RIP Christian Juttner

 

Christian Juttner Dies: The Former Child Star Was 60 

Forbes

By Marc Berman

January 16, 2025

 

Christian Juttner, who at age seven debuted on television in an episode of the detective drama Ironside in 1971, died November 29 of natural causes at his home in Yucca Valley, California. He was 60.

Born May 20, 1964, in Pomona, California, Juttner’s resume included guest spots in a roster of TV series including Bewitched, Emergecy!, The Rookies, S.W.A.T., Medical Center, The Bionic Woman and Wonder Woman, and a pair of ABC Afterschool Specials.

At age 14, Juttner appeared in the films Return From Witch Mountain, I Wanna Hold Your Hand and the Irwin Allen-directed disaster film The Swarm. Next were guest roles in episodes of Lou Grant, Trapper John, M.D. and Alice. And his final on-screen role was in the daytime drama General Hospital in 1981.

After retiring from acting, Juttner lived in the island of Saint Croix, where he worked in his father's glassworks business, and later moved to Yucca Valley, where he worked in construction and opened a glassworks business of his own.

Survivors include his mother; his ex-wife, Ann; daughters Aidan and Ryan; son Lucas; and his sister Shelley.

JUTTNER, Christian (Christian John Juttner)

Born: 5/20/1964, Pomona, California, U.S.A.

Died: 11/29/2024, Van Nuys, California, U.S.A.

 

Christian Juttner’s westerns – actor:

Return of the Big Cat – 1974 (Leroy McClaren)

RIP David Lynch

 

David Lynch Dies: ‘Twin Peaks’, ‘Blue Velvet’, ‘Elephant Man’ & ‘Eraserhead’ Visionary Was 78

DEADLINE

By Erik Pedersen, Anthony D'Alessandro

January 16, 2025

 

One of Hollywood’s worst weeks in just got worse. David Lynch, the four-time Oscar-nominated filmmaker behind Blue Velvet, Mulholland Drive, Eraserhead, Wild at Heart, The Elephant Man and others who also created the Showtime drama Twin Peaks, has died. He was 78.

His family posted the news on social media.

Lynch had been diagnosed with emphysema. Sources told Deadline that he was forced to relocate from his house due to the Sunset Fire and then took a turn for the worse. In an interview with Sight & Sound magazine last year, Lynch revealed that due to Covid fears and his emphysema diagnosis, he could no longer could leave the house, which meant if he directed again, it would be remote. He then followed up the interview with a post on social that he “will never retire” despite his physical challenges.

“It is with deep regret that we, his family, announce the passing of the man and the artist, David Lynch,” the family’s post reads. “We would appreciate some privacy at this time. There’s a big hole in the world now that he’s no longer with us. But, as he would say, ‘Keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.’ It’s a beautiful day with golden sunshine and blue skies all the way.”

An eccentric, visionary outsider, he earned Oscar noms for writing and directing 1980’s The Elephant Man and for directing Mulholland Drive and Blue Velvet. In 2000, he received an Honorary Oscar for lifetime achievement. He also took the Palme d’Or at Cannes for Wild at Heart in 1990 and was nominated for the prize three other times. He won Best Director at the fest for Mulholland Drive in 2001.

Born on January 20, 1946, in Missoula, Montana, Lynch began his career making short films in the late 1960s. His first feature film was the influential and ever-quirky Eraserhead (1977), which he wrote and directed and went on to be a midnight-movie cult classic. That led to his breakout success with The Elephant Man, starring John Hurt as the friendly and smart but disfigured title character in Victorian England and Anthony Hopkins as the doctor who tries to treat him. When chased down by a gang of street toughs, Hurt’s John Merrick memorably cries: “I’m not an animal! I’m a human being — a man!”

Lynch’s career took off during the 1980s. He followed up the success of Elephant Man with Dune, the 1984 take of Frank Herbert’s classic sci-fi novel that failed to light up the box office, and the 1986 noir psychological thriller Blue Velvet, starring Kyle MacLachlan, Isabella Rossellini, Dennis Hopper, and Laura Dern.

Perhaps his masterstroke arrived in 1989.

