Advanced search
- TITLES
- NAMES
- COLLABORATIONS
Search filters
Enter full date
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
Only includes names with the selected topics
to
or just enter yyyy, or yyyy-mm below
to
1-15 of 15
- Writer
- Producer
- Actor
Carl Reiner is a legend of American comedy, who achieved great success as a comic actor, a director, producer and recording artist. He won nine Emmy Awards, three as an actor, four as a writer and two as a producer. He also won a Grammy Award for his album "The 2,000 Year Old Man", based on his comedy routine with Mel Brooks.
Reiner was born in The Bronx, to Bessie (Mathias) and Irving Reiner, a watchmaker. His father was an Austrian Jewish immigrant and his mother was a Romanian Jewish immigrant. At the age of sixteen, while working as a sewing machine repairman, he attended a dramatic workshop sponsored by the Works Progress Administration. The direction of his life was set.
In the 1970s, some sources claimed that Reiner made his movie debut in New Faces of 1937 (1937), but that is unlikely as he would have only been fifteen years old at the time. (the movie shares the same plot as his erstwhile partner Mel Brooks' classic The Producers (1967), with a crooked producer planning to fleece his "angels" by producing a flop and absconding with the money). He didn't appear on screen, silver or small, until he made his television debut in 1948 in the short-lived television series, The Fashion Story (1948), then became a regular, the following year, on The Fifty-Fourth Street Revue (1949), another television series with a brief life.
Reiner made his Broadway debut in 1949 in the musical "Inside U.S.A.", a hit that ran for 399 performances. His next Broadway show, the musical revue "Alive and Kicking" (1950) was a flop, lasting just 43 performances. Max Liebman, the producer/director/writer/composer, had been called in to provide additional material after the show's troubled six week out-of-town preview in Boston. It didn't help -- the show closed after six weeks on Broadway -- but an important contact had been made.
Leibman was a producer-director on Your Show of Shows (1950), one of the great television series, and he hired Reiner to appear on the show in the middle of its first season. Reiner's first gig on the revue-like show was interviewing The Professor, a character played by Sid Caesar. He became central to the comedy portions of the show and, in 1953, he racked up the first of six Emmy Award nominations for acting. (In all, he was nominated for an Emmy Award a total of 13 times). When, in 1954, "Your Show of Shows" was split up by the network into its constituent parts, Reiner continued on with Sid in Caesar's Hour (1954). (Imogene Coca was given her own show, which lasted one season, and Leibman was allowed to produce specials).
"Your Show or Shows" had been a Broadway-style revue, featuring skits such as dancing (including a young Bob Fosse) whereas "Caesar's Hour" was pure comedy. "Your Show of Shows" had had a great cast, another other than Coca, most of the cast, including Reiner, Howard Morris, and Nanette Fabray (who went on to win an Emmy Award) moved over to "Caesar's Hour". In his three seasons on the show, he was nominated three more times for an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor, winning twice in 1957 and 1958. But it was its stable of comedy writers that was essential to the great success of both "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour". In addition to Mel Brooks, the writing staff included Neil Simon, his brother Danny Simon, Larry Gelbart and Mel Tolkin. (There are rumors that the young Woody Allen served as the writing staff's typist).
Reiner had sat in informally with the writers during "Your Show of Shows", but he began writing formally for "Caesar's Hour", having learned his craft from all of the other writers. As a self-described uncredited "writer without portfolio", he was able to leave writers' meetings at 6 P.M., if he wanted to. This gave him the time to work on a semi-autobiographical novel. Published in 1958, Enter Laughing (1967) is about a young man in 1930s New York trying to make it in show business. It was transformed into a play and, eventually, adapted into a movie in 1967, and a musical, many years later.
