More In 2005

ALEXANDER GOLITZEN-July 27-(97)-was a Hollywood art director who shared in three Academy Awards wins for THE PHANTON OF THE OPERA (1943), SPARTACUS and TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD. Born in Moscow, he fled the revolution and eventually landed in Seattle, Washington. He was nominated several other times. In 1939 producer Walter Wanger hired him and a few years later became unit art director at Universal Pictures where he would remain for the next 30 years. He was especially busy in the 50’s (and worked many times for Jack Arnold).

His other films include Hitchcock’s FOREIGN CORRESPONDENT, COBRA WOMAN, SALOME WHERE SHE DANCED, THE CLIMAX, Lang’s SCARLETT STREET, Max Ophuls’ LETTER FROM AN UNKNOWN WOMAN, THE GLENN MILLER STORY, THE BLACK SHIELD OF FALWORTH, SIGN OF THE PAGAN, REVENGE OF THE CREATURE, THIS ISLAND EARTH, TARANTULA, THE MOLE MEN, THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN, THE DEADLY MANTIS, MAN OF A THOUSAND FACES, MAN IN THE SHADOW, Welles’ TOUCH OF EVIL, THE MONOLITH MONSTERS, THE THING THAT COULDN’T DIE, CAPE FEAR, 3 1950’S Abbott & Costello features: GO TO MARS, MEET THE KEYSTONE KOPS and MEET THE MUMMY, entries into the “Ma & Pa Kettle” and “Francis The Talking Mule” series, the first episode of TV’s THE TWILIGHT ZONE (“Where Is Everybody?”) and many many more. God bless him!

JAMES BOOTH-August 13-(68)-English actor who appeared in ZULU, THE SECRET OF MY SUCCESS, NINETY DEGREES IN THE SHADE, MACHO CALLAHAN, THAT’LL BE THE DAY PERCY’S PROGRESS, BRANNIGAN, AIRPORT ’77 and others. He was “Ernie Niles” on TV’s TWIN PEAKS and also wrote the screenplays for the action films PRAY FOR DEATH, AVENGING FORCE & AMERICAN NINJA 2.

EVA RENZI-Aug. 16-(61)-Germany actress whose movies included FUNERAL IN BERLIN, THE BIRD WITH THE CRYSTAL PLUMAGE, NIGHT OF THE ASSASSIN and others.

VASSAR CLEMENTS-Aug. 16-(77)-legendary fiddle player who when not pursuing his own solo career found time to play with such diverse musicians as Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, Bonnie Raitt, the GratefulDead, Bruce Hornsby, Hank Williams Jr., The Byrds, Woody Herman, The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and The Monkees. He can be seen in Robert Altman’s NASHVILLE. Playing since the age of 7, Clements gave his last concert in February. He died of lung cancer.

TONINO DELLI COLLI-Aug. 17-(82)-was a legendary Italian cinematographer who worked with Fellin, Pasolini, Sergio Leone and Louis Malle. Films he shot include CAPTAIN MORGAN, THE THIEF OF BAGDAD, RO GO PA G, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW, THE GOOD THE BAD & THE UGLY, GHOSTS-ITALIAN STYLE, SPIRITS OF THE DEAD (“William Wilson” segment), ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST, PIGPEN, THE DECAMERON, SEVEN BEAUTIES, SALO, TALES OF ORDINARY MADNESS, GINGER & FRED, THE NAME OF THE ROSE, FELLINI’S INTERVISTA (in which he appeared as himself), LIFE IS BEAUTIFUL and many others. His wife may have been actresss Alexandra Delli Colli who starred in ZOMBIE HOLOCAUST and DR. BUTCHER MD. He died of a heart attack.

BROCK PETERS-Aug. 23-(78)-African American actor of stage, films and TV. He was Tom Robinson in TO KILL A MOCKING BIRD and appeared in over 60 films including CARMEN JONES (his film debut), PORGY & BESS, THE L SHAPED ROOM, THE PAWBROKER, THE INCIDENT, SOYLENT GREEN, SLAUGHTER’S BIG RIP-OFF, ROOTS:THE NEXT GENERATIONS, STAR TREK 4:THE VOYAGE HOME, STAR TREK 6: THE UNDISCOVERED COUNTRY, ALLIGATOR 2:THE MUTATION and others. On TV he had a reoccurring role on DEEP SPACE NINE, was on several soap operas and did voice- overs for several cartoon shows. Originally from NYC, he died of cancer in LA.

MEL WELLES-Aug.19-(81)-Character actor and sometimes director best known to most movie fans as “Gravis Muchnik”, the plant store owner in Roger Corman’s LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. Other roles were in THE SILVER CHALICE, ABBOTT & COSTELLO MEET THE MUMMY, SPY CHASERS, KISMET, ATTACK OF THE CRAB MONSTERS, HOLD THAT HYPNOTIST, THE UNDEAD, ROCK ALL NIGHT, THE 27TH DAY, THE BROTHERS KARAMOZOV, HIGH SCHOOL CONFIDENTAL, THE SHE-BEAST, DR. HECKYL & MR HYPE and others. He is also credited with directing 3 movies: MANEATER OF HYDRA, LADY FRANKENSTEIN and JOYRIDE TO NOWHERE. He made many TV appearances as well. Also originally from NYC, Welles died in Norfolk, Va. of heart failure.

JAY JACKSON-Aug. 16-(86)-was a popular announcer in early TV on the shows PHILCO TELEVISION PLAYHOUSE, LUX VIDEO THEATER, 20 QUESTIONS and TIC TAC DOUGH. He also appeared in the classic THE HONEYMOONERS episode “The $99,000 Answer”.

MICHAEL SHEARD-Aug. 31-(65)-English actor who was Admiral Ozzel in THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. He made over 40 movie appearances and played Hitler 5 times! He was the star of the long running BBC TV show GRANGE HILL. Other films include FORCE 10 FROM NAVARONE, LES MISERABLES, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, GREEN ICE, HIGH ROAD TO CHINA and others.

MEREDITH NICOLSON-Aug. 18-(92)-was a cinematographer on three of director Richard Cunha’s low budget horror movies (SHE DEMONS, MISSLE TO THE MOON and FRANKENSTEIN’S DAUGHTER). He later went into TV working on shows like GET SMART, MY THREE SONS, THE FUGITIVE, BATMAN, THE INVADERS and MASH. Other feature film work includes two late period Edgar Ulmer films BEYOND THE TIME BARRIER and THE AMAZING TRANSPARENT MAN, THE DEVIL’S HAND and ESCAPE FROM HELL’S ISLAND.

LOULIE JEAN NORMAN-August 2-()-was an operatic soprano who sang the “word-less lyrics” on the theme of the original STAR TREK TV show. (There were words written for the theme but they weren’t used) She made several albums with her husband arranger/composer GORDON JENKINS and sang back up vocals for ELVIS, SINATRA, HENRY MANCINI, SPIKE JONES and others. She dubbed DIAHANN CARROLL’S singing in PORGY & BESS (despite the fact that Carroll was a singer) and did the same for JULIET PROWSE in GI BLUES and STELLA STEVENS in TOO LATE BLUES.