Sam Jaffe (1891 - 1984)

Actor. He is best remembered for his supporting role of ‘Dr. David Zorba’ in the television soap opera, “Ben Casey” (1961 to 1965), and for his role as ‘Gunga Din’, in the 1939 movie of the same name. Born Shalom Jaffe in New York City, he studied engineering at Columbia University, then began a career […]

Don Galloway (1937 - 2009)

Actor. He is best known for his role as Detective Sergeant Ed Brown on the television series “Ironside” (1967 to 1975). Born in Brooksville, Kentucky, he began his career during the early 1960s in the soap opera “The Secret Storm” and became a regular presence on the small screen into the 1990s. Among his other […]

Ross Hagen (1938 - 2011)

Actor. Born Leland Lando Lilly in Williams, Arizona, his rugged looks led to him being typecast in tough-guy roles throughout his career. Hagen was introduced to TV audiences in a 1966 episode of the series “The Big Valley”, and from that point on he appeared in countless programs which included “The Fugitive”, “The Virginian”, “The […]

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, […]

Billy Eckstine (1914 - 1993)

Singer, Actor. Mr “B” is often considered a ground breaker for black vocalists. He cut a swath through American before Nat “King” Cole came to the scene. He was one of the very first African American matinee idols, singing first with Earl “Fatha” Hines orchestra, then veering off with his own band. He appeared in […]

William Cagney (1905 - 1988)

Producer. Born in New York City, he was an almost a dead ringer for his brother actor James Cagney, whom he also managed and produced for. He produced over a dozen films with some being featured with his brother James in the lead role such as “Strawberry Blonde” (1941), “The Bride Came C.O.D.” (1941), “Captain […]

Ace Cain (1903 - 1973)

Actor. Born Horace Truman Cain, he played the ‘bad guy’ in 1930s B-Westerns including: “The Texas Rambler,” “Vanishing Riders” and “The Irish Gringo.” Also, he played police ‘Inspector Bull’ in the gangster film “The Shadow Of Silk Lennox,” starring Lon Chaney.

James Daly (1918 - 1978)

Actor. Born James Firman Daly in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, he was the second child of Percifer C. Daly and his wife Dorothy Hogan. Daly was exposed to the theatre at an early age when he went to see his banker father appear in amateur theatrical productions around the Central Wisconsin area and when attending performances […]

Lester Damon (1908 - 1962)

Actor. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, after serving in the US Army during World War II, he began his career as a voice actor on “The Adventures of the Thin Man” NBC radio series 1950 to 1952. He had his biggest success on daytime television in the roles of Jim Lowell in “As The World […]

John Abineri (1928 - 2000)

Born in London, he attended the Old Vic drama school and described himself as “Well educated from the age of five to eighteen”. He spoke a number of languages (including German, Russian and French) fluently, which led to him being cast as a number of different nationalities. His extensive television performances included a regular role […]

Khoren Abrahamyan (1930 - 2004)

Actor. Born in Yerevan, Armenia, he graduated from the Acting Department of Yerevan Fine Arts and Theatre Institute in 1951. He was renowned as one of the Soviet Union’s most popular performers, being featured in many leading roles in both theatre and cinema. Later in his career, he was the executive director of the Sundukyan […]

Lillian Zuckerman (1916 - 2004)

Actress. A longtime character actress Zuckerman appeared in many films that were set in or had something to do with Florida. Among her films are, “Lenny” (1974), “Deadbeat” (1976), “nobody’s Perfekt” (1981), “The Mean Season” (1985), and Making Mr Right” (1987). Zuckerman also was a model, voice actress, and also appeared in commercials, and episodes […]

Yetta Zwerling (1894 - 1982)

Comedienne and motion picture actress of the 1930s, 40s, and 50s. 

Kim Walker (1968 - 2001)

Actress. Known for her supporting roles, she was an up and coming young actress in Hollywood before retiring from the business in the late 1990’s. As a teen she landed a few guest roles in series such as “Matlock” and “Highway to Heaven” before moving on to supporting roles in feature films such as “Say […]

Norma Talmadge (1895 - 1957)

Actress. Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, the daughter of legendary Hollywood mother Peg Talmadge. Her father, an alcoholic and unemployed, left the family when norma was a child. To keep the family together, Peg took in laundry and taught painting classes. By the time norma was 14, she was interested in modelling. Peg saw […]

Virginia Valli (1898 - 1968)

Silent Film Actress. She was the star of several 1920s Hollywood features. Born Virginia McSweeney, she was raised in Chicago and got her acting start as a teenager with a Milwaukee-based stage troupe. After making some films for Essanay Studios in her home city starting around 1915, she moved on to Hollywood, where she was […]

Teddy Sampson (1898 - 1970)

American motion picture actress of the silent era (1910s-1920s). Appeared with legendary comic Stan Laurel in the 1918 comedy “Hickory Hiram.” Married to famed comic actor Ford Sterling. 

