Affirmed (1975 - 2001)

Affirmed was a chestnut horse bred in Florida by Louis E. Wolfson’s Harbor View Farm. The derivation of the name “Affirmed” has been the subject of speculation, in part because the conviction of Wolfson, for securities law violations had been affirmed on appeal in 1969 resulting in his imprisonment. He was sired by the Harbor […]

Afonso VI of Portugal (1643 - 1683)

At the age of three, Afonso suffered an illness that left him paralyzed on the left side of his body, as well as leaving him mentally unstable. His father created him 10th Duke of Braganza.  After the 1653 death of his eldest brother Teodósio, Prince of Brazil, Afonso became the heir-apparent to the throne of […]

Agatha Christie (1890 - 1976)

Author. One of the most prominent mystery writers, she was born  in Torquay, England, the youngest daughter of Frederick Alvah and Clarissa Miller. As a child, she was educated at home, and later studied singing and piano in Paris. Her writing career began with the publication of “The Mysterious Affair at Styles” in 1920. She […]

Agathon (1970 - 1970)

Playwright, Composer. A master of Ancient Greek tragedy, he lived from approximately 448 BC to 400 BC. Agathon was once mentioned with the “Big Three” of that genre,  Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, but virtually all of his work is lost. We learn of his importance in the development of drama through the writings of others, […]

Agathon (1970 - 1970)

Playwright, Composer. A master of Ancient Greek tragedy, he lived from approximately 448 BC to 400 BC. Agathon was once mentioned with the “Big Three” of that genre,  Aeschylus, Sophocles, and Euripides, but virtually all of his work is lost. We learn of his importance in the development of drama through the writings of others, […]

Agenore Incrocci (1919 - 2005)

Agenore Incrocci (4 July 1919 – 15 November 2005), best known as Age, was an Italian screenwriter, considered one of the fathers of the commedia all’italiana as one of the two members of the duo Age & Scarpelli, together with Furio Scarpelli. Incrocci was born in Brescia, into a family including several actors, such as his […]

Agnes Ayres (1892 - 1940)

Actress.  While a teenager, Agnes Ayres made her film debut at the Essanay Studios in Chicago.  In 1920 she signed a contract with Paramount studios and began starring in various films, mostly under the direction of Cecil B. DeMille.  1921 was a busy year for her as she acted in the films “The Affairs of […]

Agnes Moorehead (1900 - 1974)

Actress. She was born Agnes Robertson Moorehead in Clinton, Massachusetts, the daughter of a Presbyterian minister.  She was a graduate of Muskingum College, New Concord, Ohio then went on to earn a master’s degree in English and public speaking at the university of Wisconsin.  She continued her studies in New York at the American Academy […]

Agustí Centelles (1909 - 1985)

Photographer. He was born in El Cabanyal, Valencia. At the age of two, he moved with his father to Barcelona. In the 1920s, he began his career as graphic reporter for the newspaper “El Día Gráfico.” After, he worked as free lance. When he discovered the Leica Camera, he changed the style of photographies in […]

Agustín González (1930 - 2005)

Actor. He began his career in 1952 and he worked until 2004 on stage in the play “Tres Hombres y un Destino” with Manuel Alexandre and José Luis López Vázquez. In cinema, his last work was the film of José Luis Garci “Tio Vivo. c.1950”. (2004). He also appeared in the Oscar winning films “Volver […]

Agustín Lara (1897 - 1970)

Agustín Lara was born in Tlacotalpan, Veracruz. Later, the Lara family had to move to Mexico City, establishing their house in the borough of Coyoacán. After their mother died, Agustín and his siblings lived in a hospice run by their aunt. It was there that he had his first contact with music. Lara’s first musical composition […]

Ahijah W. “Caige” Grimes (1850 - 1878)

Deputy Sheriff and former Texas Ranger.  He was  killed in a gunfight with the Sam Bass gang, 19 July 1878. It is difficult to fathom why on that Friday afternoon Ahijah A. Grimes challenged the three strangers who were approaching the general store. Ostensibly, it was due to the deputy sheriff he was with having […]

Ahmed al-Ghamdi (1979 - 2001)

An Imam, Ahmed al-Ghamdi was from the al Bahah Province of Saudi Arabia, a province in the south west of Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of Al Bahah Province nestled between the resorts of Mecca and Abha, Al Bahah is one of the Kingdom’s prime tourist attractions. Ghamdi shared the same tribal affiliation with […]

Ahmed al-Haznawi (1980 - 2001)

Ahmed al-Haznawi belongs to Alghamdi tribe. He was the son of a Saudi imam from the Al-Bahah province, a province in the south west of Saudi Arabia. It is the capital of Al Bahah Province nestled between the resorts of Mecca and Abha, Al Bahah is one of the Kingdom’s prime tourist attractions. Haznawi grew […]

Ahmed al-Nami (1977 - 2001)

In March 2001, Ahmed al-Nami appeared in an al-Qaeda farewell video showing 13 of the muscle hijackers before they left their training centre in Kandahar; while he does not speak, he is seen studying maps and flight manuals. On April 23, Nami was recorded obtaining a new US Visa. On May 28, Nami arrived in the United […]

Ahmed Ben Bella (1916 - 2012)

