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1-16 of 16
- Jimmy Tapp was born on 18 April 1918 in Winnipeg, Canada. He was an actor, known for The Mighty Hercules (1963), Of Unknown Origin (1983) and Éclair au chocolat (1979). He was married to Mary Agnes Moroney. He died on 20 November 2004 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- When he first appeared on stage, playing a character called Alf in a community theatre production in Regina, the reviewer declared that "Alf was inaudible".
That was the last time anybody ever said that about Bill Walker, one of the busiest television personalities of the Fifties and Sixties.
Bill graduated high school at the age of 16, and that was the end of his formal education. But he was a voracious reader and student of history and languages, teaching himself French, German, Spanish and Italian.
Bill's first public appearance was at the age of nine, singing The Wreck of the Old '99 in a kiddie's talent show on CJRM Regina. A singing career was not his destiny, though, but he was hired as an announcer by the same station at the age of 16. He worked there for two years before enlisting in the Air Force in 1941. In 1943, he was assigned to RAF Squadron 77 in Yorkshire, where he piloted a Halifax bomber on 35 missions over Germany, winning the Distinguished Flying Cross.
After the war, he returned to CJRM as Morning Man and Program Director. At the same time, he began performing in community theatre. After a shaky start as the aforementioned Alf, he went on to win the Best Actor award at the Saskatchewan Regional Drama Festival five years in a row. He was also the only actor to win the Best Actor award at the Dominion Drama Festival twice [1947 and 1950].
One of his first productions was Junior Miss in 1945, where he played the father of a young dancer named Marilyn Whittet. Two years later, they became husband and wife.
In 1950, they moved to Winnipeg, where Bill became the host of the top-rated morning show, Walker's Wigwam, on CKRC.
Then, in 1955, he moved to Toronto, and his face soon became familiar to audiences across Canada, beginning with his weekly appearances on live commercials for Ford during the Ed Sullivan Show. His association with Ford lasted for thirty years. He was also the spokesman for Timex [and their "torture tests"], Wardair, and BA Petroleum, among others. He was equally busy as a commercial announcer in New York, and commuted back and forth regularly.
Bill also hosted and performed on many CBC TV variety shows in the Fifties and Sixties, including THE JACK KANE SHOW, MUSIC '60, WORLD OF SPORT, and PARADE. He was a panelist on LIVE A BORROWED LIFE from 1960-63, and the moderator of FLASHBACK from 1963-66. He was also twice the host of the CNE Grandstand extravaganza. Later, he became the host of the popular charades show, PARTY GAME, with Dinah Christie, Jack Duffy, and Billy Van. Bill was renowned in the industry for his lightning-fast memory; he could learn a script almost instantly, edit it on the fly, improvise changes, and time it perfectly. A valued gift in the days of live television. He was disdainful of cue cards and teleprompters. In between announcing assignments, Bill kept busy as an actor. He appeared in several CBC live dramas in the Fifties and early Sixties. He also appeared on stage in a 1963 review called THAT HAMILTON WOMAN with Barbara Hamilton and Tom Kneebone, for which he also wrote material; and he starred in productions of THE MUSIC MAN, MY FAIR LADY, and MARY MARY. He also appeared in a 1961 Canadian 3D horror film called The Mask (1961). In 1979, Bill returned to his roots, joining CFRB Toronto, where he delivered "The News and His Comments" for six years. Bill retired in 1985, although he still accepted the occasional commercial or acting assignment. One night in 1994, while driving home, he was broadsided by a driver who ran a red light. He suffered a hairline fracture in his neck, which caused him considerable pain, and aged him far beyond his 71 years. He died the following June. Among his many honours were Liberty Magazine's All-Canada talent award for Best Announcer, 1959-'60; the Lions Club International Foundation Melvin Jones Fellow for dedicated humanitarian services; and a Canadian Association of Broadcasters Lifetime Achievement award. Bill and Marilyn had four children: Scott [a CBC radio news anchor]; Debbie [a producer at CHCH TV]; Michael [President of Walker Media]; and Stephen [who is in the media department of BBD&O]. Alf may have been inaudible, but Bill Walker's magnificent voice entertained audiences for decades. - Tom Hnatiw was an actor, known for Classic Car Restorations (1998), Fraud Squad TV (2007) and Dream Car Garage (2002). He was married to Debbie. He died on 30 July 2012 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- Visual Effects
- Editorial Department
- Additional Crew
Max Khan is known for Chinese Zodiac (2012), Cinderella Moon (2010) and Hard Fall (2009). Max died in March 2015 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Ellen Wilkes Irmisch was an actress, known for Kung Fu: The Legend Continues (1993) and End of Summer (1997). She died on 5 August 2019 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- Writer
- Director
- Additional Crew
David Sobelman was born in 1950 in Haifa, Israel. David was a writer and director, known for Space Pioneers, a Canadian Story (1988), McLuhan's Wake (2002) and Spasms (1983). David was married to Rishma Dunlop. David died on 7 November 2022 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Producer
- Director
- Animation Department
Jim Mackay was born on 9 June 1916 in Beaverton, Ontario, Canada. He was a producer and director, known for Stanley Takes a Trip (1947), La maison de Jean-Jacques (1967) and Joe Dope Helps Cause Inflation (1944). He died on 26 October 2002 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Cinematographer
- Additional Crew
Peter Luxford was born on 14 March 1942 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. He was a cinematographer, known for X-Men (2000), Black Christmas (1974) and Cinderella Man (2005). He was married to Margaret 'Maggie' Melvin. He died on 29 July 2011 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Additional Crew
Shirley Granger is known for The Sweet Hereafter (1997), The Boys Club (1996) and Exotica (1994). She died on 22 October 2012 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Caralyn Tomlin was born on 9 April 1953. She was an actress, known for The Pirates of Penzance (1985). She was married to Frank Guglielmello. She died on 14 October 2009 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- Editorial Department
- Production Manager
- Art Department
Paul Harris was a production manager, known for Flash Gordon (1996), The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1975) and C.O.P.S. (1988). He died on 20 July 2009 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Art Department
- Animation Department
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Barry Oehm was an assistant director, known for Captain Mack (2008), Celebrity Deathmatch (1998) and Glenn Martin DDS (2009). Barry died on 22 June 2012 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Transportation Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
Mike Sanci was born on 5 July 1954. Mike is known for Total Recall (2012), Ready or Not (2019) and Goon (2011). Mike died on 15 October 2019 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.- Frank Aldous was born in 1920 in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. He was an actor, known for Homer (1970), Summer's Children (1979) and Festival (1960). He was married to Louise Smith. He died on 7 May 2011 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- Peter Warren was born on 10 March 1931 in Hackney, London, England, UK. Peter was a writer, known for Death in Hollywood (1985). Peter died on 5 July 2021 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
- Rex Loring was born on 25 November 1925 in Totton, Southampton, England, UK. He died on 21 April 2017 in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.