RIP Pino Colizzi

 

The voice actor Pino Colizzi has died. He is the voice of De Niro in "The Godfather 2" and Disney Robin Hood

He was 88 years old. He had also been an actor for Zeffirelli

La Republica

February 15, 2026

 

Pino Colizzi, actor, voice actor and director of Italian dubbing, has died at the age of 88.

Born in Rome in 1937, Colizzi began working in cinema with a small part that Luchino Visconti entrusted to him in Uno sguardo dal Ponte, with Paolo Stoppa and Rina Morelli. In the same year he made his television debut as the protagonist of the Tom Jones drama. His family had the art of the stage in their blood (the Colizzi and Ferzetti were cousins) and so the young Pino graduated from the Silvio D'Amico Academy of Dramatic Art where Orazio Costa teaches. In the theater he had good teachers such as Elena Cotta and above all Franco Zeffirelli (Romeo and Juliet) and Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. But his talent fully emerges at the beginning of the 70s when Bolognini calls him for Metello and Sandro Bolchi entrusts him on TV with the complex role of Vronsky in Anna Karenina alongside Lea Massari (1974).

As a voice actor he has given voice to actors such as Michael Douglas, Jack Nicholson, James Caan, Richard Dreyfuss, Omar Sharif, Franco Nero, Robert Powell in the role of Jesus of Nazareth by Zeffirelli (in which Colizzi is also an actor in the role of the good thief), Christopher Reeve in the first three film episodes of Superman, Robert De Niro in The Godfather - Part II, Patrick McGoohan in the second edition of the dubbing of The Prisoner, the famous English science fiction series of the seventies, and above all Martin Sheen in Francis Ford Coppola's masterpiece Apocalypse Now. In 1973 he voiced Robin Hood in the famous Disney cartoon while in 1999 Zeffirelli chose him for Tea with Mussolini, with Maggie Smith, Cher and Judi Dench and in 2001 Colizzi participated in the television series Il bello delle donne in the role of Count Gabriele De Contris. As a dubbing director, in addition to all of Zeffirelli's films since The Champion (1979), his works include Pulp Fiction, The English Patient, the 007 films starring Pierce Brosnan and the Matrix trilogy.

He was married to his colleague Manuela Andrei, with whom he had two children: Carlo and Chiara.

COLIZZI, Pino (Giuseppe Colizzi)

Born: 11/12/1937, Rome, Lazio, Italy

Died: 2/15/2026, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Pino Colizzi’s westerns – voice actor, dubber, sound department:

Blood at Sundown – 1965 [Italian voice of Hugo Blanco]

The Sheriff Won’t Shoot – 1965 [Italian voice of  Sancho Gracia]

Djurado – 1966 [Italian voice of Goyo Lebrero]

Death Rides Along – 1967 [Italian narrator]

Kill the Wicked – 1967 [Italian voice of Rod Dana]

A Minute to Pray a Second to Die – 1967 [Italian voice of Alex Cord]

Poker With Pistols – 1967 [Italian voice of George Eastman]

Rick and John, Conquerors of the West – 1967 [Italian voice of Piero Leri]

Ace High – 1968 [additional Italian voices]

Garter Colt – 1968 [Italian voice of Yorgo Voyagis]

I Want Him Dead – 1968 [Italian voice of Rick Boyd]

The Nephews of Zorro – 1968 [Italian voice of Dean Reed]

Blood and Guns – 1969 [Italian voice of José Torres]

Boot Hill – 1969 [Italian voice of Leslie Bailey]

The Forgotten Pistolero – 1969 [Italian voice of Leonard Mann]

The Price of Power – 1969 [Italian voice of Ralph Neville]

The Beast – 1970 [Italian voice of Steven Tedd]

Gunman in Town – 1970 [Italian voice of Salvatore Borghese]

The Twilight Avenger – 1970 [Italian voice of Pietro Torrisi]

A Fistful of Death – 1971 [Italian voice of Benito Pacifico]

