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| WRITTEN BY NORA EPHRON |
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| FROM A STORY BY RAY BRADBURY |
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| STARRING DICK CLARK |
SOME FOLKS WE LOST FIRST HALF OF 2012
1. FREDERICA SAGOR MAAS (1/5, age 111)
Yes, age 111 (third oldest person in California at her death). Screenwriter and producer of the silent era who wrote screenplays and stories for Greta Garbo, Clara Bow, Louise Brooks, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and many others. One was Bow's big hit, THE PLASTIC AGE (1927). Bow was a close friend, 5 years younger, and died 46 years before she did. Maas' career faltered the sound era, her last credit being THE SHOCKING MISS PILRIM, a Betty Grable musical. She left Hollywood in 1950, but wrote her autobiography in 1999 (in which she claimed others stole many of her writing credits) and made public appearances at silent film festivals.
2. JAMES FARENTINO (1/24, age 73)
Actor who was all over TV in the '60s, '70s and '80s. His many series included The Bold Ones and Dynasty, and occasional movies such as THE FINAL COUNTDOWN and BULLETPROOF. His career suffered from booze and drug problems and being charged with stalking Tina Sinatra (daughter of Frank), which led to many jokes about daddy Sinatra being a poor choice of people to piss off...
3. DON CORNELIUS (2/1, age 75)
Former Chicago cop who created and produced Soul Train in 1971, which he hosted for 22 years, and the Soul Train Awards shows. He came to Texas in 1980 to act in ROADIE, one of his 3 film roles. Cornelius committed suicide with a shotgun. "We're wishing you Love, Peace, and SOULLLL!!!!!"
4. BEN GAZZARA (2/3, age 81)
Actor's Studio grad who made a big impression in ANATOMY OF A MURDER ('59) but had his biggest success on Broadway, TV and niche films. Known for 3 films with Peter Bogdanovich (SAINT JACK etc.), 5 with pal John Cassavetes (KILLING OF A CHINESE BOOKIE etc.) and for playing a lot of gangsters, especially in THE BIG LEBOWSKI and ROADHOUSE. Series: Arrest and Trail, Run For Your Life.
5. WHITNEY HOUSTON (2/11, age 48)
In addition to her record seven consecutive #1 records and her multiple Grammys and other entertainment awards, Houston could have had a long career in movies if her personal problems hadn't gotten in the way. She made five films, the last being 2012's remake of SPARKLE, released after her death and 15 years after her previous film (WAITING TO EXHALE).
6. DAVY JONES (2/29, age 66)
From Manchester, England, he was a child star on Broadway in "Oliver!", as The Artful Dodger, in the early '60s. On 2/9/64, he performed a musical number from "Oliver!" live on The Ed Sullivan Show. Later in the same episode, a British rock group called The Beatles made their first live American TV appearance. Two years later he was cast in NBC's answer to The Beatles, The Monkees (1966-'68), with Peter Tork, Mickey Dolenz and Dallasite Michael Nesmith. Jones was the breakout star of the surprise hit, and surprise again, these guys really could make music and turn out some hit records for RCA. The novelty had worn off by the time of the 1968 Monkees feature film HEAD (co-written by the boys and Jack Nicholson), but it, and the series, later gained a huge worldwide cult following through endless TV showings. Jones appeared in many Monkees live and TV reunions, and died in Stuart, Florida.
7. ROBERT B. SHERMAN (3/5, age 86)
The man you want to thank for all those Disney songs that stuck in your head as a kid, which he cowrote with brother Richard. They won Oscars for the score, and the song "Chim Chim Cheree", from MARY POPPINS, plus numerous nominations for songs for other Disney (and Disney-ish) flicks.
8. MIKE WALLACE (4/7, age 93)
The co-host of 75 episodes of 60 Minutes was an announcer in the earliest days of television for such shows as Sky King, did scores of commercials, and even acted a few times. He was sued by General William Westmoreland in 1982 and settled out of court. He greatly disliked Christopher Plummer's portrayal of him in THE INSIDER (1999).
