Notable Showbiz Deaths of 2015
A list of the notable entertainment personalities who passed away in 2015, ordered by date of death.
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- Actress
- Soundtrack
An honest-to-goodness Southern Belle, similar to her most famous character role, "Elly May Clampett" on The Beverly Hillbillies (1962), Donna Douglas grew up in the Baton Rouge, Louisiana area, loving "critters". She got married soon after high school, had a son, divorced and won a couple of beauty contests, all within the span of a few years. She moved to New York and soon appeared on television series, including a well-remembered guest-star shot on The Twilight Zone (1959) in one of the series' most famous episodes, Eye of the Beholder (1960), in which she plays a woman who tries to undergo a series of experimental treatments to make her beautiful, only for the treatments to fail. The twist was she was beautiful, at least to the viewers, but considered hideous to the pig people of the planet, she was on. She immediately won the character role of "Elly May Clampett" on one of the greatest situation comedies of all time, The Beverly Hillbillies (1962). This extremely comical series debuted with The Clampetts Strike Oil (1962), on her 30th birthday, Wednesday, September 26th, 1962, which is among the narrowest & sheerest coincidences, that are hardest to believe.Actress best known for playing Elly May Clampett on TV's 'The Beverly Hillbillies;' also known as the revealed face of Janet Tyler in the classic 'Twilight Zone' episode "Eye of the Beholder" and for starring opposite Elvis Presley in 'Frankie and Johnny' (1966)
September 26, 1932 – January 1, 2015- Actress
- Additional Crew
- Music Department
Ninon Sevilla was a Mexican showgirl born in Cuba and raised by an aunt in the populous Centro Habana sector, Ninón Sevilla was graced with feline features, wonderful legs and exceptional vitality. She successfully danced her way through Havana night clubs and cabarets, and arrived in Mexico in 1946, where she made her film debut. Although she had already imposed her eccentric attires and hairdos, it was her association with filmmaker Alberto Gout that determined the creation of her erotic film persona. She rapidly became the icon of the rumbera, an archetype of the Mexican film musicals, a "bad girl" who is dignified by dancing. Ninón became an erotic myth and a superstar, working with the best talent in the film industry (Emilio Fernández, Pedro Armendáriz, Gabriel Figueroa, Agustín Lara, José Revuelta), in the biggest sound stages at Churubusco, choreographing her own complicated numbers, and her fame reached non-Spanish speaking markets, as Brazil and France. She was also among the first to introduce traces of the santería rites in her dances, and to acknowledge the presence of African elements in the Caribbean cultures in her films' stories. With the decline of Mexican cinema in the 50s, Ninón Sevilla retired, but she made a successful comeback in 1980, with "Noche de carnaval", winning the top Mexican award for an actress for the first time in her career.Actress who was a star of the golden age of Mexican cinema and a principal exponent of the Rumberas film — one of the "Queens of the Tropics;" best known for starring in 'Aventurera' (1950), considered a masterpiece of the Rumberas film genre; also known for starring in such films as 'Victims of Sin' (1951) and 'Cry of the Bewitched' (1957)
November 10, 1921 – January 1, 2015- Actor
- Soundtrack
Little Jimmy Dickens was born on 19 December 1920 in Bolt, West Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Northern Exposure (1990), More American Graffiti (1979) and Last Night's Party (2014). He was married to Mona Evans, Anne Ernestine Jones and Dorothy (Connie) Chapman. He died on 2 January 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee, USA.Country music singer and oldest member of the Grand Ole Opry best known for his short stature and humorous novelty songs, most notably his 1965 hit "May the Bird of Paradise Fly Up Your Nose;" also credited with introducing rhinestone suits into live country music performances
December 19, 1920 – January 2, 2015- Actor
- Stunts
