In Memory: Harry Morgan. (April 10, 1915 – December 7, 2011)

Harry Morgan, a favorite character actor best known for playing the kindly Colonel Potter in the TV show “M*A*S*H,” died on Wednesday morning at his home in Los Angeles. He was 96.

His son Charles confirmed his death, saying Mr. Morgan had been treated for pneumonia recently.

In more than 100 movies, Mr. Morgan, performed in the movie, Orchestra Wives as a young man pushing his way to the front of a ballroom crowd with his date to hear Glenn Miller's band play.



A few years later, he was cast in the role of pianist Chummy MacGregor in the 1954 biopic The Glenn Miller Story.

Morgan continued to perform in important roles on the silver screen in films: The Ox-Bow Incident (1943), Wing and a Prayer (1944), Dragonwyck (1946), The Big Clock (1948), High Noon (1952), and several films in the 1950s for director Anthony Mann, including Bend of the River (1952), Thunder Bay (1953), The Glenn Miller Story (1954), The Far Country (1955) and Strategic Air Command (1955); in his later film career he appeared in Inherit the Wind (1960), How the West Was Won (1962), John Goldfarb, Please Come Home (1965), Frankie and Johnny (1966), Support Your Local Sheriff! (1969), Support Your Local Gunfighter! (1971), Snowball Express (1972), The Shootist (1976), The Wild Wild West Revisited (1979), and a cameo in the film version of Dragnet (1987) with Dan Ackroyd and Tom Hanks. Besides all of the Anthony Mann films, Morgan was in a number of movies with James Stewart, including Strategic Air Command (1955), The Mountain Road (1960), How the West Was Won (1962), The Glenn Miller Story (1954) and The Shootist (1976).



He also performed with John Wayne, in How the West Was Won, featuring Morgan portraying Ulysses S. Grant to Wayne's William Tecumseh Sherman in the John Ford-directed segment of the Cinerama film.

Morgan played Officer Bill Gannon, Joe Friday's partner in Dragnet (1967–1970).

In Memory: Judy Lewis (November 6, 1935 – November 25, 2011).

Judy Lewis was the biological daughter of actress Loretta Young and actor Clark Gable, who had a brief affair while working on the film, Call of the Wild. Young concealed her pregnancy to protect their film careers.

Judy looked a lot like Gable, including having his large ears. When Judy was fifteen, Gable came to her mother's house and asked about her. It was the only time that Judy ever spoke to Gable. When Judy met her future husband, it was he that told her that Gable was her biological father. Judy wrote a book about her life titled Uncommon Knowledge. Loretta Young died on August 12, 2000 at the age of 87, and confirmed in her autobiography, published after her death, that Gable was her father.

Lewis performed on TV serials: General Hospital, Kitty Foyle, The Brighter Day, The Doctors. Ms. Lewis had her longest running serial role on The Secret Storm as Susan Ames from 1964 - 1971. She also produced the short-lived Another World spin-off, Texas and was a script writer for NBC Daytime's Search for Tomorrow.

Video: Judy Lewis interview:

 

In Memory: Karl Slover (September 21, 1918 – November 15, 2011).

Karl Slover (September 21, 1918 – November 15, 2011) was a Slovak-born American actor and was one of four surviving munchkins from the film, The Wizard of Oz.(1939). A lifelong bachelor, Slover lived in Dublin, Georgia until his death at 93.

At the the age of 9 years old, Slover's father, sent him to Berlin, Germany to join up with a traveling midget show. After working with the show for several years, Slover moved to the United States where he joined another traveling show. It wasn't long before Slover began appearing as midgets in films: The Terror of Tiny Town, Block-Heads, Bringing Up Baby and They Gave Him a Gun.

Slover was working in Hawaii when his circus manager sent him to Hollywood, where "little people" were needed for an upcoming film called The Wizard of Oz. At the age of 21 and standing just 4 feet 4 inches (making him the smallest of the Munchkins), Slover played the parts of four munchkins in the movie: the first trumpeter, a soldier, one of the sleepy heads, and was among those who sang 'Follow the Yellow Brick Road'.

After filming 'Oz', Slover began working for the 'Original World Famous Singers Midget Show' where he sang and danced throughout the United States. When the show ended in 1942, Slover joined the Royal American Carnival in Tampa, Florida.

