Rodney Agatupu “Yokozuna” Anoai (1966 - 2000)

Professional Wrestler. He was portrayed in the WWF as being of Japanese decent, but he was actually Samoan. A cousin to wrestler/actor “The Rock” (Dwayne Johnson), he was a two-time WWF World Champion, WWF Tag Team Champion with Owen Hart, and Royal Rumble winner of 1993. (bio by: Hilda Duell) Cause of death: Heart attack

Wolfgang Anheisser (1929 - 1974)

Baritone Opera Singer. Born into a musical family, he studied at the Hochschule für Musik Freiburg in Germany, the Conservatorio Verdi in Milan, and the University of Witwatersrand. While he had many opportunities in the business world, as a result of his studies (he worked his way through school as a clerk in a German […]

David Lawrence Angell (1946 - 2001)

Television Producer. He was an Emmy award winning producer of the television situation comedy “Frasier”. In addition he also wrote episodes of the television comedies “Wings” and “Cheers”. He and his wife Lynn were aboard American Airlines Flight 11 when terrorists took over the plane and crashed it into the World Trade Center on September […]

Rene Angelil (1942 - 2016)

Rene Angelil René Angélil, husband of Céline Dion, has died, his rep confirmed exclusively to PEOPLE on Thursday. “Rene Angelil, 73, passed away this morning at his home in Las Vegas after a long and courageous battle against cancer,” the rep said in a statement. “The family requests that their privacy be respected at the […]

Daniel Morris Angel (1911 - 1999)

Motion Picture Producer. Produced the 1958 film “Carve Her Name With Pride”. (bio by: Kieran Smith)

Juan Andreu Moragas (1970 - 1965)

Motion Picture Director. He was born in Barcelona (Catalunya) and died in Valencia (Comunidad Valenciana). He was a pioneer in the silent cinema in Valencia, where he moved from his native Barcelona in the 1920s. He is best remembered for his film El Faba de Ramonet (1933), the first sound film in Valencian language. He […]

Stikkan “Stig” Anderson (1931 - 1997)

Musicial Producer, Businessman. Born in Hova, Sweden, a small town 200 miles south-west of Stockholm. After leaving school at 13, he went to night classes and became a primary school teacher. Of the 2,000 songs he claims to have penned, the most memorable are the hilarious “The Girls Who Know Are Found In The Country […]

Juan Carlos Altavista (1929 - 1989)

Comedian. He participated in 56 movies, but is best remembered for his character of ‘Minguito Tinguitela.’

Néstor Almendros (1930 - 1992)

Motion Picture Cinematographer.  He was a Spanish-born cameraman of French and Hollywood films.  The hallmark of his style is a poetic use of natural light in both exteriors and interiors.  He won an Academy Award for his breathtaking photography of “Days of Heaven” (1978) and received Oscar nominations for “Kramer vs. Kramer” (1979),  “The Blue […]

Wayne Anthony Allwine (1947 - 2009)

Voice Actor. He is best remembered as the falsetto voice of Walt Disney Studios Mickey Mouse. He was only the third person to voice the iconic animated character. Walt Disney was the first, James “Jimmy” Macdonald  was the second, and Wayne was the third. Born in Glendale, California, he began in the entertainment business early, […]

Peter Allen (1944 - 1992)

Entertainer, Songwriter. Born in Australia, he was discovered in 1964 by the legendary Judy Garland while she was on tour in Hong Kong. She brought him to America, where his career thrived and he became the first husband of Garland’s daughter, Liza Minnelli (it was his only marriage.) They separated and divorced after Garland’s death […]

Lewis Maitland Allen (1922 - 2003)

Motion Pictures Producer. Best known for producing the original stage production of “Annie,” for which he won a Tony. He also produced movies, including “Lord of the Flies” and “Fahrenheit 451.” (bio by: Jennifer M.)  Family links:  Parents:  Lewis M Allen (1874 – 1949)  Dorothy Gilpin Allen (1891 – 1970)  Spouse:  Jay Presson Allen (1922 […]

Irving Applebaum Allen (1905 - 1987)

Film and Television Producer,  Director. He is best remembered today for the break up of his partnership with Albert “Cubby” Broccoli,  when he disagreed with Broccoli that the James Bond novel series would translate over to film. Allen reportedly told Bond author Ian Fleming during their initial meeting that his stories weren’t even good enough […]

Fred Allen (1894 - 1956)

Radio Entertainer, Actor. Born John Florence Sullivan on May 31, 1894, Fred Allen began his career in vaudeville before becoming one of radio’s most original and admired comedians. Allen began his radio career on October 23, 1932, starring on The Linit Bath Club Revue. By 1934, Allen was starring on Town Hall Tonight, a one-hour […]

Emilio Alfaro (1933 - 1998)

Actor. He had a career that lasted more than 30 years in theater, TV and cinema (participated in 14 movies).

