Edward Alleyn (1566 - 1626)

Actor. One of the greatest performers of the Elizabethan stage, he was rivaled only by Richard Burbage and praised by such authors as Ben Jonson and Thomas Nashe. He was particularly noted for his interpretations of Christopher Marlowe’s “Tamburlaine”, “Doctor Faustus”, and “The Jew of Malta”,  and Robert Greene’s “Orlando Furioso”.  Alleyn was born in […]

Lester Allen (1891 - 1949)

Entertainer. Born in Utica, New York, he made his stage debut in 1905 and joined forces with Nellie Breen to create the popular vaudeville comedy duo, Allen & Breen. He enjoyed even greater success as a solo act and was a frequent emcee at New York’s Palace Theatre. On Broadway, the dapper, mustachioed Allen was […]

Dennis Roy Allen (1940 - 1995)

Actor. Best known for his appearances on the popular 1960s comedy-variety series, “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In.” He also appeared on “Love American Style.” (bio by: The Maltese Bippy) Cause of death: Lung cancer

Corey Allen (1934 - 2010)

Actor, Director.  He is best remembered for his role as Buzz Gunderson in the classic 1955 film “Rebel Without a Cause”, in which he challenged James Dean to a deadly drag race. Born Alan Cohen, he studied Drama at UCLA and began his acting career in college stage productions, before making his screen debut in […]

Marc Allégret (1900 - 1973)

Motion Picture Director. Icon of the French Cinema. Directed over 60 films, and was also renowned for discovering and directing some of France’s true cinema greats, including such well-known stars as Michèle Morgan, Jean-Louis Barraut,Raimu, Fernandel, Simone Simon, Gérard Philipe, Odette Joyeux, Louis Jourdan, Danièle Delorme, Roger Vadim, and Brigitte Bardot. Among his films were […]

Michael Alldredge (1941 - 1997)

Actor. In a career spanning 3 decades, he appeared on such memorable television shows as ‘All in the Family’, ‘Charlie’s Angels’, ‘Police Story’, ‘The Jeffersons’, ‘Kojak’, ‘Barnaby Jones’, ‘The Bob Newhart Show’, ‘The Greatest American Hero’, ‘Hart to Hart’, ‘Quincy M.E.’, ‘Taxi’, ‘Columbo’, ‘E.R.’, ‘Family Ties, ‘Three’s Company’, ‘Lou Grant’, ‘The A-Team’, ‘Hill Street Blues’, […]

Richard Mann Allan (1923 - 1999)

Actor. Born in Jacksonville, Illinois. Born into a family of three siblings to a farmer. Richard began dance lessons at the age of seven. He began his career in 1945, in the Broadway show The Red Mill, he would later go on tour with them. In 1953 Marilyn Monroe personally picked him to play a […]

Elías Isaac Alippi (1883 - 1942)

Actor. He is considered one of the best actors of the Argentine Theater. He was also a acclaimed tango dancer.

George Alexandru (1957 - 2016)

Actor. Alexandru was a prominent actor in film, television, and on the theatrical stage. He graduated from the Drama and Cinematography Institute IL Caragiale and started in the theater where he would continue even after his acting career took him to films and television.  Alexandru started in films in the 1978 film “Ecaterina Teodoroiu” and […]

Ross Alexander (1907 - 1937)

Actor. Born Alexander Ross Smith, he appeared in the theater and in motion pictures in the 1920s and 1930s. Married for a time to actress Anne Nagel. He committed suicide, shooting himself with a .22 caliber pistol.  Family links:  Parents:  Alexander Ross Smith (1879 – 1966)  Maud Adelle Cohen Smith (1877 – 1954)  Spouses:  Aleta […]

Richard Alexander (1902 - 1989)

Actor. He appeared in motion pictures such as “All Quiet in the Western Front” (1930), “The Front Page” (1931), “The Sign of the Cross” (1932), “Cleopatra” (1934), “Modern Times” (1936), “Flash Gordon” (1936), “Where the West Begins” (1938), “Raiders of Death Valley” (1941), “Three Little Sisters” (1944) and “Two Guys From Texas” (1948). He also […]

John Alexander (1897 - 1982)

Actor. Born in Newport, Kentucky, he began his career young, making his New York City theater debut in 1902 in “The Children of Kings” which ran for less than a year. He worked his way up through the chorus and walk on roles and appeared in his first name role, ‘Jump Steady’, in the Broadway […]

James Alexander (1914 - 1961)

Actor. Born in Indiana, he appeared in a handful of motion pictures during his brief acting career. He made his film debut in the 1952 motion picture “Jack and the Beanstalk.” His other film credits include: “Port of Hell” (1954), “Treasure of Ruby Hills” (1955), “Las Vegas Shakedown” (1955) and “Night Freight” (1955). His television […]

Frank Alexander (1879 - 1937)

Actor.  A figure from the silent motion picture era, he weighed well over 300 pounds during his film career, and had the nicknamed of “Tiny”. A stage driver prior to putting on weight and going to Hollywood, California, he became a member of comedian Larry Semon’s stock company. He appeared in a number of motion […]

