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1-16 of 16
- Tall, dour-faced and slouch-shouldered character actor Abe Vigoda proved himself in both gritty dramatic roles and as an actor with wonderful comedic timing.
Vigoda was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Lena (Moses) and Samuel Vigoda, a tailor -- both Russian Jewish immigrants. His father was a tailor on the Lower East Side. He made his first stage appearance at the age of 17 and plodded away in small theater shows for over 20 years. For the majority of film-goers, Vigoda first came to prominence in The Godfather (1972) as the double-crossing Tessio, pleading to no avail with Robert Duvall to save his life "for old times' sake". Vigoda had roles in a few nondescript TV films before landing the plum role of the dour, unsmiling, urinary tract-tormented Sgt. Phil Fish on the sitcom Barney Miller (1975), his best-known role. The character of Fish proved popular enough to be spun off to his own (albeit short-lived) series, Fish (1977).
With his long, blank, rarely smiling face, he remained in high demand in mafioso-type roles, and for a while in the mid-1980s, he was mistakenly believed to have been dead, leading a producer to remark, "I need an Abe Vigoda type actor", not realizing Vigoda was still alive. The 1990s and beyond became busy again for Vigoda, making appearances in North (1994), The Misery Brothers (1995), A Brooklyn State of Mind (1998), and Crime Spree (2003). He continued acting into his 90s, surprising audiences with his entertaining style.
Vigoda died in his sleep on January 26, 2016, , a month before his 95th birthday, in suburban Woodland Park, New Jersey. He was interred in Beth David Cemetery in Elmont, New York. - Tommy Kelly was born on 6 April 1925 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938), Peck's Bad Boy with the Circus (1938) and Irene (1940). He was married to Susie Burch. He died on 26 January 2016 in Greensboro, North Carolina, USA.
- Production Manager
- Special Effects
- Visual Effects
Flora M. Lang (aka Flora M. Gordon) was born March 24, 1925, in St. Paul, Minnesota. Flora and her two sisters, Rose Jean and Sylvia, were raised in St. Paul by their parents, Harry and Lillian Lang. She graduated from St. Paul Central High School in 1942, then attended the University of Minnesota and the University of Southern California (USC). Flora Lang was one of the first women to be accepted as a member of the Directors Guild of America (DGA) and she was one of the founding members of the DGA Women's Committee in 1979.
From 1955 through 1976, Flora contributed to the production of most of the first 17 films directed by her husband, Bert I. Gordon. (They divorced in 1979.) Despite often working on shoestring budgets, the couple managed to create films which had giants and giant creatures terrorizing seemingly overmatched humans. The many interesting effects were created using miniatures, mattes, split screens, rear projections, and oversized props. Flora worked as production coordinator on two of the finest Bert I. Gordon productions, neither of which included their trademark giant creatures: the horror film Picture Mommy Dead (1966), and the police crime drama The Mad Bomber (1973), before setting out to establish herself beyond the realm of her husband's productions. Flora Lang went on to work in numerous production roles on films, and as a unit production manager (UPM) on the television series Dynasty (1981). By the end of her 4-season stint, the show had risen to #1 in the Nielsen TV ratings.
Flora's work as both assistant director and unit production manager (UPM) included: Dogs (1977), a truly terrifying horror film; The Food of the Gods (1976), a horror film based on a story by H. G. Wells; and Acapulco Gold (1976), a satirical action-comedy film about an inept drug-smuggling ring. She worked as production manager on: The Great Smokey Roadblock (1977), a comedy "road film" starring Henry Fonda and featuring Susan Sarandon; and When I Am King (1982), a fantasy film loosely based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. She was co-producer and unit production manager of an important 1985 film drama based on the horrific effects of Alzheimer's Disease: There Were Times, Dear (1985). The film aired on PBS stations and helped to raise a few million dollars for Alzheimer's research. Working on these projects gave Flora Lang the opportunity to continue to make inroads as a trailblazer for women working in film and TV production.
