Budd Boetticher (1916 - 2001)

Budd Boetticher was born in Chicago, raised in Evansville in southwest Indiana, and was a star athlete at Ohio State University. After college he traveled to Mexico, where he learned the art of bullfighting. A chance encounter with Rouben Mamoulian landed him his first film job, as technical advisor on Blood and Sand (1941). He […]

Buddy Adler (1908 - 1960)

Motion Picture Producer. Born E. Maurice Adler, he began his career writing short motion pictures for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studios. He became a producer for Columbia Studios in 1947 and after Darryl Zanuck left 20th Century Fox studios Buddy Adler took over as head of production. He then served as Production chief at Fox from 1956 […]

Buddy Alda (1908 - 1960)

Buddy Alda Motion Picture Producer. Born E. Maurice Adler, he began his career writing short motion pictures for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer movie studios. He became a producer for Columbia Studios in 1947 and after Darryl Zanuck left 20th Century Fox studios Buddy Adler took over as head of production. He then served as Production chief at Fox […]

Buddy Allin (1944 - 2007)

Brian Thomas (“Bud” or “Buddy”) Allin (October 13, 1944 – March 10, 2007) was an American professional golfer who won five PGA Tour events in the 1970s. Allin was born in Bremerton, Washington. He learned to play golf at age 13 while working as a caddy at the Santa Barbara Municipal Golf Course in Santa […]

Buddy Blattner (1920 - 2009)

Buddy Blattner (February 8, 1920 – September 4, 2009), commonly known as “Buddy” or “Bud” Blattner, was an American table tennis and baseball player and radio and television sportscaster. A graduate of Beaumont High School in St. Louis, Buddy Blattner played table tennis in his youth, winning the world men’s doubles championship in 1936. He started […]

Buddy Clark (1912 - 1949)

Buddy Clark was born Samuel Goldberg to Jewish parents in Dorchester, Massachusetts. He made his Big Band singing debut in 1932 as a tenor, with Gus Arnheim’s orchestra, but was not successful. Singing baritone, he gained wider notice in 1934, with Benny Goodman on the Let’s Dance radio program. In 1936 he began performing on […]

Buddy Ebsen (1908 - 2003)

Actor. He is best remembered for his role as ‘Jed Clampett’ on the CBS television sitcom “The Beverly Hillbillies” that aired from 1962 until 1971 and the title character on the CBS television drama “Barnaby Jones,” from 1973 until 1980. His career spanned seven decades in films, television, and the stage. Born Charles Ludolf Ebsen, […]

Buddy Emmons (1937 - 2015)

Buddy Emmons Influential pedal steel guitarist Buddy Emmons, who recorded with country music greats and toured as a bass player for Roger Miller, has died at age 78, the Nashville Musicians Association said on Thursday. Emmons arrived in Nashville in 1955 to play with Little Jimmy Dickens’ Country Boys, then considered the liveliest band in […]

Buddy Holly (1936 - 1959)

When Elvis Presley died, 25,000 people gathered outside Graceland in the sweltering Memphis heat. John Lennon’s murder drew millions of people to Central Park for a silent vigil. But when Buddy Holly’s plane went down in an Iowa cornfield at a little past 1 a.m. on Feb. 3, 1959, there was nobody waiting for him […]

Buddy Rogers (1904 - 1999)

Buddy Rogers Buddy Rogers made his screen debut in the 1926 film ‘Fascinating Youth,’ and quickly became a star in the late silent era. He also found success as a bandleader and a musician. His signature song became “Twelfth Street Rag,” which he was able to play a few bars of on a great number […]

Buffalo Soldier Monument (1970 - 1970)

Buford Hayse Pusser (1937 - 1974)

Folk Figure. He was the Sheriff of McNairy County, Tennessee, and subject of the movie “Walking Tall” (1973), in which his unusual methods of law enforcement brought him popular renown. Born in McNairy County, Tennessee, his father was the Adamsville, Tennessee Chief of Police. In 1956, he graduated from Adamsville High School, where he excelled […]

Bugsy Siegel (1906 - 1947)

Bugsy Siegel Has Bugsy Siegel’s killer finally been identified? According to an article in October’s Los Angeles Magazine, the killer behind the grisly 1947 murder of the feared gangster, who was instrumental in the creation of the Las Vegas Strip, wasn’t a mobster hit man. Rather, the man who reportedly pulled the trigger on Benjamin […]

Bunny Summers (1924 - 2010)

American Character Actress. Born Bernice Siegel, after raising three daughters in Los Angeles, she began her career as an actress that went on to span seven decades. She appeared in several notable theater productions, including the west coast premiere of John Cassavetes’ ‘Love Streams’ and starred in the musical ‘Minnie’s Boys’ in which she played […]

Burl Ives (1909 - 1995)

Burl Ives Burl Ives was one of six children born to a Scottish-Irish farming family. He first sang in public for a soldiers’ reunion when he was age 4. In high school, he learned the banjo and played fullback, intending to become a football coach when he enrolled at Eastern Illinois State Teacher’s College in […]

Burr Caruth (1865 - 1953)

