RIP Knut Husebø

 

Knut Husebø is dead

Actor Knut Husebø has died, 80 years old. He became a national celebrity for the role of Hamsun's Benoni in the TV series.

Seher

By Karoline Henriette Bjånesøy

6/1/2026

 

Actor and visual artist Knut Husebø has died, 80 years old.

This is stated by theatre director Trond Lie (76) on his Facebook profile.

For several decades, Husebø was a prominent figure in Norwegian cultural life.

He became a national celebrity in the 1970s for his role as Benoni in the TV series Benonig and Rosa, directed by Per Bronken. Here he played opposite Unni Evjen in a heartbreaking Hamsun drama from the Nordland coast.

He first made a name for himself as an actor on the theatre stage, before later also making his mark as a visual artist.

He was associated with several of the country's leading theatre institutions and participated in a number of stage and television productions.

Throughout his career, he became known for his interpretations of both classic and modern roles.

In later years, Husebø devoted more and more time to the visual arts.

His work was shown at several exhibitions in Norway and abroad.

Cultural personalities who have left comments under Lie's Facebook posts describe him as a friendly and interested man.

The time of the funeral is not yet known.

HUSEBO, Knut

Born: 5/10/1946, Stavanger, Rogaland, Norway

Died: 6/1/2026, Norway

 

Knut Husebø’s western – actor:

Morgan Kane: Death is a Lonesome Hunter – 2001 (outlaw)

RIP Charles Cioffi

 

Charles Cioffi Dies: ‘Klute’, ‘Shaft’, ‘All The Right Moves’ Actor Was 90

DEADLINE

By Greg Evans

May 27, 2026

 

Charles Cioffi, a prolific character actor in TV, film and the Broadway stage perhaps best known for memorable turns as Tom Cruise’s blue-collar dad in All the Right Moves and a sadistic killer stalking Jane Fonda in Klute, died May 22 of natural causes at his home in Marina del Rey, California. He was 90.

His death was announced by family and first reported by TMZ.

Born on October 31, 1935, in New York City, Cioffi launched his show business career on the stage of the the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis in the early 1960s. He’d make his Broadway debut later that decade in a 1968 production of King Lear starring Lee J. Cobb. In all, he’d perform in seven Broadway shows, including the original 1969 production of 1776; a 1975 production of Hamlet with Sam Waterston in the title role and Jane Alexander as Gertrude; and, in his final Broadway credit, the 1992 two-hander Chinese Coffee with Al Pacino.

He began a busy, decades-long career in television with a role on the 1969 CBS soap Where the Heart Is and, in 1971, found an early signature role as Lt. Vic Androzzi in the feature Shaft.

That same year, in what was his film debut, he appeared in the hit thriller Klute, starring Fonda as New York City prostitute Bree Daniels and Donald Sutherland as the amateur sleuth John Klute investigating the disappearance of a businessman who also might have been one of Bree’s clients. Cioffi played an executive at the company where the missing man worked, hiring Klute to trail Fonda’s character and solve what appears to be a murder. In the film’s climactic scene, Cioffi’s character, revealed as the killer, attempts to murder Bree before dying by suicide in a dramatic plunge from a skyscraper. (In one haunting scene, Cioffi sits in his penthouse New York office, with the World Trade Center towers being constructed just outside his window).

Numerous TV roles followed, including episodes of Bonanza, The Bold Ones, The FBI, a recurring role on Get Christie Love!, Cannon, Medical Center, Kojak, Wonder Woman, The Six Million Dollar Man, Little House on the Prairie, Hawaii Five-0, Lou Grant, Taxi, St. Elsewhere, The Equalizer, Thirtysomething, The X-Files, Law & Order, The Practice and the daytime soaps Ryan’s Hope, Days of Our Lives, All My Children and Another World, among others.

Other film credits include 1979’s Time After Time, 1982’s Missing and 1992’s Newsies.

Cioffi is survived by wife Anne, two sons and other extended family, according to TMZ.

CIOFFI, Charles (Charles Michael Cioffi)

Born: 10/31/1935, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 5/22/2026, Marina Del Rey, California, U.S.A.