In 1959, he created the pilot for a television series, "Man of the House", in which he would play a writer, Rob Petrie, who balanced his family life with the demands of working as a writer for a comedy show headlined by an egotistical comedic genius modeled after Sid Caesar (a "benign despot" who lacked social skills, according to Reiner). The series was rooted in his experience on "Your Show of Shows" and "Caesar's Hour". The network didn't pick up the pilot at first, as CBS executives claimed the main character, which was clearly autobiographical on Reiner's part, was too New York, too Jewish and too intellectual. In 1960, Reiner teamed up with Mel Brooks on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show (1956), and their routine "The 2000 Year Old Man" was a huge success. Reiner played the straight man to Brooks in the routine, which was spun-off into five comedy albums, bringing them a Grammy Award. They also made an animated television special based on their shtick in 1975.
Though CBS turned down "Man of the House", with the two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian Reiner as the lead, it was still interested in the series. However, they wanted a different actor in the lead role, and the casting of the protagonist came down to Johnny Carson and Dick Van Dyke. Carson was a game show host of no great note at the time, but Van Dyke was in the smash Broadway musical Bye Bye Birdie (1963), for which he won a Tony Award. He got the role and another chapter of television history was made, when Mary Tyler Moore, Rose Marie and Morey Amsterdam all were cast in leading roles. Reiner, himself, would eventually play the role of Alan Brady, the abrasive Sid Caesar-like comic convinced of his own genius, in the last few seasons of the series' five-year run.
Another milestone in television comedy, The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961), brought Reiner five more Emmy Awards, three for writing and two as the producer of the series. In 1966, Reiner and the other principals, including executive producer Sheldon Leonard and Dick Van Dyke, decided to end the series at the height of its popularity and critical acclaim. (The show won Emmy Awards as best show and best comedy in 1965 and 1966, respectively). Twenty-nine years after the show was ended, Reiner reprised the role of Alan Brady on Mad About You (1992), winning his eighth (and so far, last) Emmy Award, this time as Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
It was on "The Dick Van Dyke Show" that Reiner first became a director. His feature film debut, as a director, was with the film adaptation of the play Joseph Stein had adapted from his 1958 novel, Enter Laughing (1967). His work as a writer-director, with Dick Van Dyke, in creating a Stan Laurel-type character in The Comic (1969) was not a success, but Where's Poppa? (1970) became a cult classic and Oh, God! (1977), with George Burns, and The Jerk (1979), with Steve Martin, were smash hits. The last film he directed was the romantic comedy That Old Feeling (1997).
Reiner's career continued into the 21st century, when most of his contemporaries had retired or passed. He was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2000 and acted in the remake of Ocean's Eleven (2001) and its two sequels. He also appeared as a voice artist in the film Good Boy (2003), and the animated series The Cleveland Show (2009) (he even wrote an episode for the series rooted in his "Your Show of Shows" experience). He was also a regular on the series Hot in Cleveland (2010) (with fellow nonagenarian Betty White), and appeared on an episode of Parks and Recreation (2009) in 2012. His last film role was as the voice of Carl Reineroceros in Toy Story 4 (2019), opposite his old compatriot Mel Brooks.