Actor. Apeared in films of the 1930s and 1940s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)

Burt Lancaster (1913 - 1994)

Burt Lancaster Actor. One of Hollywood’s best film actors, he initially established his career on “tough guy” roles but abandoned his “all-American” image in the late 1950s in favor of more complex and challenging roles. nominated four times for an Academy Award, he won once for his work in “Elmer Gantry.” Born Burton Stephen Lancaster, […]

Burt Edward Baluk, Jr (1970 - 1945)

Military Figure. Seaman, 2nd Class. He graduated from Bloomfield High School in June 1945 and entered service soon after. He was the radioman on the FT-3 plane that was part of the infamous Flight 19 squadron that disappeared out of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, while on a training mission, in the Bermuda Triangle.

Burt Mustin (1884 - 1977)

Burt Mustin Life literally began at 60 for American actor Burt Mustin, who didn’t enter show business until that age and didn’t make his film debut until Detective Story (1951), at which time he was 68. After a decade of uncredited movie roles as hillbilly patriarchs and Town’s Oldest Citizens, Mustin began getting name recognition […]

Burt Reynolds (1936 - 2018)

Burt Reynolds Burt Reynolds, whose easy-going charms and handsome looks drew prominent roles in films such as “Smokey and the Bandit” and “Boogie Nights,” suffered a cardiac arrest, Eisner said. A call for an ambulance came from his estate in Martin County, Florida, 911 records show. Burt Reynolds was an iconic Hollywood sex symbol in […]

Burt Reynolds (1936 - 2018)

Burt Reynolds Burt Reynolds, the handsome film and television star known for his acclaimed performances in “Deliverance” and “Boogie Nights,” commercial hits such as “Smokey and the Bandit” and for an active off-screen love life which included relationships with Loni Anderson and Sally Field, has died at age 82. His death was confirmed Thursday by […]

Burton Abbott (1928 - 1957)

Burton W. Abbott (February 8, 1928 – March 15, 1957) was a University of California at Berkeley accounting student living in Alameda, California, who was tried for the rape and murder of 14-year-old Stephanie Bryan in November 1955. Although the evidence against him was entirely circumstantial, he was convicted and sentenced to death in California’s […]

Burton Baskin (1913 - 1967)

Business Magnate. Together with his brother-in-law, Irving Robbins, he founded the Baskin Robbins 31 Flavors Ice Cream chain.  In 2004, Baskin-Robbins served over 10 million customers per week around the world. (bio by: Joe Walker)

Buster Brodie (1885 - 1948)

Actor. He appeared in the films, “George White’s Scandals” (1945), “Hit The Hay” (1945), “Bells Of Rosarita” (1945), “Beyond The Pecos” (1945), “Crazy Knights” (1944), “Firebrands Of Arizona” (1944), “Action In Arabia” (1944), “Lady In The Dark” (1944), “Hers To Hold” (1943), “Mrs. Wiggs Of The Cabbage Patch” (1942), “Tales Of Manhattan” (1942), “Mountain Music” […]

Buster Crabbe (1908 - 1983)

Raised in Hawaii, Buster Crabbe graduated from the Punahou School in Honolulu. He competed in two Olympic Games as a swimmer. In 1928 he won the bronze medal for the 1,500 meters freestyle, and in 1932 he won the gold medal for the 400 meters freestyle when he beat Jean Taris of France by a […]

Buster Keaton (1895 - 1966)

Buster Keaton Legendary motion picture comic actor, writer, producer, and director of the 1910s thru 1960s. Born on October 4, 1895, in Piqua, Kansas, as Joseph Francis Keaton. The oldest son of Joseph and Myra Keaton, who were stage comedians. Buster joined his family’s act at a very young age. It soon developed into a […]

Buster West (1901 - 1966)

Buster West American dancer and actor who was a featured performer in vaudeville, the Broadway stage, motion pictures and television. West was one of those performers who was “born in a suitcase”, as his father John West and mother were both vaudeville performers and he performed with them as a child. Buster West achieved success […]

Butch Cassidy (1866 - 1908)

Butch Cassidy Born Robert Leroy Parker in Beaver, Utah the eldest of Max and Anne Parker’s thirteen children. The Parker family established a ranch near Circleville, Utah in 1879, but a local Mormon bishop found against them in a land dispute, leaving the family financially pressed. Parker began dabbling in rustling under the tuition of […]

Butch Trucks (1947 - 2017)

One of Trucks’ first bands was local Jacksonville band The Vikings, who made one 7-inch record in 1964. Another early band was The 31st of February which formed and broke up in 1968. This group’s lineup eventually included both Duane Allman and Gregg Allman. They recorded a cover of “Morning Dew”, by 1960s folk singer […]

Butler Ames (1871 - 1954)

Butler Ames (August 22, 1871 – November 6, 1954) was an American politician, engineer, soldier and businessman. He was the son of Adelbert Ames and grandson of Benjamin Franklin Butler, both decorated generals in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Born in Lowell, Massachusetts, Ames attended the public schools and Phillips Exeter Academy, in […]