Bill Hart was born on 28 July 1934 in Red Oak, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Escape from New York (1981), The Wild Bunch (1969) and The Way of the Gun (2000). He was married to Rina Solowitz and Charlene Roberson. He died on 2 January 2015 in Northridge, California, USA.Stuntman and actor best known for his work in over 125 Western films and TV shows, including 'The Alamo' (1960), 'The Comancheros' (1961), 'McLintock!' (1963), 'The Wild Bunch' (1969), 'There Was a Crooked Man...' (1970), 'Pat Garrett & Billy the Kid' (1973), 'Heaven's Gate' (1980), 'Young Guns' (1988), 'Gunsmoke,' 'Bonanza,' 'Rawhide,' 'Have Gun - Will Travel,' 'Wanted: Dead or Alive' and 'Daniel Boone;' was part of the famous exploding bridge scene in 'The Wild Bunch' in which he and other stuntmen, saddled on horses, were blown from the bridge into a river using real dynamite; was also known for being Glenn Ford's primary stunt double for more than 20 years, starting with 1968's 'Day of the Evil Gun' and including the TV series 'Cade's County'
December 11, 1934 – January 2, 2015- Writer
- Actor
Yoshio Shirasaka was born in 1932 in Tokyo, Japan. He was a writer and actor, known for Rape! 13th Hour (1977), The Perfect Game (1958) and Tale of Scarlet Love (1963). He died on 2 January 2015 in Setagaya, Tokyo, Japan.Playwright and screenwriter; wrote many of Yasuzô Masumura's most acclaimed films, including 'Giants and Toys' (1958) and 'Blind Beast' (1969), and was a writer on Kon Ichikawa's documentary masterpiece 'Tokyo Olympiad' (1965)
1932 – January 2, 2015- Music Artist
- Composer
- Actor
Pino Daniele was born on 19 March 1955 in Naples, Campania, Italy. He was a music artist and composer, known for Pensavo fosse amore... invece era un calesse (1991), Stealing Beauty (1996) and The Hand of God (2021). He was married to Fabiola Sciabbarasi and Dorina Giangrande. He died on 4 January 2015 in Rome, Lazio, Italy.Popular singer-songwriter and composer known for his infusion of Italian music with jazz and blues; won multiple awards and nominations for his film scores, including those for Massimo Troisi's 'The Ways of the Lord Are Over' (1987) and 'I Thought It Was Love' (1991)
March 19, 1955 – January 4,2015- Stuart Scott was born on 19 July 1965 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. He was an actor, known for The Kid (2000), The Game Plan (2007) and Drumline (2002). He was married to Kimberley Alice Emmons. He died on 4 January 2015 in Avon, Connecticut, USA.Beloved ESPN sportscaster who was a longtime anchor on the network's 'SportsCenter,' known for his unique blending of hip-hop culture with sports and use of catchphrases such as "Boo-yah!," "Holla!," "As cool as the other side of the pillow," and "He must be the bus driver cuz he was takin' him to school."
July 19, 1965 – January 4, 2015 - Director
- Writer
- Cinematographer
René Vautier was born on 15 January 1928 in Camaret-sur-Mer, Finistère, France. He was a director and writer, known for Avoir 20 ans dans les Aurès (1972), Les Anneaux d'or (1956) and Techniquement si simple (1971). He was married to Soazig Chappedelaine. He died on 4 January 2015 in Brittany, France.French director who made films which addressed a number of social and cultural issues, many of which were banned or condemned; was sentenced to prison for a year for his first film, 'Afrique 50' (1956), which was banned for 40 years and is hailed as the first anti-colonialist French film; subsequently won the Youth Film Award at the Berlin International Film Festival for his 1959 short 'Anneaux d'or' ('Golden Ring'); most famous for his dramatic Algerian War film 'To Be Twenty in the Aures' (1972), for which he received the FIPRESCI Prize at the Cannes Film Festival
January 15, 1928 – January 4, 2015- Production Manager
- Producer