9. JONATHAN FRID (4/13, age 87)
The Canadian actor who became a TV icon as Barnabas Collins on the TV horror soap Dark Shadows from '67 to '71, made his final appearance in a cameo in Tim Burton's DARK SHADOWS, starring Johnny Depp as Barnabas. Also appeared in the first DS film, HOUSE OF DARK SHADOWS (1970) and Oliver Stone's directing debut, SEIZURE ('74).
10. DICK CLARK (4/18, age 82)
Did anyone do more for the American pop music industry? In addition to creating and hosting American Bandstand for 20 years, he produced game shows, award shows, TV movies, feature films, hosted the New Year's Eve show...and acted. Yep, from time to time he tried some serious acting, in BECAUSE THEY'RE YOUNG, THE YOUNG DOCTORS, KILLERS THREE, and the final episode of Perry Mason among others. He did spots for Dr. Pepper in our fair city, and no doubt much more.
11. DONNA SUMMER (5/17, AGE 63)
THE disco diva of the '70s, Summer won an Oscar for Best Song for 1979's THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY!, 2 years after the Academy failed to nominate the Bee Gees for anything for SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER. She made her performing debut in Germany in "Hair", where she hooked up with Giorgio Moroder. Her music, like Houston's, was heard on many film soundtracks. Summer had cancer. See below.
12. ROBIN GIBBS (5/20, age 62)
Twin brother of fellow Bee Gee Maurice, and writer of "Stayin' Alive", both a great movie song and probably the most over-used song in movie history. He lost a long battle with cancer.
13. RICHARD DAWSON (6/2, age 79)
British actor and comedian who hosted Family Feud from 1976 to 1985. and again in 1994. Before that he was a regular on Laugh-In ('70 - '73) and Hogan's Heroes ('65-'71). He made his film debut in THE LONGEST DAY ('62) and was quite effective in KING RAT ('65), THE RUNNING MAN ('87), and a memorable episode of the original Outer Limits ("The Invisibles", 1964).
14. RAY BRADBURY (6/5, age 91)
Wonderful writer of fantastic fiction in stories, screenplays, novels, stage plays, and he wrote other genres as well. His stories and screenplays became IT CAME FROM OUTER SPACE, THE BEAST FROM 20,000 FATHOMS, FAHRENHEIT 451, THE SOUND OF THUNDER, THE ILLUSTRATED MAN, SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES, The Ray Bradbury Theater, The Martian Chronicles and episodes of The Twilight Zone. John Huston was so impressed with his writing that he hired him to script MOBY DICK in 1956. After witnessing a gruesome car crash as a teenager, Bradbury never learned to drive. Remakes of ILLUSTRATED MAN and 451 are in the works.
15. ANN RUTHERFORD (6/11, age 94)
MGM contract star who played Scarlett O'Hara's sister Carreen in GONE WITH THE WIND. Her other films included PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, THE ADVENTURES OF DON JUAN, the ANDY HARDY series, and many TV roles. Olivia de Havilland, who played Melanie in GWTW, is still kickin' at 96, the last living leading cast member.
16. NORA EPHRON (6/26, age 71)
The screenwriter of WHEN HARRY MET SALLY, SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE, the Dallas-filmed SILKWOOD, the Austin-filmed MICHAEL, YOU'VE GOT MAIL JULIA AND JULIA, and many more, she reinvented the rom-com. She also directed SLEEPLESS, MICHAEL, MAIL, and JULIA. And she said one of my favorite showbiz quotes. When asked how she would feel if SLEEPLESS was not nominated for a Screenplay Oscar, she answered, "On the list of the world's great injustices, it doesn't make the top million". Turned out it was anyway, as was SILKWOOD and WHMS. Meryl Streep played her in HEARTBURN ('86).
Stay tuned for Part II, covering July-December 2012, and see you on the 21st!
---Gordon K. Smith