He created, directed co-wrote Twin Peaks, a bizarre sort of detective series/soap opera/sci-fi mystery-adventure and occasional outright Twilight Zone-like horror. Set in the fiction Pacific Northwest town that gives the series its title, Twin Peaks began with one of the most disturbing and oddly mesmerizing opening scenes in TV history: the beachside discovery of the plastic-wrapped corpse. The town’s popular young high schooler Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) had been murdered, her bluish corpse still oddly beautiful.

The discovery would bring the quirky FBI Special Agent Dale Cooper (Kyle MacLachlan), a brilliant oddball sleuth given to praising coffee, pie and, eventually, the off-putting town he adopted as his own. Along the way, Cooper uncovered many mysteries in Twin Peaks, a good number of them involving the supernatural. Along the way, “Who killed Laura Palmer?” became a national obsession.

The series lasted for two seasons and ended when Cooper finally discovered Laura’s otherworldly killer. A 2017 revival series called Twin Peaks: The Return reunited many of the original cast and characters, and under Lynch’s care became even more bizarre than the original series: The Return‘s final scene remains a standout among TV’s all-time most chilling moments. The so-called third season received widespread critical acclaim.

Lynch’s feature writing and/or directing credits also includes Lost Highway (1997), The Straight Story (1999) and Inland Empire (2006).

LYNCH, David (David Keith Lynch)

Born: 1/20/1946, Missoula, Montana, U.S.A.

Died: 1/16/2025, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

David Lynch’s westerns – art department, actor:

In Pursuit of Treasure – 1972 [art department]

Lucky – 2017 (Howard)

RIP Leslie Charleson

 

Leslie Charleson, Longest-Tenured General Hospital Cast Member, Dies at 79 

The actress played Monica Quartermaine on the series from 1977 until her death

People

By Victoria Edel

January 12, 2025

 

Leslie Charleson has died at the age of 79.

The actress was best known as Monica Quartermaine on the soap opera General Hospital, a role she began playing in 1977, making her the cast member who was on the show the longest. She was a four-time Daytime Emmy nominee.

General Hospital's executive producer Frank Valentini announced Charleson's death on the show's official Instagram page on Sunday, Jan. 12. "It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of my dear friend and colleague, Leslie Charleson," he began.

"Her enduring legacy has spanned nearly 50 years on General Hospital alone and, just as Monica was the heart of the Quartermaines, Leslie was a beloved matriarch of the entire cast and crew," he continued. "I will miss our daily chats, her quick wit and incredible presence on set."

Valentini concluded his message: "On behalf of everyone at General Hospital, my heartfelt sympathy goes out to her loved ones during this difficult time."

Charleson was born in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1945. Her sister Kate, who died in 1996, also became an actress. Charleson acted as a child and in high school, and studied theater at Bennett College in upstate New York.

In 1964, she was cast on the NBC soap A Flame in the Wind. Then she joined ​​As the World Turns in 1966, before moving to CBS’s Love Is a Many Splendored Thing. She stayed with that series until 1970.

After leaving the show, she made guest appearances on series like Marcus Welby, M.D., Happy Days (as a love interest for Ron Howard's Richie Cunningham), The Streets of San Francisco, Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law, McMillan & Wife and The Rockford Files. She also starred in the 1971 made-for-TV horror film Revenge!.

In 1977, she was brought onto General Hospital as the series’ ratings were floundering, replacing Patsy Rahn, who had debuted as Monica Bard Webber (later Monica Quartermaine) a year earlier. Monica, a doctor, filled the bad-girl archetype on the show, and Charleson loved playing her.

“I only signed on for two years, and I don’t know what happened,” she told Digital Journal in 2019. “Back then, there weren’t a lot of good female roles that had that. It was an amazing time, and it was strong material to act.”

“She’s interesting, dedicated in all areas,” Charleson told Soap Opera Digest in 1981. “Her dedication in her social life can be a bit over the top, but it’s true. When she loves, it’s passionately. She puts her effort into it, sometimes at the expense of others.”

And at the time, the actress was happy with her character's growth. “I’m delighted with the progress she’s made, her sense of humor," she said. "As an actress I enjoy Monica because she can wear any hat, go any place, do any thing.” Of her character’s reputation, she added, “When you’re all good, you’re boring. And nobody is just ‘good,’ unless she’s a saint.”