Slover, participated in several celebrations related to the Wizard of Oz. Every June, Slover attended festivities celebrating Judy Garland's birthday at the Judy Garland Museum and Birthplace in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In November 2007, Slover joined seven other surviving munchkins in Hollywood where honorary mayor Johnny Grant unveiled a star dedicated to the munchkins on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In Memory: Silent Film Star Barbara Kent (December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011).

Barbara Kent (December 16, 1907 – October 13, 2011). Was one of the last surviving stars of silent films, passed away in Palm Desert, Calif. She was 103. She began her Hollywood career in 1925, aged 17. She is best known for her performance with Greta Garbo in the film, Flesh and the Devil(1926).

She attracted attention in the film, No Man's Law(1927), by appearing to swim nude (she wore a flesh colored bathing suit). She made a smooth transition into talking pictures opposite, Harold Lloyd in the comedy, Welcome Danger (1929). Kent was also featured with Lloyd in the film, Feet First. She received praise for her role in the film, Oliver Twist(1933).

Her marriage in 1934 to casting agent and producer Harry E. Edington interrupted her career. During a one-year hiatus, Edington groomed Kent for what he intended to be a high-profile career; however by the time she returned to films, her popularity had waned and she was unable to establish herself again. She made her final film in 1935.

Please click here to read Indiscreet(1933) movie review.

Video: Indiscreet (1933) Full length Movie .

Cliff Robertson (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011).

Cliff Robertson (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011), began his acting career performing in a bit part in the film,  Mr. Roberts (1950) in Boston. Robertson played a future President of the United States in PT 109 (chosen personally by John F. Kennedy to portray the then-Lt. Kennedy) and a presidential candidate in, The Best Man (1964). Later came Charly (an adaptation of Flowers for Algernon for which he won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor).

Other wonderful Cliff Robertson films include: Picnic (1955), Autumn Leaves (1956), Gidget (1959), Sunday in New York (1963), Devil's Brigade (1968), Too Late the Hero (1970), J. W. Coop (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Obsession (1976), Star 80 (1983) and Malone (1987). Later in life he performed as Uncle Ben Parker in, Spider-Man (2002), as well as in the sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007).

Robertson, for ten years was a national TV spokesman for AT and T.

An underated actor that surly will be missed.

Video: First of 5.

In Memory: Elaine Stewart (May 31, 1930 – June 27, 2011)

Elaine Stewart (May 31, 1930 – June 27, 2011), made her debut by winning Miss See in See Magazine in 1952. She was in many magazines such as Playboy and Photoplay.

She had a supporting role in the film, The Bad and the Beautiful (1952). She also performed in: Brigadoon, Night Passage and The Adventures of Hajji Baba.


She is also known as the co-hostess on two 1970s game shows, Gambit with Wink Martindale and the nighttime edition of High Rollers with Alex Trebek.

In Memory: Peter Falk. (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011).

Peter Falk, (September 16, 1927 – June 23, 2011), was best known as the rumpled detective in "Columbo," which spanned 30 years was one of the most iconic characters. "Columbo" was part of the NBC Sunday Mystery Movie series, appearing every third week. The show became by far the most popular of the three mysteries, the others being "McCloud" and "McMillan and Wife."

Columbo, never had a first name. "He looks like a flood victim," Falk once said. "You feel sorry for him. He appears to be seeing nothing, but he's seeing everything. Underneath his dishevelment, a good mind is at work."

Columbo's trademark was an raincoat Falk had once bought for himself. After 25 years on television, the coat became so tattered it had to be replaced.

Falk made his film debut in, "Wind Across the Everglades(1958)" and established himself as a talented character actor with his performance as the vicious killer Abe Reles in, "Murder, Inc." Some of his other movies: "It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World," "Robin and the Seven Hoods," "The Great Race," "Luv," "Castle Keep," "The Cheap Detective," "The Brinks Job," "The In-Laws," "The Princess Bride."

Falk also performed in the films: Husbands, A Woman Under the Influence, Wings of Desire, in which he played himself. Falk became prominent in television movies, beginning with his first Emmy for, The Price of Tomatoes (1961). His four other Emmys were for "Columbo."

When not working, Falk converted his garage into a studio where he created charcoal drawings.

I will never forget his catch praise "Just one more thing..."

In Memory: James Arness.

James Arness (May 26, 1923 – June 3, 2011). Was best known for playing Marshal Matt Dillon on Gunsmoke for 20 years. His younger brother was actor Peter Graves. Arness, played the role of Marshal Matt Dillon in five decades: 1955 to 1975 in the weekly series, then in Gunsmoke: Return to Dodge (1987) and four more made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies in the 1990s. He is also well known for his performance in western series, How the West Was Won.