Carl Reiner died at age 98 of natural causes on June 29, 2020, in Beverly Hills, California.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Inducted into the ASCAP Jazz Wall of Fame in 2009 and the Songwriters Hall of Fame a year later, Johnny Mandel is perhaps best known as the composer of the iconic M*A*S*H (1972) theme song, "Suicide is Painless". Born and raised in Manhattan, he was the son of a garment manufacturer and an opera singer. Music was a major part of his family (an uncle was a writer of show tunes). Johnny learned to play piano, trumpet and trombone in quick succession and was mentored in arranging by Van Alexander. He refined his natural abilities by completing studies at the Manhattan School of Music and the prestigious Juilliard School. By his mid-teens, he worked with big bands, starting professionally in 1943 with the orchestra of violinist Joe Venuti. He became noted in the era as one of the most accomplished arrangers (also doubling on trombone until 1954), working for some of the most popular swing outfits like Artie Shaw, Boyd Raeburn, Jimmy Dorsey, Charlie Barnet, Alvino Rey, and Buddy Rich. By the mid-50s, he devoted his time primarily to arranging and writing jazz compositions, among many others, for Stan Getz, Count Basie and Woody Herman. His songs include standards like "The Straight Life", "Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams" and the beautiful love theme for the motion picture The Sandpiper (1965), "The Shadow of Your Smile", which won him an Academy Award for Best Original Song (shared with lyricist Paul Francis Webster, with whom he also collaborated on An American Dream (1966)). Mandel has worked on numerous film and TV soundtracks as composer and/or conductor/orchestrator. As arranger, he worked with some of the most famous recording artists, including Quincy Jones, Frank Sinatra, Natalie Cole (her "Unforgettable" album) and Barbra Streisand. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Mandel was a member of ASCAP from 1956 and served on the Board of Directors from 1989.- Joe was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, graduated University of Minnesota (BA degree in English); Shubert Fellow in Playwriting at UofM Graduate School of Theatre. Won McKnight Foundation Humanities Award for Drama. Stage plays produced in London and US. Moved to London in 1970, lived there 14 years working in film, TV, radio and stage, as actor, writer and director. Also freelance journalist, including features for London's Time Out magazine. Professional organizations include Long-Service Member British Equity, Screen Actors Guild, Dramatists Guild of America, former member British Union of Journalists.
Celtic Arts Center member since mid-80s. At Center, directed Mary O'Malley's "Once a Catholic" (Hollywood Drama-Logue Critics Award for Direction); two Eugene O'Neill sea plays, "Bound East For Cardiff" and "The Long Voyage Home" (awarded Eugene O'Neill Centennial Memorial Commendation by City of Los Angeles); compiled, directed, read "Celtic Visions and Dreams, an Evening of Poetry of Ireland, Scotland and Wales" (Celtic Arts Center's contribution to the Los Angeles Poetry Festival).
Retired from entertainment business in 1980s, became community organizer and tenants' rights advocate. On Board of Directors of Coalition for Economic Survival, leading tenants' rights organization in Los Angeles area; founding member, coordinator and counselor at CES Tenants' Rights Clinic, which provides free legal aid to tenants; listed as tenants' rights resource on California Department of Consumer Affairs' website; was Rent Stabilization Commissioner for City of West Hollywood. In 2004, LAWeekly in "Best of LA" issue, cited Joe as "Best Way to Keep Your Landlord Honest", described his work at CES Tenants' Rights Clinic.
Joe is active as performance storyteller and reader of poetry, directing and coordinating Celtic Arts Center's Dylan Thomas Celebration, the Bloomsday readings from James Joyce's Ulysses, and poetry readings at Center's Robert Burns Night. Other poetry readings and storytelling have been at Los Angeles colleges, libraries, churches, and museums. Joe is married, has two sons living in Twin Cities, a daughter living in Oregon, and between them he has six grandchildren. - Soundtrack
Benny Mardones was born on 9 November 1946 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was married to Jane Braemer and ???. He died on 29 June 2020 in Menifee, California, USA.- Gernot Endemann was born on 24 June 1942 in Essen, Germany. He was an actor, known for Die Unverbesserlichen (1965), Jan Billbusch (1972) and Mandara (1983). He was married to Sabine Schmidt-Kirchner, Reinhilt Schneider and Jocelyne Boisseau. He died on 29 June 2020 in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.
- Writer
- Producer
- Sound Department
Ken Shadie was a writer and producer, known for Crocodile Dundee (1986), Snake Gully with Dad and Dave (1972) and Number 96 (1972). He was married to Pamela (Pam) Jameson. He died on 29 June 2020 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Born in Paraguay in 1981. Graduated in Audiovisual Direction and Production in Paraguayan Professional Institute. She studies Documentary Filming in the International School of Cuba. Since 2006 until 2011 she lived in Barcelona where she obtained her Master in Creative Documentary at the University Pompeu Fabra. As a director, she made "Cuchillo de Palo", produced by Estudi Playtime, world premiere at Berlinale 2010, projected at Cannes L'Acid and several festivals, winning more than fifteen prices (Dei Popoli, RIDM, Málaga, Lima, Bafici, DocsLisboa, Miradas Doc, La Habana, etc).