Monica’s most impactful relationship on the show was with fellow doctor Alan Quartermaine, played by the late Stuart Damon. The Quartermaine family joined the show the same year Charleson did, ultimately giving Monica deep ties to the show.

But Monica's relationship with Alan was often volatile. In the '80s, she often slapped Alan in the face. “We’d do real slaps,” Charleson told PEOPLE in 2023 for the show’s 60th anniversary. “Stuart was always afraid I’d take his eye out. I would fake a slap in dress rehearsal, but when we went to tape it, all that went out the window!”

Monica was often in the middle of love triangles and even accidentally had an affair with her nephew. But not all of Monica’s storylines emphasized over-the-top drama. In 1994, she was diagnosed with breast cancer.

“Monica’s battle with breast cancer was just so incredibly fulfilling,” Charleson told FBJ Fit in 2020. “Dealing with a real-life issue that afflicts so many women and their families and being able to show the struggle and issues they face, was something I am so proud of. It was exhausting and incredibly difficult work, but the response to the storyline was truly humbling.”

Charleson began to appear on General Hospital on a recurring status beginning in 2010 and made less frequent appearances in the last years of her life.

Once she joined the GH cast, Charleson rarely made TV appearances outside it. But she starred in the 1993 TV movie Woman on the Ledge and made guest appearances on Diagnosis: Murder and Dharma & Greg. She played herself in a 2004 episode of Friends, where she faced Joey (who was also a soap star) on a game show.

Charleson was married once, to Bill Demms, from 1988 to 1991.

Looking back at her GH tenure, she told Soap Opera Digest in 2001, “I really do love this job. Look at it this way — what better job can you do than get up in the morning, roll out of bed, throw something on and then have someone take care of how you look and how you dress and what you say? How much more grateful could you possibly be? Not bad, not bad at all."

CHARLESON, Leslie (Leslie Ann Charleson)

Born: 2/22/1945, Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.A.

Died: 1/12/2025, U.S.A.

 

Leslie Charleson’s westerns – actress:

The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1968 (Dooley Sloan)

Kung Fu (TV) – 1975 (Amy Starbuck)

RIP Phyllis Dalton

 

Phyllis Dalton, Oscar-Winning Costume Designer for ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Doctor Zhivago,’ Dies at 99

Dalton designed Peter O’Toole’s famous white robes as T.E. Lawrence and Cary Elwes’ swashbuckling pirate outfit in “The Princess Bride”

 

THE WRAP

By Adam Chitwood

January 12, 2025

 

Phyllis Dalton, the two-time Oscar-winning costume designer behind classics like “Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago” and “The Princess Bride,” has died at the age of 99, according to The Telegraph.

Dalton’s two Oscar wins came nearly a quarter century apart, first for her work on David Lean’s 1965 historical epic “Doctor Zhivago,” and then again for Kenneth Branagh’s 1989 adaptation of Shakespeare’s “Henry V,” in which the actor-director famously performs the Bard’s iconic St. Crispin’s Day speech.

Ironically, “Henry V” also served as the start of Dalton’s career. A native of Chiswick and a graduate of Ealing Art College, the British designer got her start in film as a wardrobe assistant on Lawrence Olivier’s adaptation of “Henry V” back in 1944. After nearly a decade of learning the trade, Dalton got her first costume designer credit on “Rob Roy: The Highland Rogue” starring Richard Todd and Glynis Johns in 1953. Her early work also included designing an 18th century naval outfit for Robert Stack in one of his most famous lead roles in “John Paul Jones.”

Perhaps Dalton’s greatest contribution to cinematic history is her work on Lean’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” in which she designed Peter O’Toole’s iconic white robes as T.E. Lawrence. Dalton drew her inspiration for the outfit, as well as for those worn by Alec Guinness and the rest of the film’s cast, from Eric Kennington’s pastel illustrations for Lawrence’s autobiography “Seven Pillars of Wisdom,” as well as from historical photographs at the Imperial War Museum in London.