Guns for Dollars – 1971 [Italian voice of Paolo Gozlino]

McCabe & Mrs. Miller – 1971 [Italian voice of Warren Beatty]

They Call Him Cemetery – 1971 [Italian voice of Gianni Garko]

The Deserter – 1972 [Italian voice of Wade Brown]

Stay Away from Trinity... When He Comes to Eldorado – 1972 [Italian voice of Stelvio Rosi]

Thunder Over El Paso – 1972 [Italian voice of Chris Avram]

Two Sons of Trinity – 1972 [Italian voice of Franco Ressel]

One Little Indian – 1973 [Italian voice of James Garner]

Tequila – 1973 [Italian voice of Anthony Steffen]

Those Dirty Dogs – 1973 [Italian voice of Simón Andreu]

Westworld – 1973 [Italian voice of James Brolin]

Days of Heaven -1978 [Italian voice of Richard Gere]

Buddy Goes West – 1981 [Italian voice of Joe Bugner]

North Star – 1996 [Italian voice of James Caan]

 

RIP Lory Patrick

 

Lory Patrick, ‘Tales of Wells Fargo’ Actress and Widow of Disney Star Dean Jones, Dies at 92

She and the Disney actor known for ‘That Darn Cat!’ and ‘The Love Bug’ were married for 42 years until his 2015 death.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

February 11, 2026

 

Lory Patrick, who portrayed a neighbor of Dale Robertson’s character on NBC’s Tales of Wells Fargo and appeared on such other shows as Wagon Train, Dr. Kildare and Bonanza, has died. She was 92.

Patrick died Jan. 26 in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a publicist announced.

Patrick was married to Dean Jones, the star of such classic Disney family films as That Darn Cat!, The Love Bug and The Shaggy D.A., for 42 years until his September 2015 death from Parkinson’s disease at age 84.

Her first husband was late science-fiction writer Harlan Ellison; they were married and divorced in 1966, and she was the third of his five wives.

Soon after signing a contract with Universal in 1961, Patrick appeared on an episode of The Loretta Young Show, then was hired to play schoolteacher Tina Swenson on Tales of Wells Fargo. Her character lives with her sister (Mary Jane Saunders) and their widowed mother, Ovie (Virginia Christine), on a San Francisco ranch next to one owned by Robertson’s Jim Hardie.

Patrick appeared on 15 episodes during the Western’s sixth and final season, when the show had been expanded to an hour.

Loretta Basham was born on April 8, 1933, in Beckley, West Virginia. After graduating from nearby Oak Hill High School, she worked as a model in Detroit and New York, where she landed a gig on the NBC game show Split Personality, before coming to Los Angeles.

Patrick also showed up on other shows including The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis, It’s a Man’s World, General Electric Theater and Laramie and in such films as Surf Party (1964) and How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (1967).

She appeared on an episode of Bonanza in 1967 and did some writing for that NBC show. After retiring from acting in the late ’60s, she continued writing for TV and films, was a columnist for a writers’ magazine and as Lory Basham Jones wrote the 1993 book Hearing God.

After she married Jones in June 1973 (she was his second wife), they established a counseling ministry, served as elders for The Church on the Way in Van Nuys and founded the Christian Rescue Committee (now called Christian Rescue Fund), an organization that “provides a way of escape” to Jews, Christians and others persecuted for their faith.

In 1984, she directed the one-man play St. John in Exile that starring her husband. Jones then reprised the role of the disciple for a 1986 film. After his death, she moved from Tarzana to Gettysburg to spend time with family and to continue her writing and passion for art.

Survivors include her three children, Caroline (and her husband, Steve), Deanna (Tom) and Michael (Dion); eight grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; her brothers, Richard, Tom and Paul; and her sister, Carol. She was preceded in death by two other brothers, Charles and David.

A memorial service is set for 11 a.m. on April 25 at Mossy Living World Church in Scarbro, West Virginia. Donations in her name can be made to that church, Pentecost Walk or the Christian Rescue Fund.