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Bernard Williams was born on 10 May 1942 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. He was a production manager and producer, known for Star Trek: Generations (1994), Flash Gordon (1980) and Manhunter (1986). He was married to Valerie E. Norman. He died on 4 January 2015 in Lake Arrowhead, California, USA.Producer, production manager and assistant director; was associate producer on Stanley Kubrick's 'A Clockwork Orange' (1971) and 'Barry Lyndon' (1975) and collaborated with Frank Oz on six of the latter's films, starting with 'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' (1988, as producer and first assistant director) and 'What About Bob?' (1991, as co-producer); subsequently served as both executive producer and unit production manager on Oz's 'HouseSitter' (1992), 'The Indian in the Cupboard' (1995), 'Bowfinger' (1999) and 'The Score' (2001); was also executive producer on such films as 'Flash Gordon' (1980), Milos Forman's 'Ragtime' (1981), Michael Mann's 'Manhunter' (1986), 'War Party' (1988), 'So I Married an Axe Murderer' (1993), 'Star Trek Generations' (1994), 'Blood and Wine' (1996), 'Daredevil' (2003) and 'Charlotte's Web' (2006) and was unit production manager on the last seven films
1942 – January 4, 2015- Cinematographer
- Director
- Camera and Electrical Department
János Zsombolyai was born on 30 January 1939 in Budapest, Hungary. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Kihajolni veszélyes (1978), Tüzikovácsok (1975) and A halálraítélt (1990). He died on 4 January 2015 in Budapest, Hungary.Hungarian cinematographer and award-winning film director; shot many films for director Péter Bacsó, most notably 'The Witness' (1969) and 'The Agony of Mr. Boroka' (1972); also directed photography on such films as Pál Sándor's 'Clowns on the Wall' (1968) and 'Love, Emelia' (1970) and Rezsö Szörény's 'BUEK!' (1978); as a director, received Grand Jury Prizes for his films 'Tüzikovácsok' (1975) and 'Don't Lean Out the Window' (1978), while his films 'Duty Free Marriage' (1980) and 'Sentence to Death' (1989) were entered into the Chicago International Film Festival and Berlin International Film Festival, respectively; perhaps best known, however, for directing Queen's 1986 concert film 'Hungarian Rhapsody: Queen Live in Budapest'
January 30, 1939 – January 4, 2015- Actor
- Writer
- Additional Crew
After being demobbed from the army having completed his national service he went to Canada where he got a job in advertising writing jingles for television commercials. At the same time he was the leader of a group of young musicians and singers called Lord Lance and his Calypsons doing night spots in Montreal and with him playing the guitar. He collects Sinatra records and likes Ella Fizgerald,Actor, comedian, writer and singer famed for his work as a cast member on the groundbreaking satirical BBC program 'That Was the Week That Was,' particularly his impersonation and lampooning of prime minister Sir Alec Douglas-Home and his ability to spontaneously improvise comic calypsos based on suggestions from the audience; also known for voicing a cartoon version of Paul McCartney on ABC's animated series 'The Beatles' and for voicing Old Fred in the Beatles' animated film, 'Yellow Submarine' (1968); had supporting roles in many notable live-action films, as well, including 'Carry on Cruising' (1962), 'The Big Job' (1965), Blake Edwards' 'Darling Lili' (1970) and Robert Aldrich's 'Too Late the Hero' (1970); also appeared in the three movies spun off from the TV show 'Up Pompeii!' -- 1971's 'Up Pompeii' and 'Up the Chastity Belt' and 1972's 'Up the Front' -- and had brief roles in Anthony Asquith's films 'The V.I.P.s' (1963) and 'The Yellow Rolls-Royce' (1964)
July 26, 1933 – January 6, 2015- Writer
- Director
- Actor
Tadeusz Konwicki was born on 22 June 1926 in Nowa Wilejka, Wilenskie, Poland [now Naujoji Vilnia, Vilnius, Lithuania]. He was a writer and director, known for Lawa. Opowiesc o 'Dziadach' Adama Mickiewicza (1989), Dolina Issy (1982) and The Last Day of Summer (1958). He was married to Danuta Konwicka. He died on 7 January 2015 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.Polish screenwriter and film director known for such films as 'The Last Day of Summer' (1958), 'Salto' (1965) and 'A Tale of Adam Mickiewicz's 'Forefathers' Eve' (1989), the latter of which earned him the Special Jury Prize from the Polish Film Awards as well as a nomination for a Golden George (then known as the Golden St. George) from the Moscow International Film Festival; also known for collaborating with director Jerzy Kawalerowicz on the screenplays for the latter's films 'Mother Joan of the Angels' (1961), 'Faraon' (1966) and 'Austeria' (1982)