After working on “Arabia” and “Zhivago” with Lean, Dalton earned another nomination for her work on Carol Reed’s Best Picture-winning “Oliver!,” which was easier to design for with the descriptive language of Charles Dickens’ “Oliver Twist” but came with a demanding schedule in which hundreds of performers needed to be costumed at the same time on shoot days.

“Although we made it all at Shepperton [Studios], it was like doing two films in one,” Dalton said in a 2000 interview with the British Entertainment History Project. “We had all the sort of dramatic stuff on the stages and then anything that the dancers were doing was on probably the outdoor set, or something else. So there was an awful lot of, wardrobe here, stage there, the outdoor stage there, walking up and down all day.”

Dalton then crafted the fantasy costumes for Rob Reiner’s beloved 1987 film “The Princess Bride,” including the iconic threads worn by Cary Elwes’ swashbuckling pirate and Princess Buttercup’s unforgettable fire swamp dress.

Dalton retired in 1993.

DALTON, Phyllis (Phyllis Margaret Dalton)

Born: 10/11/2025, London, England, U.K.

Died: 1/9/2025

 

Phyllis Dalton’s western – costume designer:

Eagle’s Wing -1979

RIP Don Chaput

 

Legacy Remembers

January 6, 2025

 

Donald Chaput, a long-time resident of Altadena, California passed away on December 11, 2024 at the age of 90. He was a noted mining historian whose research incorporated various histories of Great Lakes region, the Philippines, and the American Southwest. He was prolific author of over 15 books and dozens of contributions to periodicals and journals, such as the Smithsonian Handbook of North American Indians.

Born and raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Don was one of 10 siblings and had a large variety of jobs during snowy winters as he was growing up. He joined the Marines for two years and was stationed in Korea, coordinating prisoner transfers in the latter part of the war. In 1958 he achieved a Master's Degree in Social Sciences from Michigan State University, where he met the love of his life, Toni. They were married in 1960 and started their family with two sons, Ben and Ed.

During the 1960's Don taught Junior High Social Studies, English and Geography, and was employed in 1966 by the Michigan Historical Commission, where he became Research Director and Chief Editor. During this period, he focused on his young family, his career, and his many relatives in the Michigan region. In 1969 he wrote his first book on his home town, Hubbell – A Copper Country Village, followed by his second book The Cliff Mine, in 1971, which was a few miles from Hubbell. These books started a lifelong passion in mining research which was featured in great detail in his subsequent books.

In 1972 He was offered a job as Senior History Curator at the Museum of Natural History in Los Angeles where he was in charge of the military history vault and continued his research on mining and the history of the southwest. Don moved his family to Altadena, California, under the shadow of the San Gabriel Mountains, which provided the backdrop for the remainder of his life. While in Altadena he and his wife Toni developed many new friendships, spent much of their time playing bridge and music, and took up bowling and other hobbies while raising their two sons. By the 1980's Don and Toni were able to travel together on mining research trips. Don kept up with his writing and was frequently involved with Museum events and gave numerous speeches and presentations on many topics throughout the decade. At this point in his career he had developed a large group of research collaborators and was contributing many articles to publications.

In the early 1990's Don had retired and still continued his travels with Toni, expanding to many different countries. During this period, his writing began to focus on characters surrounding the Earp Brothers, and he wrote books on Virgil Earp, Nellie Cashman, "Buckskin Frank" Leslie and Dr. Goodfellow. Many large family gatherings were held at Don's home in Altadena, and he & Toni added birding as one of their favorite hobbies. In the 2000's the family gatherings grew larger with grandchildren and friends and Don continued working on his research and writing and gave periodic presentations on topics of interest from his research. As Curator Emeritus with the Museum of Natural History he continued to work with the institution for 15 years after his retirement.

In 2018 Don & Toni moved to an Assisted Living Facility, within view of the San Gabriel Mountains and Don was able to help care for Toni as her health declined. At this juncture, Don had assumed he was done with his writing, but got a second wind with a new collaboration effort, and released two final books - The Earp's Invade Southern California, and Tombstone, Arizona Mystique - in the final years of his life. These books were very well received and he left us on a high note with his writing legacy. Don spent much time in his waning years updating the next generation of his family with genealogy information and archival photos that he assembled in pamphlets.