 

Charles Cioffi’s westerns – actor:

Bonanza (TV) – 1959 (Shanklin)

Little House on the Prairie (TV) – 1974 (Bret Harper)

RIP Matthias Wendlandt

 

"Hello Dad. Why don't you shoot Karl May!" – Matthias Wendlandt has died unexpectedly

Karl May & Co.

By Michael Kunz

May 31, 2026

 

Matthias Wendlandt is dead. The Berlin producer died unexpectedly on Friday during a stay in Los Angeles, shortly before his 74th birthday on June 2.

Since the death of his father Horst in 2002, Matthias Wendlandt has been managing the business of Rialto Film, together with his son Felix. He himself became legendary in the early 60s in a newsreel when he went to his father with a cowboy hat on his head and formulated the legendary request: "Hello Daddy. Why don't you shoot Karl May!"

Later, he didn't want to remember the truth of the moment for sure, but with a smile he thought it was quite possible. He worked as an actor and cinematographer before moving into the producer's chair. Matthias Wendlandt is in the credits of films such as "Troublemakers", the last joint western of Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, "Palmetto" and the Winnetou three-parter from RTL.

When it came to Karl May, he was always welcome as an interview guest, supported the group of Berliner Filnfreunde (KMFF) in many projects and in this way also KARL MAY & Co. on several occasions.

On May 2, he had attended the latest event of the Film Friends, who were shocked by the bad news. He had flown to California the next day. His return flight was planned for this weekend in view of his birthday and that of his sister on June 1. Now he has not returned to Germany. Matthias Wendlandt is survived by his wife Rosi, the aforementioned son Felix and daughter Laura.

WENDLANDT, Matthias

Born: 6/2/1952, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

Died: 5/29/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Matthias’ Wendlandt’s westerns – producer, himself

Troublemakers – 1994 [producer]

In the Footsteps of Winnetou (TV) – 2004 [himself]

Lex Barker Documentary – 2010 [himself]

Bud's Best - Die Welt des Bud Spencer – 2012 [himself]

85! Das Bud Spencer Spezial (TV) – 2014 [himself]

Winnetou: the Myth Lives (TV) – 2016 [producer]

The Terence Hill Story – 2019 [himself]

Lex Barker – Western Hero and Playboy – 2023 [himself]

RIP Lau Shun

 Hail the Judge actor Lau Shun dies at 87

asia one

By Drima Chakraborty

May 29, 2026

Veteran Hong Kong actor and Cantonese opera director Lau Shun has died aged 87.

News of his death was shared by fellow opera and film actor Law Kar-ying, who wrote on Weibo today (May 30): "My senior Lau Shun passed away at 6pm yesterday.

"He was born in the Year of the Rabbit and was 87."

Kar-ying also paid tribute to Lau Shun, saying that the latter made great contributions to the Cantonese opera scene, and helped many others improve their acting over the years.

Born in Beijing in 1939, Lau Shun graduated from the National Academy of Chinese Theatre Arts in 1958 before embarking on an illustrious opera career. He moved to Hong Kong in the 1980s.

His notable movie appearances include Swordsman (1990), for which he earned a Best Supporting Actor nomination at the 10th Hong Kong Film Awards, Dragon Inn (1992), and Hail the Judge (1994), where he played a eunuch opposite Stephen Chow.

One of his latest movies was 2013's The Grandmaster.

Though he was rarely cast in a leading role, Lau Shun's versatility earned him the moniker "Thousand-Faced Buddha" as well as "Golden Supporting Actor".

According to the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts, Lau Shun devoted the later part of his career to adapting and directing Chinese operas and was appointed their Programme Coordinator and Artistic Advisor in 2000.

The Academy also awarded him an honorary fellowship in 2019.

SHUN Lau

Born: 4/10/1939, Beijing, Republic of China

Died: 5/29/2026, Hong Kong, China

 

Shun Lau’s western – actor:

Paradise Hotel – 1995 (blind musician)

RIP Howard Storm

 

Howard Storm Dies: Veteran TV Director Of ‘Mork & Mindy,’ ‘Valerie’ And More Was 95

DEADLINE

By Tom Tapp

May 26, 2026

 

Howard Storm, a veteran television director who shot many episodes of Mork & Mindy, Rhoda, Valerie and many other shows, passed away on May 26. He was 94.