June 22, 1926 – January 7, 2015- Actor
- Music Department
- Writer
Suave and handsome Australian actor arrived in Hollywood in the 1950s, and built himself up from a supporting actor into taking the lead in several well-remembered movies. Arguably his most fondly remembered role was that as George (Herbert George Wells), the inventor, in George Pal's spectacular The Time Machine (1960). As the movie finished with George, and his best friend Filby Alan Young seemingly parting forever, both actors were brought back together in 1993 to film a 30-minute epilogue to the original movie! Taylor's virile, matinée idol looks also assisted him in scoring the lead of Mitch Brenner in Alfred Hitchcock's creepy thriller The Birds (1963), the role of Jane Fonda's love interest in Sunday in New York (1963), the title role in John Ford's biopic of Irish playwright Sean O'Casey in Young Cassidy (1965), and a co-starring role in The Train Robbers (1973) with John Wayne. Taylor also appeared as Bette Davis future son-in-law in the well-received film The Catered Affair (1956). He also gave a sterling performance as the German-American Nazi Major trying to fool James Garner in 36 Hours (1964). Later, Taylor made many westerns and action movies during the 1960s and 1970s; however, none of these were much better than "B" pictures and failed to push his star to the next level. Additionally, Taylor was cast as the lead in several TV series including Bearcats! (1971), Masquerade (1983), and Outlaws (1986); however, none of them truly ignited viewer interest, and they were cancelled after only one or two seasons. Most fans would agree that Rod Taylor's last great role was in the wonderful Australian film The Picture Show Man (1977), about a travelling sideshow bringing "moving pictures" to remote towns in the Australian outback.Legendary actor best known for starring in George Pal's 'The Time Machine' (1960) and Alfred Hitchcock's 'The Birds' (1963); was also the voice of Pongo in Disney's animated classic '101 Dalmatians' (1961); previously had supporting roles in such classic films as 'The Catered Affair' (1956), 'Giant' (1956), 'Raintree County' (1957) and 'Separate Tables' (1958); went on to star or co-star in such films as Anthony Asquith's 'The V.I.P.s' (1963), Peter Tewksbury's 'Sunday in New York' (1963), George Seaton's '36 Hours' (1964), Jack Cardiff's 'Young Cassidy,' 'The Liquidator' (both 1965) and 'Dark of the Sun' (1968), Michelangelo Antonioni's 'Zabriskie Point' (1970) and Burt Kennedy's 'The Train Robbers' (1973) and starred opposite Doris Day in the comedies 'Do Not Disturb' (1965) and 'The Glass Bottom Boat' (1966); also starred in the short lived TV series 'Hong Kong,' 'Bearcats!,' 'The Oregon Trail,' ''Masquerade' and 'Outlaws' and played the recurring roles of Frank Agretti on 'Falcon Crest' and Gordon Cahill on 'Walker, Texas Ranger;' made his final screen appearance as Winston Churchill in Quentin Tarantino's 'Inglourious Basterds' (2009)
January 11, 1930 - January 7, 2015- Music Department
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Andraé Crouch was born on 1 July 1942 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for The Color Purple (1985), Colors (1988) and Downsizing (2017). He died on 8 January 2015 in Northridge, California, USA.Legendary, seven-time Grammy-winning gospel singer, composer, arranger, choir director and pastor heralded as "the father of modern gospel music" for pioneering a gospel sound with a more contemporary feel; known for his trademark songs "The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power,' "My Tribute (To God Be the Glory)," "I've Got Confidence," "Jesus Is the Answer" and "Soon and Very Soon;" also known for conducting the choirs which sang on such hits as Michael Jackson's "Man in the Mirror" -- which he also helped arrange -- and Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and for creating original music arrangements for the films 'The Color Purple' (1985) -- for which he shared an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score -- and 'The Lion King' (1994); also composed the theme music for the TV series 'Amen;' known to have influenced such artists as Elvis Presley and Paul Simon, both of whom recorded their own versions of Crouch's songs; recipient of seven Grammys, six GMA Dove Awards, an ASCAP Award, Billboard and NAACP Awards and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
