during World War II and it was then he made his first film appearance in the movie musical "This is the Army" starring Ronald Reagan.
After the war Rorke returned to Broadway and eventually made his move to Hollywood in the late 1940's playing small parts that were usually uncredited. Mr. Rorke appeared in these roles though out the 40's and 50's. In 1957 he was cast in a television show "Mr. Adams and Eve" starring real life married couple Howard Duff and Ida Lupino playing married Beverly Hills actors. Hayden Rorke played the part of Steve their agent. The show ran for two years. Rorke then went on to play guest appearances in sitcoms and dramas like "I Love Lucy" and "Perry Mason". His big shot was playing the always exasperated Dr. Bellows on "I Dream of Jeannie" for the entire 5 year run. He also reprised the role in the made for TV movie "I Dream of Jeannie...15 Years Later". This would be his last acting role.
Hayden Rorke died shortly after that from Multiple Myeloma in the Studio City home he shared with his long time partner film and television director Justus Addiss. He was 76 years old.
Nicholas Smith aged 79 is the last living cast member of the British sitcom "Are You Being Served?"
Smith's role was that of Cuthbert Rumboldt the department manager in the fictional Grace Brothers Department Store. Know by the rest of the staff as "Jug Ears" Mr. Rumboldt was the bumbling manager who liked his power and would kow tow to the stores owner Mr. Grace. Nicholas Smith played the character for the whole 13 year run of the series and then returned for second series called "Grace and Favor" playing Mr. Rumboldt again.
He worked consistently through out the 1960's and 1970's but didn't become well known until he was cast in "Are you Being Served?" He works still to this day and was a voice in the very successful Wallace and Gromit movies. In 2008 he was reunited with two of the other actors from AYBS Trevor Bannister and Frank Thornton when he appeared on an episode of "Last of the Summer Wine".
The actor on the sitcom "Two and a Half Men" Angus T. Jones has declared the show to be filth and asks viewers to sop watching it. It seems Mr. Jones has had a religious conversion and now feels that the show is bad. He did sign a contract to be on what could now be called "Two Men and a Hypocrite" and has a year to go. He claims the show goes against his new religious beliefs but taking the pay check apparently isn't.
Jones has been on the show for ten years and it has always been rather filthy and puerile if he hadn't noticed it. He could have left when Charlie Sheen left the show and simply not signed the contract that is keeping him there. He could also break the contract and give back some of the money. His character can easily be written out and he can go on his sanctimonious way.
Geoffrey Hughes is known to most American's as Onslow the bone idle brother-in-law of Hyacinth Bucket on the television series 'Keeping Up Appearances". Hughes had a long and successful television career in the UK. Like many British actors he started his career in repertory theater and pantomime then moving on to perform in West End shows. His first television role came in 1969 with a small role on a sitcom. Hughes worked off and on in sitcoms before landing the role of Eddie Yeats on the long running soap opera "Coronation Street". Eddie was from Liverpool and a bit a bounder working as a widow cleaner and builder as well as a petty thief. Hughes played Eddie for nearly ten years before leaving the show in 1983. He did return very briefly for one season in 1987. The next role he had was that of Onslow on "Keeping Up Appearances". Hughes played Onslow for the five year run of the show.
His next major role was that of Twiggy on the sitcom "The Royale Family". The series set in Manchester was about the television obsessed family living on state benefits. Twiggy was a petty criminal and friend of the family.
Hughes also had a role in one of the very popular "Carry On" films. His was also the voice of Paul McCartney in the animated film "Yellow Submarine".
When not acting Hughes lived on the Isle of Wright. In 2009 he was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant to the Isle of Wright which made him the official link between the island and royalty at official engagements.
Geoffrey Hughes had battled prostate cancer starting in 2010 and died at his home on the Isle of Wright in July of 2102.
Lucille Bliss died on November 8, 2012. You most likely would not recognise her name but you would know her voice. Bliss was a very successful voice over actress. Ms Bliss' voice has been the voice of very memorable animated characters. Her voice was the voice of the title role of the first made for television cartoon Crusader Rabbit. Bliss also worked in animated films. She is the voice of one of the horrid step-sisters in Disney's "Cinderella" as well as in "101 Dalmations". Her real fame came from her television characters. She was the voice of Bam Bam Rubble and Elroy Jetson in the 60's and later was the voice of Smurfette.
Bliss a pioneer in telvision animation was born in New York in 1916 and later lived in San Francisco where she started working in radio dramas.. When she heard that Walt Disney was casting role for Cinderella she moved to LA and auditioned. Disney gave Ms. Bliss her Hollywood first job.
I'm an actress specializing in voices," Bliss once told a writer. "I don't like
the term 'voice-over.' … You have to be an actor first, and then the voice....
You have to take acting lessons to learn how to act before you can speak."
Lucille Bliss died of natural causes at the age of 96 while living in an assisted living center in Costa Mesa, California.