As an Executive Producer, she worked in the film "Cándido López los campos de batalla"(102' 35mm) by José Luis García, winner of the Public Price at the BAFICI (2005) and several argentinian Condor's. She collaborated in the development of the paraguayan films "Paraguayan Hammock" by Paz Encina, "La Santa" by Juan Carlos Maneglia y Tana Schémbori (non filmed) and "18 cigarrillos y medio" by Marcelo Tolces, Bafici 2006. She produced and directed 13 chapters of the documentary series for TV "Histories of the way" with Jorge Rubiani and co-produced by Chanel 4, Telefuturo.
In 2012 she co-directed, co-produced and co-edit "Resistente" with Salla Sorri, World Premiere at the 69º Mostra International de Venezia - Horizonti Shortfilms Competition. "Resistente" was produced by CPH:LAB.
In 2013 she co-directed REVUELTA(S) with Fredi Casco, premiere at the Fondation Cartier at Paris in the exposition "América Latina photographers" exposition and just after she co-write and edit the 30th Aniversary film for Cartier Fondation called "Memoires Vives" by Fredi Casco.
As a jury she collaborated at Festival Internacional de Lima (Perú), Alcances (Cádiz), Dei Popoli film festival (Florencia, Italia) and BAFICI 2012 (BsAs).
In 2013 she created "Muâ" and "LOS RESIDENTES", cinematographic workshop for scriptwriters and directors, with Lucrecia Martel, Violeta Bava and Paz Encina as tutors.- Efraín Barquero was born on 3 May 1931 in Teno, Curicó Province, Maule Region, Chile. He was a writer, known for Carbón (1965) and La belleza de pensar (1995). He was married to Elena Cisternas Franulic. He died on 29 June 2020 in Santiago de Chile, Chile.
- Stepa J. Groggs was born on 1 June 1988. He was an actor, known for Injury Reserve feat. Aminé: Jailbreak the Tesla (2019). He died on 29 June 2020.
- Jumpout Squeeze was born on 13 June 2000. He was an actor, known for P4K Jumpout: Nike (2020), La Kreep x Kash A.B x Koby Sosa x Jumpout Squeeze: Quin Flow (2019) and P4K Jumpout: Opp Shit (2020). He died on 29 June 2020.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
Slaheddine Essid was born on 24 March 1948 in Tunisia. Slaheddine was a director and writer, known for Dar Louzir (2012), Choufli Hal (2005) and Layam Kif El-Rih (1992). Slaheddine died on 29 June 2020 in Gammarth, La Marsa, Tunis, Tunisia.- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
Jerzy Owczaczyk was born in 1946 in Poland. He was a director and assistant director, known for Pierwsza milosc (2004), Nie ma zmiluj (2000) and Gniew (1998). He died on 29 June 2020 in Lódz, Lódzkie, Poland.- Young Curt was an actor, known for Rockin Rolla feat. Young Curt & Lil Chris: You Already Know (2013) and Young Curt: Game Done Changed (2020). He died on 29 June 2020 in Antioch, California, USA.
- Altan Bozkurt was born in 1946. He was an actor, known for Ince Memet Vuruldu (1975), Rüzgar hafiye (1969) and Çilgin Kiz ve 3 Süper Adam (1973). He died on 29 June 2020.
- Director
- Writer
- Actor
Miodrag Bogic was born on 10 June 1940 in Pozarevac, Serbia, Yugoslavia. He was a director and writer, known for Ja u skolu idem i... (1969), Umeti voleti (1974) and Ispit generacija (1976). He died on 29 June 2020 in Belgrade, Serbia.