July 1, 1942 – January 8, 2015- Patsy Garrett was born on 4 May 1921 in Atlantic City, New Jersey, USA. She was an actress, known for Benji (1974), Nanny and the Professor (1970) and The Parallax View (1974). She was married to Alexander Kokinacis. She died on 8 January 2015 in Indio, California, USA.Actress best known for her seven years as a child performer on radio's 'Pleasure Time' in the '40s, for playing the "chow-chow-chow" lady in the popular Purina Cat Chow commercials of the '70s and for her role as the housekeeper Mary Gruber in 'Benji' (1974) and 'For the Love of Benji' (1977); also played the recurring roles of the nosy Mrs. Fowler on 'Nanny and the Professor' and school secretary Miss Hogarth on 'Room 222'
May 4, 1921 – January 8, 2015 - Soundtrack
Curtis Lee was born on 28 October 1939 in Yuma, Arizona, USA. He was married to Lydia. He died on 8 January 2015 in San Diego, California, USA.Singer and songwriter best known for his classic doo-wop hits "Pretty Little Angel Eyes" and "Under the Moon of Love"
October 28, 1939 – January 8, 2015- Popsy Dixon was born on 26 July 1942 in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Lotto Land (1995). He died on 9 January 2015 in Richmond, Virginia, USA.Longtime drummer and vocalist for The Holmes Brothers
July 26, 1942 – January 9, 2015 - Producer
- Additional Crew
- Director
Samuel Goldwyn Jr. was born on 7 September 1926 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was a producer and director, known for Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (2013) and Mystic Pizza (1988). He was married to Patricia Strawn, Peggy Elliott and Jennifer Howard. He died on 9 January 2015 in Los Angeles, California, USA.Influential film producer and executive who was a pioneer of independent film; son of the legendary, pioneering movie mogul Samuel Goldwyn; founded The Samuel Goldwyn Company and, later, Samuel Goldwyn Films; credited as the inspiration for the founding of Fox Searchlight; gave Julia Roberts her big break as an executive producer on 'Mystic Pizza' (1988), backed the landmark AIDS film 'Longtime Companion' (1989) when no one else would, and supported the early films of such up-and-coming directors as Ang Lee (1993's 'The Wedding Banquet'), Anthony Minghella (1990's 'Truly Madly Deeply') and Kenneth Branagh (1989's 'Henry V'); earned an Oscar nomination as a producer on 'Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World' (2003)
September 7, 1926 – January 9, 2015- Lowell 'Bud' Paxson was born on 17 April 1935 in Rochester, New York, USA. He was a producer, known for The Home Shopping Club (1985). He was married to Marla Jean Anastasoff, Barbara Ann Chapman and Jean Louise Blauvelt. He died on 9 January 2015 in Kalispell, Montana, USA.Pioneering media executive who co-founded the Home Shopping Network (now simply HSN) and founded PAX TV (now Ion Television)
April 17, 1935 – January 9, 2015 - Writer
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Brian Clemens left school at the age of 14. After national service with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps, he worked his way up from messenger boy to copywriter at an advertising agency, writing in his spare time. One of his scripts was accepted by the BBC in 1955. He joined a production company, literally writing scripts to order. With tight deadlines and plots often based on the availability of sets, props or location, he churned out scripts for B-films and TV series.
Clemens is best remembered for his work on British television in the 1960s and 1970s, especially on Danger Man (1960), The Avengers (1961) (for which he wrote many episodes, including the pilot in 1961), The Baron (1966), The Persuaders! (1971) and creating The Professionals (1977). He also wrote for the stage; his play "Strictly Murder" was performed by a cast including Brian Capron in 2017.