Thanks Jim, for all those wonderful westerns. Adios Amigo.

In Memory: Farley Granger (July 1, 1925 – March 27, 2011).

Farley Granger(July 1, 1925 – March 27, 2011), career spanned over several decades and was best known for his two films with Alfred Hitchcock, Rope(1948) and Strangers on a Train (1951). I'm kind of freaking out.. I wrote this tribute a couple of weeks ago to add to N and CF in April.

Farley Granger, father owned a automobile dealership and following the stock market crash in 1929, the Grangers were forced to sell their homes. The family moved to a small apartment in Hollywood. Wanting, to become a tap dancer Granger, enrolled at Ethel Meglin's, the dance and drama studio where Judy Garland and Shirley Temple trained.

It was not long before the family could afford a small house in Studio City, one of their neighbors was actor/dancer Donald O'Connor. Granger's father meet Harry Langdon, who said he should take his son to open auditions for the film, The Wookie. Granger's Cockney accent impressed the director and he was cast in many roles. The opening night audience included talent agent Phil Gersh and Samuel Goldwyn casting director Bob McIntyre, and the next day Gersh, contacted Granger to come to his office to discuss the role in the film, The North Star(1943)(pictured below).

The North Star, is a war film directed by Lewis Milestone and written by Lillian Hellman. Cast: Anne Baxter, Dana Andrews, Walter Huston, Walter Brennan and Erich von Stroheim. The music was written by Aaron Copland, the lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and the cinematography was by James Wong Howe. The film is about the resistance of Ukrainian villagers, through guerrilla warfare, against the German invaders of Ukraine. The film was a pro-Soviet propaganda film.

For Granger's next film, The Purple Heart (1944). Another war film directed by Lewis Milestone. It is loosely based on the trial of eight airmen who took part in the April 18, 1942, Doolittle Raid {Three were executed and one died as a POW}. It starred Dana Andrews as the leader of the downed crew and was directed by Lewis Milestone. Eighteen-year-old, Farley Granger had a supporting role. Granger become close friends with supporting cast member Sam Levene. He also became friends with Roddy McDowall and found himself linked with June Haver in the tabloids. After completion of The Purple Heart, Granger enlisted in the United States Navy.

When, Granger returned to civilian life he was introduced to Saul Chaplin and his wife Ethyl, who became his lifelong, confidante. Through the couple, Granger met Gene Kelly, who invited him to join his open house gatherings. Most influential among his new friends was director Nicholas Ray, who cast Granger in his film noir, They Live by Night (1949), based on Edward Anderson's Depression-era novel, Thieves Like Us. The film was directed by Nicholas Ray and starred Farley Granger and Cathy O'Donnell. The movie was the first of many "couple on the run" films. The story begins when Bowie, escapes from prison with bank robbers Chicama and T-Dub. Bowie is unfairly convicted of murder. Bowie needs the money to hire a lawyer to prove he's innocent. Bowie, injured in an auto accident, finds refuge with the daughter of the owner of a gas station. They marry and plan to live an honest life. But then Chicamaw and T-Dub return and demand that Bowie come with them for one more job. Bowie refuses but finds that he is unable to escape from being hunted by the law.

Granger, was in New York when he got the call to return to Hollywood and discuss the film, Rope (1948) with Hitchcock. A crime film based on the play, Rope(1929). By Patrick Hamilton and adapted by Hume Cronyn and Arthur Laurents. Starring James Stewart, John Dall and Farley Granger, it is the first of Hitchcock's Technicolor films. The original play was said to be inspired by the real-life murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks in 1924, by University of Chicago students Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb.

After completion of Rope, Goldwyn cast Granger, Teresa Wright, David Niven and Evelyn Keyes in the film, Enchantment(1948). Another romantic film starring David Niven and Teresa Wright. Directed by Irving Reis. It was based on the novel, Take Three Tenses by Rumer Godden.Granger's next two films, Edge of Doom(1950), film noir shot in black and white. The film was directed by Mark Robson. The screenplay was written by Philip Yordan. The film is based on a novel by Leo Brady. Cinematography by Academy Award winner Harry Stradling Sr. The film has never been released on video because of the subject matter. The film is considered one of the bleakest films of the 1950s.