Throughout the 1950s and 1960s, Flora was devoted to raising her daughters (Carol, Susan and Patricia) in a picturesque residential section of West Los Angeles. All three daughters would later demonstrate entrepreneurial vision in their chosen career endeavors and each pursued a passion for one (or more) of the creative arts of painting, photography, graphic arts, writing, music and acting. With Flora's guidance, her daughter Susan Gordon had a great deal of success as a child actress as she was cast in many movie and TV roles by directors of the ilk of Alfred Hitchcock, Rod Serling, Melville Shavelson, and Michael Curtiz. Flora Lang's 6 grandchildren (Hana, Ariel, Shira, Eitan, Lilly and Yair) and 11 great-grandchildren were a tremendous source of pride and joy for her, and are a living tribute to her daughter Susan's life. (Susan Lynn Gordon Aviner passed away on December 11, 2011.)
At the age of 90, Flora remained active and continually participated in social activities with her long-time partner, William "Billy" Martin of Los Angeles. While she kept busy doing things she liked, Flora lamented in 2012 that she would wake up every morning with Susan on her mind. She said to me, "In my heart I still feel she will be home to visit again. No doubt it will be me visiting her ... in heaven." With that hope in her heart, Flora Lang left us on January 26, 2016.- Hugh Armstrong was born on 6 March 1944 in East Retford, Nottinghamshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Girly (1970), Death Line (1972) and The Beastmaster (1982). He died on 26 January 2016 in Kilburn, London, England, UK.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Freddie Stevens was born on 29 March 1934 in Nuneaton, Warwickshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Tin Men (1987), Emu's All Live Pink Windmill Show (1984) and Emu's World (1982). He died on 26 January 2016 in Bournemouth, Dorset, England, UK.- Doris Abeßer was born on 15 March 1935 in Berlin, Germany. She was an actress, known for Doktor Martin (2007), Verliebt und vorbestraft (1963) and Das Leben beginnt (1960). She was married to Günter Stahnke. She died on 26 January 2016.
- Muriel Kuhn was born on 25 August 1918 in the USA. She was an actress, known for Enchanted (2007) and Kill by Inches (1999). She died on 26 January 2016 in the USA.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Martin Lavut was born on 18 December 1934 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He was a director and actor, known for Heavy Metal (1981), At Home (1968) and Remembering Arthur (2006). He was married to Karen. He died on 26 January 2016 in Cabbagetown, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- José Boavida was born on 23 August 1964 in Castelo Branco, Portugal. He was an actor, known for Maré Alta (2004), A Hora da Liberdade (1999) and El Contrato (2009). He died on 26 January 2016 in Lisbon, Portugal.
- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Colin Vearncombe was born on 26 May 1962 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK. He was an actor and composer, known for Starter for 10 (2006), The Pier (2011) and Es ist nur eine Phase, Hase (2021). He was married to Camilla. He died on 26 January 2016 in Cork, Ireland.- Animation Department
Evelyn Mehring was born on 10 November 1917 in Utah, USA. Evelyn is known for Abbott & Costello (1967) and Energy: A National Issue (1977). Evelyn died on 26 January 2016 in California, USA.- Barney Hall was born on 24 June 1932 in Elkin, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Aliens? (2016), The 10 (2011) and NASCAR: The IMAX Experience (2004). He died on 26 January 2016.
- James Sparrow was an actor, known for Heavy Rain (2010) and Du goût et des couleurs (2006). He died on 26 January 2016.
- Soundtrack
Yvonne Wright was born on 31 October 1951 in Harlem, New York City, New York, USA. She died on 26 January 2016 in Dallas, Texas, USA.- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Bryce Rohde was born on 12 September 1923 in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia. He was a composer, known for Production Unlimited (1963) and Bandstand (1958). He was married to Valerie Manning and Barbara Coombe. He died on 26 January 2016 in San Francisco, California, USA.- Tatjana Gros was born on 21 March 1948 in Novo Mesto, Slovenia. She died on 26 January 2016 in Slovenia.