Leonard Harrison “Lennie” Aleshire (1890 - 1987)

Entertainer, Musician. He teamed up with Floyd Rutledge as the musical comedy due “Lennie and Goo Goo”, and were pioneers that set the stage for became known as “hillbilly music.” Famous for their comedy and musical talent by playing cow bells and their crude homemade instruments, their career spanned from the 1920s to the 1960. […]

Francesco Albanese (1912 - 2005)

Opera Singer. A lyric tenor, he had a two decade-long career that saw him perform in a number of leading venues. A native of Naples, he initially studied in Boston where he won a major vocal competition, then in Rome with Francesco Salfi. Albanese began performing Neapolitan Songs, for which he was known throughout his […]

Albert Akst (1899 - 1958)

Musician, Motion Picture Film Editor.  A former saxophone player in one of the Meyer Davis Orchestra, he worked as a musician in vaudeville until 1930. He joined Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios as a short subjects motion picture cutter and worked his way up to one of the top editors of the company, editing fifty three […]

Chantal Akerman (1950 - 2015)

Filmmaker and Director. Akerman was a director whose observation of women’s inner lives, often using long takes, made her a pioneer in feminist and experimental filmmaking. Born to Polish Holocaust survivors, she was inspired to begin making films as a teenager after seeing Jean-Luc Godard’s ‘Pierrot le Fou’ (1965).  Her first film, ‘Saute Ma Ville’ […]

David “Stringbean” Akeman (1916 - 1973)

Comedian, Country Musician. One of the top musical stars of Nashville, Tennessee’ Grand Old Opry during his career, he is best known for being one of the original members the comedy and country music television variety show “Hee Haw”, which he starred in from 1969 until his murder in 1973. He and his wife were […]

Roy E. Aitken (1882 - 1976)

Motion Picture Executive.  A movie industry pioneer, he was one of the first to produce movies independent of Thomas Edison and the Motion Picture Patents Company. Along with his brother Harry, he founded a number of early motion picture production and distribution companies, most notable being the Mutual Film Corporation, the Epoch Producing Corporation, and […]

Harry E. Aitken (1877 - 1956)

Motion Picture Executive.  A movie industry pioneer, he was one of the first to produce movies independent of Thomas Edison and the Motion Picture Patents Company. Along with his brother Roy, he founded a number of early motion picture production and distribution companies, most notable being the Mutual Film Corporation, the Epoch Producing Corporation, and […]

Alvin Ailey, Jr (1931 - 1989)

Dancer, Choreographer. Born in Rogers, Texas, he was the founder of the renown dance company the “Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater”.  Starting in 1949, he studied with influential choreographer Lester Horton in Los Angeles, California. When Horton died in 1953, Alvin Ailey took over the Lester Horton Dance Theater and became the director and resident […]

Perro Aguayo, Jr (1979 - 2015)

Professional Wrestler. A Luchador, a performer known for high-flying ring moves, he shall be remembered as a star of his sport for 20 years. Born Pedro Aguayo Ramirez, he was the son of Hall-of-Fame Lucha Libre competitor Perro Aguayo, Sr. and thus was raised within the wrestling milieu; trained by his father, he made his […]

John G. Adolfi (1881 - 1933)

Motion Picture Director.  Best known for his early 1930s films starring famed British actor George Arliss.  Born in New York City,  he began as an actor in stock and made his screen debut in the Vitagraph one-reeler “The Spy” (1907). He switched to directing in 1913 and turned out scores of silent potboilers for Fox […]

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 […]

Diana Adams (1926 - 1993)

Ballerina. She was a leading dancer in the New York City Ballet from 1950 to 1963, and was a favorite of choreographer George Balanchine. She appeared in several motion pictures, including “Knock on Wood”. In later years she taught at the School of American Ballet, where she was the Dean.

Carol Adams (1918 - 2012)

Entertainer. Born Lurline Uller within the focal point of the entertainment industry, she caught the attention of a studio executive at the age of five which led to her taking up both dancing and acting lessons. Her experience in films could be traced back to appearances in the Mickey Rooney picture series “Mickey McGuire” which […]

Brian “Crush” Adams (1964 - 2007)

Professional Wrestler. Born in Kona, Hawaii, he was raised and educated in Kealakekua. After graduating from Konawaena High School, he joined the United States Army, and while he was stationed in Japan he became interested in wrestling. Upon his discharge he was trained by the Japanese wrestling legend Antonio Inoki, and made his wrestling debut […]

Harry Stephen Ackerman (1912 - 1991)

Television Producer. He was an executive who produced shows from the 1960s to the 1980s, and was responsible for such successful series as “Bewitched,” “Gidget,” and “The Flying Nun.” He was married to actress Elinor Donahue (best known for her role of ‘Betty Anderson’ on the comedy series “Father Knows Best”). (bio by: A.J. Marik) […]