Ben Bella volunteered for service in the French Army in 1936. The Army was one of the few avenues of advancement for Algerians under colonial rule and voluntary enlistment was common. Posted to Marseille he played center mid-field for Olympique de Marseille in 1939–1940. His only appearance for the club was in a game against […]

Ahmet Ertegün (1923 - 2006)

Music Impresario. He was a co-founder of Atlantic Records and through this record label he helped define American music by popularizing the earthy Rhythm & Blues of Ray Charles, the classic soul of Aretha Franklin and the British rock of the Rolling Stones. A Turkish ambassador’s son, he initially began collecting records as a hobby […]

Ahna Capri (1944 - 2010)

Actress. She will probably be best remembered for her role of Tania opposite Bruce Lee in the picture “Enter the Dragon” (1973). Born Anna Marie Nanasi, in Budapest, Hungary, she began her career in the entertainment industry, at age 13 on US television, appearing on such programs as “The Danny Thomas Show” and “Father Knows […]

Aida Alberti (1915 - 2006)

Actress. She was one the most popular Argentine actress in the beginnings of talking motion pictures. Best remembered for her characteristic roles of shy and innocent young lady, she appeared in twenty six films, including “El Cura Gaucho,” “La Cumparsita,” and “La Novia de los Forasteros.” (bio by: 380W)

Aida Luz (1917 - 2006)

Actress and singer.  Born Aida Da Lus.  She participated in more than 40 movies such us “Loco lindo(1936),” “Palermo (1937),” “Amor(1940),” “El deseo(1944),” “Pobre mi madre querida(1948),” “Los tallos amargos(1956),” “El rufián (1961),” “Villa cariño(1967),” “Juguemos en el mundo(1971),” and many others. Her last movie “Gallito ciego(2001)”.  On stage she appeared in “Un tranvía llamado […]

Aileen Pringle (1895 - 1989)

Actress. She starred in numerous Hollywood features of the 1920s and 1930s. Born Aileen Bisbee to a family of wealth and high position, she was educated in Europe and started her theatrical career shortly after her 1916 marriage to Charles McKenzie Pringle, child of rich British nobility. Billed as “Aileen Savage” in her first few […]

Aileen Pringle (1895 - 1989)

Actress. She starred in numerous Hollywood features of the 1920s and 1930s. Born Aileen Bisbee to a family of wealth and high position, she was educated in Europe and started her theatrical career shortly after her 1916 marriage to Charles McKenzie Pringle, child of rich British nobility. Billed as “Aileen Savage” in her first few […]

Aileen Wuornos (1956 - 2002)

Wuornos was born Aileen Carol Pittman in Rochester, Michigan, on February 29, 1956. Her mother, Diane Wuornos (born 1939), was 14 years old when she married Aileen’s father, Leo Dale Pittman, on June 3, 1954. Less than two years later, and two months before Aileen was born, Diane filed for divorce. Aileen’s older brother Keith […]

Akim Tamiroff (1899 - 1972)

Akim Tamiroff was born in Tiflis, Russian Empire (now Tbilisi, Georgia), of Armenian ancestry. He trained at the Moscow Art Theatre drama school. He arrived in the U.S. in 1923 on a tour with a troupe of actors and decided to stay. Tamiroff managed to develop a career in Hollywood despite his thick Russian accent. Tamiroff’s […]

Al “Crown Prince of Baseball” Schacht (1892 - 1984)

Schacht was a journeyman pitcher for the Washington Senators for 3 seasons. After his retirement as a player he barnstormed doing a comic act at ballparks and was the first “Clown Prince of Baseball.” In the 1940-50s he owned a popular restaurant that bore his name in New York City.

Al Alberts (1922 - 2009)

Born Al Albertini in Chester, Pennsylvania, he went to South Philadelphia High School. As a teenager, he appeared on the Horn and Hardart Children’s Hour, a radio program.  After graduating from South Philadelphia High, he went to Temple University and the United States Navy, where he met Dave Mahoney. They went on to found The […]

Al Arbour (1932 - 2015)

Professional Hockey Player, Coach, Executive. Arbour, born Alger Joseph Arbour, was a professional hockey player, coach, and executive who coached the National Hockey League’s New York Islanders to four consecutive Stanley Cups (1980 to 1983). He played for four different teams, winning three Stanley Cups, during his professional playing career (Detroit Red Wings, Chicago Black […]

Al Bowlly (1898 - 1941)

Al Bowlly was born in Lourenço Marques in the then Portuguese colony of Mozambique, to Greek and Lebanese parents who met en route to Australia and moved to South Africa, where he was brought up in Johannesburg. After a series of odd jobs across South Africa in his youth, namely as a barber and jockey, […]

Al Bridge (1891 - 1957)

Actor. He appeared in a number of “The Range Rider” episodes on television in 1951. He also appeared in 245 films including: “Blonde Venus,” “Confidential,” “A Night at the Opera,” “The Roaring Twenties,” “In This Our Life,” “It’s A Wonderful Life,” “Road to Rio,” and “The Beautiful Blonde From Bashful Bend.” Brother of actress Loie […]

Al Capone (1899 - 1947)

Al Capone Organized Crime Figure, Chicago Gangster. Probably the best known of the 1920s gangsters, he controlled Chicago until brought down by FBI Agent Elliott Ness. Ness later wrote a book “The Untouchables” which detailed his efforts to jail Capone. Capone was the largest of the racketeers, and captured the American public’s imagination as few […]