Sunday, February 6, 2011

Tura Satana aka Tura Luna Pascual Yamaguchi

Actress and force of nature -- via the Los Angeles Times. A WWII internment camp survivor, she was a nude model and exotic dancer, then an actress. Her signature role was Varla in Russ Meyer's "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" Her iconic portrayal of a blatantly sexual, violent and tough "bad girl" resonated through film history, informing many subsequent strong female characters.

Gary Moore

Blues and rock guitarist and singer -- via the Mirror. He will be best remembered for his many stints with Thin Lizzy.

Woodie Fryman aka the Fleming Flame

Outstanding journeyman left-handed pitcher in the majors -- via the Ledger Independent.

Mary Cleere Haran

Singer -- via the New York Times.

Elsa Rady

Ceramic artist -- via the Los Angeles Times.

Eddie Fowlie

Film special effects man, prop master, location scout and troubleshooter -- via Westerns All'Italiana. More on his remarkable career from the Telegraph.

Ross Merrill

Art conservator and painter -- via the Washington Post.

Geraldine Court

Actress -- via Straus News.

Omir Amiralay

Film director -- via DayPress.

Alex Napier


Bassist -- via Austin 360.

Paul Olive

Journalist, Communist Party functionary and trombonist -- via the Guardian.

Dorothy Thompson

Historian -- via the Guardian.

Tony Levin

Drummer -- via Birmingham Jazz.

Friday, February 4, 2011

Jack McGinnis

Ardent environmentalist -- via the Toronto Star. His claim to fame will be his invention of the home recycling bin -- he was known as "The Father of the Blue Box."

Joyce Sloane

Long-time producer and matriarch at Chicago's Second City -- via the Chicago Tribune.

Warren Tsuneishi

Asian expert -- via the Los Angeles Japanese Daily News.

Julius "Jay" Apt

Newspaperman -- via the Temple University School of Communications.

Jim Ayers

Long-time director the the Mill Mountain Theater -- via the Roanoke Times.

Diego Vallmitjana

Expert mountaineer, paraglider, photographer and researcher -- via the Telegraph.

Donald Carroll

Writer, publisher and agent --via the Guardian. The guiding intelligence behind the literary efforts of Quentin Crisp.

Hugh Goldie

Theater director -- via the Telegraph.

Stanislaw Michalski

Actor -- via e-teatr.pl.

John "Zeke" Gardner

An important regional baseball player -- via the Portland Press Herald. In the uncertain economic times of the Great Depression, he chose to work in business and raise a family rather than try out for the major leagues.

Sidney Cipriano

Vocalist -- via clicrbs.com.br.

Isabella Cerqueira Campos

Actress -- via oglobo.com.

Eric Nichol

Humorous columnist and writer -- via the Times Colonist.

Defne Joy Foster

Actress and VJ -- via Hurriet Daily News.

Armando Chin Yong

Operatic tenor -- via www.sinchew.com.my.

Daniela Castelo

Journalist and radio host -- via www.telam.com.ar.

Tatyana Shmyga

Singer -- via echo.msk.ru.

Mahcan Varghese

Actor and comedian -- via indieglamour.com.

Ronald Jacques Piche

MLB pitcher for the Angels, Braves and Cardinals -- via rds.ca.

LeRoy Grannis

The "godfather of surf photography" -- via the OC Weekly.

Lena Nyman

Actress -- via the Swedish Wire. She will be best remembered for her roles in "I Am Curious (Yellow)", "I Am Curious (Blue)" and "Autumn Sonata."

Michael Tolan aka Seymour Tuchow

Actor - via the New York Times.

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Edouard Glissant

Poet, writer and literary critic -- via the Washington Post.

Stefanie Kowal aka Stefanie Cragg aka Diana Stefanie Staffin

TV producer, executive and consultant -- via the Hollywood Reporter.

Herbert H. Thomas Jr.

Waiter -- via the Lincoln, NE Journal Star. A very well written remembrance by Jeff Korbelik. A seemingly humble occupation, but as Thomas himself stated: "It's not difficult to be a waiter, but it's extremely difficult to be a good waiter."

Charles E. Sellier Jr.

Film and television producer -- via KIVI-TV. A very successful person, known best for his creation of the "Grizzly Adams" franchise. He was also the guiding intelligence behind "In Search of Historic Jesus," "Beyond and Back," "The Lincoln Conspiracy," and "End Times: How Close Are We?"

Maria Schneider aka Marie Christine Gelin

Actress -- via Reuters. She will be best remembered for her role in the then-controversial "Last Tango in Paris" with Marlon Brando. In fact, her career was derailed by her misapprehension as a sex symbol, not as a serious actress, which she was. Later, mental problems and addiction marred her life -- problems she overcame. " . . .Tango . . .", "The Passenger" and "La Derobade" are three films that show her capabilities.

Aimee Leonard

Singer -- via the Sudbury Star.

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Brian Simpson

Academic lawyer -- via the Guardian. He wrote "Cannibalism and the Common Law."

Margaret John

Actress in film and television -- via Wales Online. She will be best remembered in the role of the acerbic Doris in the sitcom "Gavin and Stacey."

Hisaye Yamamoto

Writer -- via the Los Angeles Japanese Daily News.

Monday, January 31, 2011

Dennis Albanese

Actor -- via voy.com.

Tony Di Pardo

Trumpeter, bandleader, and iconic Kansas City Chiefs fan -- via the Kansas City Star.

Thomas R. Hargrove

Agricultural explorer and consultant, writer, editor, songwriter -- via the Chronicle. His many adventures included discovering an underwater city, and being kidnapped by Colombian rebels.