Ira Frederick Aldridge (1807 - 1867)

Tom Aldredge (1928 - 2011)

Actor. Born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of an Air Force colonel, he attended the Goodman School of Drama and made his professional debut in the production of “Electra” (1957), later marking his Broadway introduction with “The Nervous Set” (1959). From that point on, Aldredge appeared in a wide range of stage roles and garnered […]

Erville Alderson (1882 - 1957)

Actor. He appeared in nearly 200 motion picture roles in a career that spanned 40 years. Born in Kansas City, Missouri, he made his screen debut in 1918. He first gained notice as a member of director D.W. Griffith’s stock company, with prominent roles in “The White Rose” (1923), “America” (1924), “Isn’t Life Wonderful?” (1924), […]

John Alderman (1934 - 1987)

Actor. He appeared in the theater, in motion pictures, and on television in an acting career that spanned from the 1950s to the 1980s. (bio by: A.J. Marik)  Family links:  Parents:  Bernard L. Alderman (1905 – 1955)  Gertrude Fitzer Alderman (1901 – 1990)

Norman Alden (1924 - 2012)

Actor. Following his service with the US Military whom he was station with in Europe during World War II, Alden returned home and from the aid of the GI Bill, he enrolled at Texas Christian University. It was while there, he caught the acting bug and began to perform in on-campus stage productions. Alden initiated […]

Wally Albright (1925 - 1999)

Actor.  As a child performer of the 1930s, he is best remembered for his brief stint as Wally in Hal Roach’s “Our Gang” (aka “The Little Rascals”) films.  Born Walton Algernon Albright, Jr. in Burbank, California, he made his acting debut at age four. He was naturally blond but his trademark tousled locks depended on […]

Hardie Albright (1903 - 1975)

Actor. Born as Hardie Hunter Albrecht in Pennsylvania. Hardie began his acting career at a young age. His parents were traveling vaudevillians and he started his acting at the age of six or seven. He studied drama at Carnegie Tech. He appeared in many Broadway plays. Hardie played  the juvenile lead on the stage in […]

Frank Albertson (1909 - 1964)

Actor.  Born the first child of Frank B. and Mary Healey Albertson.  Frank’s given name was Francis Healey Albertson and he was a native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Frank spent his childhood first in nearby Frazee, and also in Puyallup, Washington. He first became interested in the entertainment business when he began working as a […]

Coit Albertson (1880 - 1953)

Actor. He starred in the theater prior to making his motion picture debut in 1915, most notably in the play “Stubborn Cinderella”. He appeared in “The $1,000,000 Reward”(1920), “Face to Face”(1922), “Scandal Street”(1925) as ‘Frank Arnold’ in “The Jazz Girl” (1926) and “The Return of Boston Blackie”(1927). (bio by: MC)

Edward Laurence Albert (1951 - 2006)

Actor.  Son of Actor Eddie Albert and singer Margo.  He is best remembered for his role in the 1972 film opposite Goldie Hawn, “Butterflies are Free,” for which he won a Golden Globe.  He appeared in numerous films, and was a regular guest-star on television.  He died of lung cancer at age 55 just a […]

Eddie Albert Albert (1906 - 2005)

Actor.  Born Edward Albert Heimberger, he is best remembered for his role of lawyer-turned-farmer ‘Oliver Wendell Douglas’ on the classic television comedy series “Green Acres”. His career began on radio, and appeared on the earliest test for television in 1936.  He made his motion picture debut in the military academy comedy “Brother Rat” in 1938, […]

Luis Alberni (1886 - 1962)

Actor. He majored in drama at the University of Madrid and got his start performing in theatres throughout Europe. In 1914 he moved to the United States to continue his career in the acting profession. Alberni’s debonair looks and talent gained attention and he was cast in a number of Broadway productions between 1915 and […]

Frank Albanese (1931 - 2015)

Actor. He was an actor whose famous role was of “Uncle Pat” on the hit television show “The Sopranos”. He started out as a prize fighter, but a brain injury ended his career in boxing.   With the help of his friend and fellow boxer Rocky Graziano, Albanese got his start in acting.   His […]

Wolf Albach Retty (1906 - 1967)

Actor. A popular leading man in Austrian cinema, he made his motion picture debut in the silent “Das grobe Hemd.” Some of his well know works were roles in the filns “The Black Hussar,” “Tales from Vienna Woods” and “Hotel Sacher.” He was the son of actress Rosa Albach Retty, and the father of actress […]

Spottiswoode Aitken (1868 - 1933)

Actor. Born Frank Spottiswoode Aitken in Edinburgh, Scotland, he made his theater stage debut at age 13 and spent nearly 20 years touring the United States in stock companies.  During a 1907 road production of “Pocahontas” he met actor and future director  D.W. Griffith,  who later invited him to join the Biograph studio.  Onscreen Aitken […]

Charles Sydney Ainsworth (1873 - 1922)

Actor. Born Charles Sydney Ainsworth in England (he used his middle name as his first name throughout his life), he came to the United States in 1877. During the Spanish-American War, he enlisted in the United States Army, and served as a Private in Company G, 1st Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry. After serving in Cuba, he […]