Clemens was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2010 Queen's Birthday Honours List for his services to Broadcasting and to Drama. According to his son Samuel, the last thing he did before he died was to watch an episode of The Avengers (1961) and his last words were: "I did quite a good job".Iconic writer and producer best known for his work on classic British television shows, particularly as one of the creative forces behind 'The Avengers' and as creator, writer and executive producer of 'The Professionals;' also well-known and admired as a creator, producer and writer of 'The New Avengers,' as the creator and primary writer of the anthology series 'Thriller,' as one of the creators of the BBC series 'Bugs,' for writing the pilots and subsequent episodes of 'The Persuaders!' and 'Danger Man,' and for writing numerous episodes of 'The Protectors;' known for his film work, as well, most notably as writer and director of 'Captain Kronos - Vampire Hunter' (1974) and as the writer of 'And Soon the Darkness' (1970), 'See No Evil' (1971; a.k.a. 'Blind Terror'), 'Dr Jekyll & Sister Hyde' (1971), 'The Golden Voyage of Sinbad' (1973) and 'The Watcher in the Woods' (1980)
July 30, 1931 – January 10, 2015- George Dickerson was born on 25 July 1933 in Topeka, Kansas, USA. He was an actor, known for Blue Velvet (1986), Death Warrant (1990) and After Dark, My Sweet (1990). He was married to Suzanne Hartman and Victoria Chess. He died on 10 January 2015 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.Actor known for his policeman roles in David Lynch's 'Blue Velvet' (1986), 'Death Wish 4: The Crackdown' (1987) and the first season of 'Hill Street Blues;' also had roles in such films as 'Cutter's Way' (1981), 'Psycho II' (1983, again portraying law enforcement), 'The Star Chamber' (1983), 'After Dark, My Sweet' (1990), 'Death Warrant' (1990) and the Emmy-winning two-part TV movie 'Son of the Morning Star' (1991)
July 25, 1933 – January 10, 2015 - Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Taylor Negron was born Brad Stephen Negron in Glendale, California, to Lucy (Rosario) and Conrad Negron, who was mayor of Indian Wells, CA. His parents were both of Puerto Rican descent. Negron attended UCLA, studied acting with Lee Strasberg, and studied comedy at a private seminar taught by Lucille Ball. He went on to join the cast of an improvisational comedy group, whose ranks included talents like Robin Williams, Martin Short and Betty Thomas. In 1982 Negron made his motion-picture debut as a love-struck, pill-popping, dancing intern in Young Doctors in Love (1982) and as the obviously peeved Mr. Pizza Guy in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982). He also played Rodney Dangerfield's son-in-law in Easy Money (1983).
Negron was honored with the distinction of being asked to teach one of the first comedy courses offered at UCLA.
Negron died of cancer on January 10, 2015.Actor, comedian and writer most remembered for his brief appearance as an annoyed pizza delivery guy in 'Fast Times at Ridgemont High' (1982), his role as Rodney Dangerfield's son-in-law in 'Easy Money' (1983), his villainous turn in 'The Last Boy Scout' (1991), and his appearances on 'Seinfeld' and 'Friends;' also known for his roles in such films as 'River's Edge' (1986), 'Punchline' (1988), 'Nothing But Trouble' (1991), 'Angels in the Outfield' (1994) and 'Bio-Dome' (1996) and his appearance in 'The Aristocrats' (2005)
August 1, 1957 – January 10, 2015- Writer
- Director
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
His father was a shipowner. After school, Rosi initially began studying law, which he soon dropped out to work as a broadcast journalist and book illustrator in Naples. From 1944 to 1945 he worked for "Radio Napoli". In the immediate post-war years, Rosi moved to Rome, where he came into contact with the film world. He initially acted as an assistant to several directors and thus played a key role in the development of Italian "Neorealismo". From 1947 to 1948, Rosi assisted Luchino Visconti in the filming of the masterpiece of neorealism "La terra trema". In addition to working on other Visconti films, he also studied with Michelangelo Antonioni. In 1957 Rosi celebrated his directorial debut with "La sfida".
The success led to a long series of films in the following decades, some of which courageously dealt with unpleasant and critical topics in Italian post-war society. Rosi's films such as "Le mani sulla città" (1963), "Cadaveri eccellenti" (1976) and "Cristo si è fermato a Eboli" (1979) are dedicated to the ruthless analysis of events in contemporary Italian history and the present. The director bluntly denounces the grievances resulting from war, crime and corruption as social processes that are tolerated, accepted or even intended by political power. With the film adaptation of the opera "Carmen" (1984) and the novel by Gabriel García Márquez "Cronaca di una morte annunciata" (1987), Rosi approached emotional productions, abandoning his previous materialistic analysis.
However, both films remain connected to the basic theme of Rosi's work, the Italian South, which the director deepened again through the pessimistic study of the global character of the Italian-American mafia in "Dimenticare Palermo" (1989). Rosi received numerous awards for his work. His directorial debut won an award in Venice in 1958. In 1962 he was awarded the Berlin Silver Bear for the film about "Salvatore Giuliano". In 2000 he received the "Grand Prix des Amériques" in Montreal for his life's work.