He went on to film, Strangers on a Train, psychological thriller produced and directed by Alfred Hitchcock. It was shot in the autumn of 1950 and released by Warner Bros. on June 30, 1951. The film stars Farley Granger, Ruth Roman and Robert Walker, and features Leo G. Carroll, Patricia Hitchcock and Laura Elliott. Strangers on a Train, proved to be the first major success of Granger's career, and his "happiest film making experience."

Wanting to work with Vincente Minnelli, Granger accepted a role opposite Leslie Caron and Ethel Barrymore in, Mademoiselle(1953), one of three segments in the film, The Story of Three Loves. Granger's next film, was Small Town Girl, a musical with Jane Powell, Ann Miller and Bobby Van.

After its completion, he bought his release from Goldwyn, a decision that left him with financial problems. Granger was determined to move to Manhattan to study acting and perform on stage, but his agent convinced him to accept a role in Senso, directed by Luchino Visconti and co-starring Alida Valli. Filming in Italy lasted nine months. During his time in Venice, Granger met Mike Todd, who wanted him into making a cameo in his epic, Around the World in Eighty Days. When he returned to Hollywood he was happy about the experience. Darryl Zanuck offered Granger a two-picture deal:

The Girl in the Red Velvet Swing (1955), is a film directed by Richard Fleischer and starring Joan Collins, Ray Milland and Farley Granger. Originally planned was Marilyn Monroe in the title role, and then suspended her when she refused to do the film. It is the fictionalized story of Evelyn Nesbit, a model and actress, and the scandal surrounding the murder of her former lover, architect Stanford White, by her current husband rail tycoon Harry Kendall Thaw.

The Naked Street (1955), is a crime film noir directed by Maxwell Shane. The drama features Farley Granger, Anthony Quinn and Anne Bancroft. The story is about a tough racketeer, who pulls strings to get his sister's boyfriend out of the death house.

In Memory: Jane Russell. (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011).

Jane Russell (June 21, 1921 – February 28, 2011), after she moved to California, she signed a seven-year contract with Howard Hughes and made her first film, The Outlaw (1943), a story about Billy the Kid that showcased her curvy figure. She was not in another movie until she played Joan Kenwood in the film the, Young Widow(1946).

She performed in many movie roles such as, Calamity Jane, opposite Bob Hope in, The Paleface (1948), Son of Paleface (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) opposite Marilyn Monroe.



She performed in two movies with Robert Mitchum, His Kind of Woman (1951) and Macao (1952).

Please click to view "Great On Screen Couples" Robert Mitchum and Jane Russell.

She also performed in the films, Double Dynamite (1951), The Las Vegas Story (1952), Foxfire (1955) and she performed with Clark Gable and Robert Ryan in, The Tall Men (1955).

In the Howard Hughes film, The French Line (1954), the movie showcased Russell in a very sexy one-piece bathing suit, performing a then-provocative musical number, "Lookin' for Trouble."

In 1955, Russell and her first husband, former Los Angeles Rams quarterback Bob Waterfield, formed Russ-Field Productions. They produced Gentlemen Marry Brunettes (1955), The King and Four Queens (1956) starring Clark Gable and Eleanor Parker, Run for the Sun (1956) and The Fuzzy Pink Nightgown (1957). We have lost another wonderful actress.

Anne Francis (September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011).

Anne Francis (September 16, 1930 – January 2, 2011), was best known for her role in the film, Forbidden Planet (1956) and in one of my favorite television series, Honey West (1965–1966).

RIP Anne Francis (1930 - 2011)

SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) -- Anne Francis, the actress who appeared in the 1956 sci-fi classic Forbidden Planet and later starred as a sexy detective in the TV series Honey West, died Sunday from complications of pancreatic cancer, according to The Los Angeles Times. She was 80. A family spokeswomen told The Los Angeles Times that Francis, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007, died at a retirement home in Santa Barbara, California. Francis’ career also included roles in films such as Blackboard Jungle, Bad Day at Black Rock, Funny Girl and Battle Cry. According to IMDB.com, the actress’s last acting role was a 2004 appearance in the CBS series Without a Trace.

But it was Forbidden Planet and her role as the daughter of a scientist on a planet inhabited by an alien monster that brought Francis fame in Hollywood. The movie co-starred Walter Pidegon, as well as Leslie Nielsen, who died on Nov. 28, 2010. Francis also broke ground with the TV series Honey West. Though it only ran one season, from 1965-1966, it was one of the first TV series to star a woman in an action role.

According to IMDB.com, Francis was married and divorced twice. She leaves behind two daughters.