PATRICK, Lory (Loretta Basham)

Born: 4/8/1934, Beckley, West Virginia, U.S.A.

Died: 1/26/2026, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.

 

Lory Patrick’s westerns – actress:

Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon (TV) – 1961 (Tina)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1961-1962 (Tina Swanson)

Wagon Train (TV) - 1962 (Laura, Nancy Davis, Rachel Levy)

Wide Country (TV) – 1962 (Georgina)

Laramie (TV) – 1963 (Laurie McGovern)

Death Valley Days (TV) – 1964 (Winifred Sweet)

Bonanza (TV) – 1967 (Rita)

RIP Vangie Labalan

 

Actress Vangie Labalan passes away at 83

Manila Bulletin

By Robert Requintina

February 12, 2026

 

Actress and acting coach Vangie Labalan (Maria Cristina Labalan in real life) has passed away. She was 83.

This was confirmed by her daughter Van-van Aligam in a Facebook post on Feb. 12.

Van-van said her mother passed on surrounded by family. No other details were provided.

"Ma, how is this because the stone is not yours? I'm glad you passed peacefully. surrounded by family. Acta at the end, you're going to be a bit too late. We love you, Mom. Rest easy,' wrote Van-van on social media.

Vangie has appeared on television and movie projects, including the critically acclaimed "Himala" with Nora Aunor. She last appeared in the Kapamilya series "Batang Quiapo."

Van-van also paid tribute to her mom in a separate post.

"If there's a lot of sadness in my life, there's only one Sabbath. You made me talk. Period. I am proud to act because it bleeds in my blood. Has a right!

"Thank you, Ma. Because of you, we are not able to control actors and showbiz life "Because of you I earned my voice. The workshops were worth it.

"You are the promoter of Australia to all of us. That's why we're here.

"Thank you for being our automatic pulian sa Manila.

"Thank you for helping us get where we are. In support. For the encouragement that someone brings hikay.

"If it's dawn, it's the end.

"We miss you already. We love you."

Friends in showbiz and netizens offered their condolences to Vangie's family. Among them were the Film Development Council of the Philippines Chairman Jose Javier Reyes, Roderick Paulate, I.C. Mendoza, Darius Razon, and Marissa Delgado.

"Thank you for all the years we worked together and provided Filipino cinema with the brilliance of your talent, hard work, and professionalism. You shall never be forgotten, as you will forever be missed. Have a safe journey home to the waiting arms of Our Father, dearest Vangie Labalan," wrote Reyes.

Labalan, Vangie (Maria Cristina Labalan)

Born: 1/20/1943, Bago, Negros Occidental, Philippines

Died: 2/12/2026, Australia

 

Vangie Labalan’s western – actress:

Long Ranger and Tonton: Shooting Stars of the West – 1989 (Lovely Nest)

RIP Bud Cort

 

Bud Cort, ‘Harold and Maude’ Star, Dies at 77

Variety

By Pat Saperstein

February 11, 2026

 

Bud Cort, who personified the role of Harold in the 1971 Hal Ashby classic “Harold and Maude,” died Wednesday in Connecticut after a long illness. He was 77.

His longtime friend Dorian Hannaway reported his death.

Cort also starred in Robert Altman’s “Brewster McCloud” and had roles in numerous other films and TV shows.

In “Harold and Maude,” which became a beloved and enduring cult classic despite a rocky start at the box office, Cort played a 20-year-old man obsessed by thoughts of suicide whose life changes when he meets Maude, a 79-year-old Holocaust survivor played by Ruth Gordon.

Born Walter Edward Cox in Rye, N.Y., he changed his name to avoid confusion with character actor Wally Cox. He went to school in New Rochelle, N.Y. and enjoyed going to Broadway shows.

Cort moved to Los Angeles to work in film and was cast by Altman in a small part in “MASH.” Altman then selected his to star in the quirky “Brewster McCloud” about a young man who yearns to fly, with Sally Kellerman as a guardian angel.