Francesco Rosi is married to Giancarla Rosi Mandelli and lives in Rome.Acclaimed Italian neo-realist film director and screenwriter; got his start as an assistant director on such films as Luchino Visconti's 'La Terra Trema' (1948), 'Bellissima' (1952) and 'Senso' (1954) before making his solo feature directorial debut with 'La sfida' (1958), which won him the Special Jury Prize and San Giorgio Prize at the Venice Film Festival; most noted for his films 'Salvatore Giuliano' (1962, for which he won the Berlin International Film Festival's Silver Berlin Bear and an Italian Golden Globe as Best Director in 1962), 'Hands Over the City' (which unanimously won the Golden Lion at 1963's Venice Film Festival), 'The Mattei Affair' (which won the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in 1972) and 'Christ Stopped at Eboli' (which won Best Film and Best Director at the David di Donatello Awards and the Golden Prize at the Moscow International Film Festival in 1979 and the BAFTA Film Award as Best Foreign Language Film in 1983); made many other acclaimed, award-winning films, including 'The Moment of Truth' (1965), 'Many Wars Ago' (1970), 'Illustrious Corpses' (1976), the Oscar-nominated 'Three Brothers' (1981), 'Carmen' (1984) and 'The Truce' (1997)
November 15, 1922 – January 10, 2015- Actress
- Additional Crew
Kerstin Anita Marianne Ekberg was born on September 29, 1931 in Malmo, Sweden. Growing up with seven brothers and sisters was not an adventure, but Anita's adventure began when she was elected Miss Sweden in 1950. She did not win the Miss Universe contest but she got a modeling contract in the United States. She quickly got a film contract with Howard Hughes's RKO that did not lead anywhere (but Anita herself has said that Hughes wanted to marry her). Instead, she started making movies with Universal, small roles that more often than not only required her to look beautiful. After five years in Hollywood, she found herself in Rome, where Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (1960) meant her breakthrough. She stayed in Italy and made around 20 movies during the next ten years, some roles memorable, some to be forgotten. Her two marriages gave her a great deal of attention from the press. During the 1970s, the roles became less frequent, but she made a marvellous comeback with Fellini's Intervista (1987).
Anita Ekberg retired from acting in 2002 after 50 years in the motion picture industry. In December 2011, she was destitute following three months in a hospital with a broken thigh in Rimini, during which her home was robbed of jewelry and furniture, and her villa was badly damaged in a fire. Ekberg applied for help from the Fellini Foundation, which also found itself in difficult financial straits. She died at age 83 from complications of an enduring illness on January 11, 2015 at the clinic San Raffaele in Rocca di Papa, Italy. Ekberg had a new film project with exclusively female Italian producer "Le Bestevem", in which her character, as movie star, should have been recovered again as an icon of the silver screen, a project that was interrupted by her death.
Her funeral was held on January 14, 2015, at the Lutheran-Evangelical Christuskirche in Rome, after which her body was cremated and her remains were buried at the cemetery of Skanor Church in Sweden.Actress, model, former Miss Sweden and sex symbol best known for her iconic role in Federico Fellini's 'La Dolce Vita' (1960); also played Princess Hélène Kuragin in King Vidor's big-screen production of 'War and Peace' (1956) and starred in Fellini's segment in the Italian anthology film 'Boccaccio '70' (1962); other film credits include the Martin and Lewis comedies 'Artists and Models' (1955) and 'Hollywood or Bust' (1956), the John Wayne adventure 'Blood Alley' (1955), the lead role in 'Screaming Mimi' (1958), the Bob Hope comedies 'Paris Holiday' (1958) and 'Call Me Bwana' (1963), Robert Aldrich's Western comedy '4 for Texas' (1963), Jerry Lewis' 'Way... Way Out' (1966), Vittorio De Sica's 'Woman Times Seven' (1967) and Giulio Berruti's "nunsploitation" film 'Killer Nun' (1979)
September 29, 1931 – January 11, 2015- Chic Littlewood was born on 17 November 1930 in South East London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for King Kong (2005), 30 Days of Night (2007) and The Basil Brush Show (1980). He died on 11 January 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand.Popular New Zealand entertainer and actor best known for hosting the children's shows 'Chicaboom' and 'Chic Chat' in the '70s and '80s; became the first variety performer to win Entertainer of the Year and also won a Benny Award from Variety Artists Club in 1979; also played policeman Laurie Brasch on the long-running soap 'Shortland Street' from 1993 to 1996 and later appeared in films such as Peter Jackson's 'King Kong' (2005) and David Slade's '30 Days of Night' (2007)
November 17, 1930 – January 11, 2015