He leaves behind his son Ben and his wife Rebecca of Torrance and son Edward and his wife Theresa of Duarte, grandchildren Bryce, Aurora, Nikko & Paolo and five great grandchildren. He was cremated at Mountain View Cemetery in Altadena, and a ceremony with family members was held in the cemetery rose garden.

CHAPUT, Don (Donald Charles Chaput)

Born: 12/19//1933, Hubbell, Michigan, U.S.A.

Died: 12/11/2024, Altadena, California, U.S.A.

 

Don Chaput’s westerns – books

 

French Canadian contribution to winning the American West: biographical notes - 1985

Virgil Earp: Western Peace Officer - 1994

The Earp Papers: In a Brother’s Image – 1994

Nellie Cashman and the North American Mining Frontier - 1995

Dr. Goodfellow: Physician to the Gunfighters, Scholar, & Bonvivant – 1996

Buckskin Frank Leslie Vol. 1 & Vol. 2- 1999

The Odyssey of Burt Alvord: Lawman, Train Robber, Fugitive - 2000

Cochise County Stalwarts: A Who’s Who of the Territorial Years (co) - 2000

Nellie Cashman and the North American Mining Frontier - 2010

The Earps Invade Southern California: Bootlegging Los Angeles, Santa Monica, and the Old Soldiers' Home (co) – 2020

Tombstone, Arizona Mystique (co) - 2023

RIP Sue Steele

 

Commercial Producers Association of South Africa

December 30, 2024

 

The CPA is deeply shocked and saddened to hear of the untimely and tragic death of Sue Steele on 26 December 2024.

Sue was an integral part of the commercial production industry in which she was an innovator and trendsetter over a period of more than 40 years. Sue was one of South Africa’s most talented and recognised costume designers, art directors and production designers and worked alongside many of our great directors and production companies to produce outstanding work in both commercials and long form.

In addition, Sue was a mentor to many in the art department’s younger generations and embraced this role with enthusiasm and generosity.  She was the quintessential strong, independent and professional woman who was able to accomplish whatever she set her mind to.

Sue was a cherished mentor and friend to many and she leaves behind an enduring legacy.  We send our sincere condolences to Sue’s sons Callum and Ross - of whom she was immensely proud - and to her family, many devoted friends and colleagues.

Our industry is poorer for this huge loss.  May her dear soul rest in peace

STEELE, Sue

Born: 19??, South Africa

Died: 12/26/2024, Balgowani, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

 

Sue Steele’s western – costume designer:

Guns of Honor (TV) – 1994 [costume designer]

RIP Roger Pratt

 

‘Brazil’, ‘Batman’ cinematographer Roger Pratt dies aged 77

Screen Daily

By John Hazelton

January 6. 2025

 

Oscar-nominated British cinematographer Roger Pratt has died, aged 77.

The British Society of Cinematographers, of which Pratt had been a member since 1986, confirmed the death and said Pratt had been suffering from early onset Alzheimer’s disease.

Born in Leicester in 1947, Pratt attended the London Film School in the late sixties and got his first credit as camera assistant on director Mike Leigh’s 1971 film Bleak Moments. He would later serve as cinematographer on Leigh’s 1983 TV film Meantime and 1988 feature High Hopes.

Working as clapper loader on Monty Python And The Holy Grail in 1975 began Pratt’s relationship with Terry Gilliam, for whom he would go on to shoot Brazil, The Fisher King and 12 Monkeys.

Pratt also served as director of photography on four films for Sir Richard Attenborough – Shadowlands, In Love And War, Grey Owl and Closing The Ring – and two – Mona Lisa and The End Of The Affair – for Neil Jordan.

His other credits include Tim Burton’s 1989 Batman, Harry Potter And The Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire, the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid and Snow White And The Huntsman.

In 2000, Pratt was nominated for the cinematography Oscar for his work on The End Of The Affair. He also got a Bafta nomination for the film and a second nomination a year later for Chocolat.

PRATT, Roger (Roger James Edward Pratt)

Born: 2/27/1947, Leicester, Leicestershire, England, U.K.

Died: 12/?/2024