“I was only fourteen when I met Bud at the backstage door at my sister’s play,” Roslyn Kind recalled in a statement. “He was majoring in art at the time in high school. We became close friends who shared our interest in entertainment. When I got married, Bud and our songwriter friend, Bruce Roberts, wrote a special song that was performed at the ceremony. His unique spirit will always be with me.”

“We were in the line for lunch when I spotted him,” she later recalled. “Although I didn’t know who he was, I said ‘Oh, boy. We’re going to be best friends.’”

His chemistry with Gordon while auditioning for the part of Harold convinced Ashby and writer Colin Higgins to cast him in “Harold and Maude,” which has endured as a repertory screening favorite for more than 50 years. He was nominated for a BAFTA award as most promising newcomer and for a Golden Globe for best actor in a musical or comedy.

“A young man obsessed with death falls in love with an old woman obsessed with life. She dies and teaches the kid how to live,” Cameron Crowe described it for AFI in 2011. “And it’s done with music [by Cat Stevens] that scratches at your soul. . . . that movie holds up — to this minute.”

His other roles included films “She Dances Alone,” “Electric Dreams” and “The Life Aquatic,” as well as “Heat,” “Dogma,” “Coyote Ugly” and “Pollock.”

He also voiced the character Toyman in “Superman: The Animated Series,” “Static Shock” and “Justic League Unlimited.” He co-wrote, starred in and directed the 1991 film “Ted and Venus.”

In 1979, Cort narrowly survived a devastating car accident, which necessitated numerous surgeries and affected his career.

He is survived by his brother Joseph Cox and his sister-in-law Vickie and their daughters, Meave, Brytnn, and Jesse of Rye, N.Y.; his sister Kerry Cox of Larchmont, N.Y.; his sister and brother-in-law, Tracy Cox Berkman and Edward Berkman, and their sons, Daniel and Peter. He is also survived by his sister, Shelly Cox Dufour and brother-in-law Robert Dufour, and nieces Madeline and Lucie.

A memorial will be held at a future date in Los Angeles.

CORT, Bud (Walter Edward Cox)

Born: 3/29/1948, Rye, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 2/11/2026, Connecticut, U.S.A.

 

Bud Cort’s westerns – actor:

The Travelling Executioner – 1970 (Jimmy)

South of Heaven, West of Hell – 2000 (Agent Otts)

RIP James Van Der Beek

 

‘Dawson’s Creek’ Star James Van Der Beek Dead at 48 After Cancer Battle

The actor also starred in Kesha's 2011 music video for "Blow."

Billboard

By Anna Chan

2/11/2026

 

“Our beloved James David Van Der Beek passed peacefully this morning. He met his final days with courage, faith, and grace,” the statement, posted to Instgram, read. “There is much to share regarding his wishes, love for humanity and the sacredness of time. Those days will come. For now we ask for peaceful privacy as we grieve our loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend.”

The actor revealed in an exclusive interview with People in November 2024, that he had stage 3 colorectal cancer; he was 46 at the time. Van Der Beek told the magazine that his family had no history of cancer, and that he was careful to take good care of his health. “I’d always associated cancer with age and with unhealthy, sedentary lifestyles,” he told People. “But I was in amazing cardiovascular shape. I tried to eat healthy — or as far as I knew it at the time.”

He said that he first noticed changes with his bowel movements in 2023, but assumed it was diet related, but decided to be safe and get a colonoscopy. That’s when he learned he had colorectal cancer. Despite the diagnosis, Van Der Beek said he was “cautiously optimistic at the time,” telling People, “I have a lot to live for.”

Throughout his treatment, the actor shared his story, repeating in interviews that he hoped his tale would encourage others to talk to their doctors and get tested.

In addition to Dawson’s Creek, the actor also starred in films such as Varsity Blues and The Rules of Attraction, and also had memorable guest roles on shows including Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, One Tree Hill and Ugly Betty.

Van Der Beek also had a memorable starring role in Kesha’s 2011 video for “Blow.” In the visual, the actor and musician eye each other across a dance floor, then bust out laser guns and start shooting (taking out a few unicorns in the process), before Kesha reigns victorious.