The ultimate wasp and nosey mother-in-law was what Mabel Albertson played on TV and in the movies but in fact she was neither. She was born in Lynn Massachusetts in 1901 to Russian born Jewish immigrant parents. Albertson's mother was a stock actress who worked in a shoe factory in Lynn to make ends meet for her family. Albertson's younger brother was another actor Jack Albertson from "Chico and the Man", "Willie Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" and "Poseidon Adventure" fame.
Alberston started her film career in the late 20's and early 30's. One of her memorable film roles was as a banker's wife in "Ma and Pa Kettle go to Waikiki". In the 50's she began appearing on television. Alberston began playing a series of waspy busy body mothers and mother-in-laws. She was Donald Hollinger's mother on "That Girl" and she was most famous for her role as Mrs. Stevens Samantha's neurotic mother-in-law on "Bewitched". She was also Howard Sprauge's mother on "The Andy Griffith Show". She also played Paul Lynde's mother-in-law on the "Paul Lynde Show". One of her most memorable film role was in "What's Up Doc" as Mrs. Van Hoskins the woman who's jewels were stolen.
In real life she was a mother-in-law to Cloris Leachman when she was married to Albertson's son George Englund.
Mabel Albertson died from the complications of Alzheimer's disease in 1982 at the age of 81.
His name is now mostly associated with a chain of fish and chip shops but he was a very fine actor. Born and raised in England he started his stage career after service in World War I. He was brought to the US by Billy Rose for his Broadway production of Sweet and Low. Treacher than branched out into the movies and was a co-star to Shirley Temple in some of her most iconic roles. Treacher being six feet four inches towered over her in the song and dance routines. The role he is most remembered for though was of Jeeves the ultimate man's man. As P G Wodehouse's valet Jeeves he was in two of the Jeeves and Wooster films. He then went on to play a series of butlers and valets. One of his memorable butler roles was on The Beverly Hillbillies. He played a butler named Arthur Pinkley who thinks that the Clampetts are servants and they think he is a border.
Other people will remember Arthur Treacher as Merv Griffen's side kick for many years on the Merv Griffen show. He left the show when it was relocated from New York to Los Angeles. He was rather elderly at the time and felt he couldn't move to a place where the ground would shake.
One of Treachers last movie roles was that of Constable Jones in Walt Disney's Mary Poppins.
Arthur Treach died at the age of 81 in New York. He was married to his wife Virginia Taylor for 31 years at the time of his death from a heart attack.
The legendary Dick Van Dyke is receiving a lifetime achievement award from SAG. He will get the award at the Screen Actors Guild awards ceremony in January. It seems about time.
The man is 86 years old! It is had to believe he is 86 but he is.
Dick Van Dyke is a performer that can do just about anything. He can sing, dance and act. The only thing he seems to have had a time with was a decent English accent. He is most remembered for his role as Rob Petrie on the Dick Van Dyke Show of the 1960's. Based on the creator Carl Reiner's time as a writer for Your Show of Shows the Dick Van Dyke Show, still seen in reruns, is considered to be a sitcom masterpiece.
Dick Van Dyke and his younger brother Jerry were raised in the mid-west. His father was of Dutch ancestry and his mother a descendant of a passenger of the Mayflower. Mr Van Dyke's career really started during his service in World War II. After the was he was living in LA. Dick Van Dyke married Margerie Willett on a radio show called "Bride and Groom". They eventually had 4 children and were married for 34 years. That's a reality show! Van Dyke had an act in the 50's where he would lip sync to old 78 records. His body and his ability has always been his strength.
Two of the biggest family movies star Dick Van Dyke. Mary Poppins and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang have been seen by generations of families are continue to do so. His performance of Bert in "Mary Poppins" defines what way too many American's believe to be the ultimate Cockney. All chimney sweeps should look like Bert. His characterization of the old Mr. Dawes (credited to the anagram Nackvid Keyd) is brilliant. "What was the name of his other leg?"
The Dick Van Dyke Show was his break through and possible masterpiece. He worked on camera with Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie and the genius of the one liners, Morey Amsterdam. This was a sitcom that has set the bar for all other sitcoms. There is nothing more to be said about the Dick Van Dyke Show other than perfect.
Dick Van Dyke has had a long television career after the original show went off the air. He starred in a second Dick Van Dyke Show in the 70's where he was married to Hope Lange. During this period Van Dyke realized he was an alcoholic and he needed to sober up. He did!
"Diagnosis Murder" brought him back to series television for 8 years. On this show Dick Van Dyke was able to work with Barry Van Dyke his son. On this show he played a doctor who solved crimes.
The stage also has been a Van Dyke venue. He starred in "Bye Bye Birdie" on Broadway and later in life starred in the "Gin Game" reuniting with Mary Tyler Moore.
He deserves to receive the SAG Lifetime Achievement Award. He in his lifetime has achieved.