Storm’s career included an extraordinary 59-episode run on Mork & Mindy as well as episodes of ALF, Full House, Head of the Class, Major Dad, Perfect Strangers, Kenan & Kel, Everybody Loves Raymond, Angie and Doc.

Storm got his start as a a stand-up comedian. He performed in Las Vegas, opened for Andy Williams and appeared on The Merv Griffin Show more than a dozen times.

His TV acting career began in the early sixties with appearances on shows such as The Untouchables and later Love, American Style and That Girl.

At about the same time, he began crafted scripts for The Partridge Family, Happy Days and The Bob Newhart Show. He also forged an early creative bond with Woody Allen, serving as Allen’s assistant and collaborator on Bananas and Take the Money and Run.

In 1975, Storm transitioned into directing. He became closely associated with TV legends James L. Brooks and Garry Marshall, helming episodes of their classic shows, including Laverne & Shirley and Taxi.

He directed his only theatrical feature film in 1985: Once Bitten. It starred Lauren Hutton and a then-unknown Jim Carrey.

In the early aughts, Storm served as National Awards Chairman for the DGA.

Storm is survived by his sons Anthony and Casey Storm, his daughter-in-law Julia and his grandsons Leo and Sidney. He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia.

STORM, Howard (Howard Sobel)

Born: 12/11/1931, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 5/26/2026, Beverly Hills, California, U.S.A.

 

Howard Storm’s westerns – actor, director:

The Good Guys and the Bad Guys – 1969 (Harry)

Best of the West – 1981-1982 [director]

Tall Tales & Legends (TV) – 1985-1988 [director]

RIP Sergio Smacchi

 

Highly respected stuntman and actor Sergio Smacchi died in Rome on February 22, 2026. Born in Rome on April 5, 1940, Smacchi appeared in well over 100 films as both an actor and stuntman and in many cases both in the same film. His first film was in 1964’s “Anthar l'invincibile” as an actor and performing stunts. He was part of the stunt group Il team di Musumeci Greco. Sergio would continue his career up until his final film in 2005 “Romanzo Criminale” where again he was both an actor and performed stunts.

Smacchi worked on 21 films with Terrence Hill and Bud Spencer as well as the 33 Spaghetti westerns listed below.

SMACCHI, Sergio

Born: 4/5/1940, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Died: 2/22/2026, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Sergio Smacchi's westerns - stuntman, actor:

Zorro the Rebel – 1966 (wedding guest)

Ballad of a Gunman – 1967 (saloon brawler)

Don’t Sing, Shoot! (TV) – 1967 [stunts]

Stranger Say Your Prayers – 1967 (man outside Jefferson Bank)

The Longest Hunt – 1968 (saloon patron) [stunts]

The Forgotten Pistolero – 1969 [stunts]

The Unholy Four – 1969 (gambler)

Fistful of Lead – 1970 (Mantas’ henchman) [stunts]

A Man Called Apocalypse Joe – 1970 (Berg henchman)

They Call Me Trinity – 1970 (Mescal henchman)

The Twilight Avengers – 1970 (saloon patron)

The Ballad of Ben and Charlie – 1971 [stunts]

Blazing Guns – 1971 (soldier) [stunts]

Guns for Dollars – 1971 (Krantz henchman) [stunts]

His Name was King – 1971 (smuggler) [stunts]

The Price of Death – 1971 (miner)

Trinity is STIL My Name – 1981 (Parker henchman)

Two Sons of Trinity – 1971 (Django)

Alleluia and Sartana, Sons of God – 1972 (brawler)

Jesse and Lester, Two Brothers in a Place Called Trinity – 1972 (saloon brawler)

On the Third Day Arrived the Crow – 1972 (Sloane brother)

The Return of Hallelujanh – 1972 (Drake henchman)

Stay Away from Trinity When He Comes to Eldorado – 1972

Trinity & Sartana Those Sons of Bitches – 1972 (‘El Tigre’/Tiger henchman)

Where the Bullets Fly – 1972 (General Cagoso/Colonel Hotshot henchman)