Olga San Juan (1927 - 2009)

Actress. Born in Brooklyn, New York, she began her career in radio at an early age. During the 1940s, she appeared in several motion pictures, most notably musicals often as a dancer and singer. Among her film credits are “Rainbow Island” (1944), “Duffy’s Tavern” (1945), “Blue Skies” (1946), “Variety Girl” (1947), “Are You with It?” […]

Jobyna Ralston (1900 - 1967)

Actress. Wife of actor Richard Arlen and mother of actor Richard Arlen Jr., Ralston began her career at the beginning of the 1920s. Ralston starred with one of the most popular stars of the silent movie era, Harold Lloyd, in “The Freshman,” “The Call of Home,” “Girl Shy,” and “For Heaven’s Sake.” Ralston retired at the advent of […]

LaWanda Page (1920 - 2002)

Actress. Best known for her role as Aunt Esther Anderson on “Sanford And Son”, she appeared in many films including “Don’t Be A Menace To South Central While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood” (1996), “Friday” (1995), “The Legend of Dolemite” (1994), “West From north Goes South” (1993), “The Meteor Man” (1993), “CB4” (1993), “Shakes […]

Alla Nazimova (1879 - 1945)

Actress. Russian-born motion picture actress, producer, and writer of the 1910s through the 1940s. Her large home along Sunset Boulevard. was dubbed ‘The Garden of Alla,’ a popular spot for the Hollywood elite. She was the Godmother of First Lady Nancy Reagan. Born Mariam Edez Adelaida Leventon in Yalta Russia, her early life was one […]

Yoshiko Okada (1903 - 1992)

Actress. Born in Hiroshima prefecture, Okada was described as 5 feet tall, weighed 95 pounds and had both black eyes and hair. After training at the Tokyo School of Fine Arts, she joined the Butai Kyokai (Stage Show Association). She was accepted by “Shukke to sono deshi”. In 1922,she made her debut as a movie […]

Gisele MacKenzie (1927 - 2003)

Actress/Singer. Known as “Canada’s First Lady of Song,” she began her music career at a young age learning to play the violin and piano, later appearing at the Royal Conservatory in Toronto, Ontario. In 1951 she had her own show, “Meet Gisele” on the Canadian Broadcastion Corporation before she moved to Los Angeles, California. She […]

Grete Natzler (1906 - 1999)

Austrian-born stage and motion picture actress of the 1920s and 30s. She played the featured role of ‘Anna Albert’ in the 1938 Laurel & Hardy film “Swiss Miss” (credited as Della Lind). Married to composer Franz Steininger.

Anna Karen (1914 - 2009)

Actress. She will be best remembered as the housekeeper “Mrs Chernak” in the mid-1960s television series “Peyton Place”. Raised in New Jersey, she worked in New York for the elite Powers Modeling Agency a and appeared on Broadway before moving to California. Her television debut came in the 1951 “Lights Out”; she was to appear […]

Bo-Peep Karlin (1910 - 1969)

Actress. Born in Green Creek, Illinois, she was a dancer when she made her screen debut as a chorus girl in 滴appy Days” (1929). Her other credits included “The Trial of Vivienne Ware” (1932), “Something to Sing About” (1937), “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956) and “Bye Bye Birdie” (1963). She died in Hollywood, […]

Dominique Laffin (1952 - 1985)

French Actress. She appeared in the films, “Passage Secret” (1985), “Akropolis now” (1983), “Room Service” (1982), “Vive La Mariee” (1982), “His Master’s Eye” (1982), “nocturnal Uproar” (1979), “Seeking Asylum” (1979), “The Crying Woman” (1978), “The Little Wheedlers” (1978), “A Night All Cats Are Crazy” (1977), and “The Sweet Sickness” (1977). 

Dorothy Mackaill (1903 - 1990)

Dorothy was 11 when her parents separated and although she lived with her father, she had always wanted a career in the theater. As a rebellious teenager, Dorothy ran away to London where she finally persuaded her father to pay for her board and lessons. Her first job was in the chorus and then she […]

Joyce Jameson (1932 - 1987)

Actress. She was born in Chicago, Illinois and was married to Actor/Songwriter Billy Barnes. She is best remembered for her recurring role as “Skippy” in the 1960s television series “The Andy Griffith Show.” She made her film debut in 1951 playing a chorus girl dancer in the motion picture “Showboat.” Her other notable film credits […]

Maria Gallo (1922 - 2004)

Actress. She acted for the first time in a play (1943) being only a teenager. That performance won the Critic´s Award as the best young actress. Among her most remarkable works on stage are “Fascinación,” “Todos los Hijos de Dios Tienen Alas,” “El Mercader de Venecia” and “Prontuario.” In 1950 she traveled to Italy where […]