Karate, Fists and Beans – 1973 (Chinese eatery dinner) [stunts]

The Man Called Invincible – 1973 (monk) [stunts]

Challenge to White Fang - 1974 (Beauty Smith henchman)

The Crazy Bunch – 1974 (‘Pimple Nose’ Stryker)

White Fang and the Gold Diggers – 1974 (Garrick)

White Fang to the Rescue – 1974 (Benjamin ‘Ben’ Dover)

Buddy Goes West – 1981 (Colorado Slim henchman) [stunts]

Thunder Warrior – 1983

RIP Peter Helm

 

Peter Helm, Actor in ‘Inside Daisy Clover’ and ‘The Andromeda Strain,’ Dies at 84

He appeared on Broadway with Jane Fonda and Joey Heatherton and was busy on TV in the 1960s, with turns in ‘Wagon Train,’ ‘The Donna Reed Show,’ ‘The Fugitive’ and more.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

May 23, 2026

 

P eter Helm, the actor from Toronto who appeared on such 1960 shows as Naked City, Wagon Train and Ironside and in films including The Longest Day, Inside Daisy Clover and The Andromeda Strain, has died. He was 84.

Helm died Thursday in his sleep at his home in West Hills, his friend David Timmerman told The Hollywood Reporter.

Survivors include his sister, actress Anne Helm (Follow That Dream, The Magic Sword, The Iron Maiden), and a daughter, actress Tiffany Helm (Friday the 13th: A New Beginning).

The colorful Helm appeared alongside Jane Fonda, Dean Jones and Joey Heatherton on Broadway in 1960 in the Josh Logan-directed There Was a Little Girl, a drama about rape, then acted onstage with Myrna Loy in a 1962 production of James Kirkwood’s There Must Be a Pony that aimed for Broadway but missed.

He and Heatherton would enjoy a great friendship while traveling the world together over the years, and she told THR that he was “a great actor and a great person, top of the world.” The pair also worked with George Carlin at the start of his career, and the comedian once called Helm one of the funniest men he had ever met.

On the big screen, Helm portrayed an ill-fated G.I. in the Darryl F. Zanuck-produced The Longest Day (1962) and the social climber Milton Hopwood opposite Natalie Wood in Robert Mulligan’s Inside Daisy Clover (1965), then sent the sci-fi plot in motion as one of the two Air Force officers who spot a U.S. satellite going down in Robert Wise’s The Andromeda Strain (1971).

Peter John Helm Jr. was born on Dec. 22, 1941. After the death of his banker father, John, his mother, Isabel, brought his older sister to New York in 1952 to support her ballet ambitions, and he and his half-brother, David, came along.

Helm made his onscreen debut on a 1959 episode of the NBC sitcom Too Young to Go Steady, then showed up as fresh-faced types on such series as Dr. Kildare, The Donna Reed Show, Tales of Wells Fargo, Naked City, Rawhide, The Fugitive, Combat!, Mr. Novak, The Farmer’s Daughter, Perry Mason and Bonanza through the mid-1960s.

His final onscreen credit came on a 1971 episode of The Smith Family.

In 1991, Helm founded Vancouver-based GeoMediapro, working as a director and producer, and he taught at the Vancouver Film School and was a Teamster for more than 20 years. Away from show business, he was an enthusiastic aviation photographer and the founder of a Ferrari club in L.A. who liked to drive fast.

His first wife was actress Brooke Bundy (two Nightmare on Elm Street films); they were married from 1962 until their 1966 divorce. His survivors include another daughter, Brandee, and seven grandchildren. His son, Dustin, died of complications from a motorcycle accident in 2014.

HELM, Peter (Peter John Helm Jr.)

Born: 12/22/1941, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Died: 5/21/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Peter Helm’s westerns – actor:

The Last Sunset – 1961 (saloon patron)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) - 1962 (Jason Moore)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1962, 1963 (Ethan Clay, Leland Barber, Tom O'Neal)

Rawhide (TV) - 1963 (Grover)

Stoney Burke (TV) - 1963 (Todd Purvis)

Bonanza (TV) – 1965 (Gwylem)

The Legend of Jesse James (TV) - 1966 (Zeb Hicks)