James Van Der Beek is survived by his wife, Kimberly, and their kids Olivia, Joshua, Annabel, Emilia, Gwen and Jeremiah.

VAN DER BEEK, James (James David Van Der Beek Jr.)

Born: 3/8/1977, Cheshire, Connecticut, U.S.A.

Died: 2/11/2026, Austin, Texas, U.S.A.

 

James Van Der Beek’s westerns – actor:

Texas Rangers – 2001 (Lincoln Rogers Dunnison)

Walker (TV) – 2024 (new neighbor)

RIP Christa Lang

 

Christa Lang, Actress, Producer and Widow of Samuel Fuller, Dies at 82

She appeared in French New Wave movies for Roger Vadim, Claude Chabrol and Jean-Luc Godard before marrying the iconic American filmmaker in 1967.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

February 3, 2026

 

Christa Lang, the German-born actress and producer who appeared in French New Wave features and served as a muse to her husband of three decades, the daring American filmmaker Samuel Fuller, has died. She was 82.

Lang died Friday at her home in Los Angeles after what was described as a brief period of declining health, her daughter, Samantha Fuller, announced.

Lang had moved to Paris and become friends with writers, actors and filmmakers including Roger Vadim, Claude Chabrol, Agnès Varda and Jean-Luc Godard while appearing in Vadim’s Circle of Love (1964), Chabrol’s Code Name: Tiger (1964) and Godard’s Alphaville (1965), starring Anna Karina.

Also in Paris at the time was Fuller, who had acted in Godard’s Pierrot le Fou (1965), a precursor to he and Lang having their first date the following year in Montmartre.

After Fuller returned to the U.S., he paid for Lang’s first-class, one-way ticket to the States, and they married in 1967, when she worked opposite Elvis Presley, her teenage idol, in an uncredited role in Charro!

For Fuller, she went on to portray a rebellious German countess in the World War II epic The Big Red One (1980) and a nurse in White Dog (1980), and she was his partner in the production company Chrisam Films.

Christa Langewiesche was born in December 1943 in Winterberg, Germany and raised in postwar Essen, where she had her first poem published in a local newspaper when she was 15.

At 17, she moved to France and worked as an au pair for the Toulouse-Lautrec family, then began modeling and saving money for acting classes. (In Paris, she sat as an art model for renowned sculptor Paul Belmondo, father of actor Jean-Paul Belmondo.)

Lang acted in stage productions including La Jalousie by Sacha Guitry, then earned her first onscreen role in L’Assasin connait la musique (1963), written and directed by Pierre Chenal.

After appearing in Chabrol’s The Champagne Murders (1967) and getting married, she joined Fuller in developing projects while pursuing her academic ambitions. She enrolled in a French Literature program at UCLA and graduated with a master’s degree a few years later.

In 1972, Lang showed up in Peter Bogdanovich’s What’s Up Doc? — she and Fuller would become great friends with the director and his then-wife, Polly Platt — and played a witty con artist on an episode of the German crime series Tatort that was written and directed by her husband.

Lang gave birth to her daughter in 1975, and nine months later they appeared as mother and child alongside Anthony Hopkins in the 1976 NBC telefilm The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case.

In 1981, the family moved to Paris to pursue European film offers for Fuller to write and direct, and they would remain there until 1995. Before returning to the U.S., however, she and Fuller traveled to Brazil to meet with Karaja Indians in the Amazon jungle for the 1994 Mika Kaurismäki-directed documentary Tigrero.

After Fuller’s death in October 1997 at age 85, Lang set out to have his autobiography, A Third Face, edited and published, and it hit bookstores in 2002. She also produced a 2013 documentary about him, A Fuller Life, that was directed by their daughter.

Her last onscreen appearance was filmed last year for an upcoming documentary about Fuller’s final feature, Street of No Return (1989).

Survivors also include her granddaughter, Samira.

LANG, Christa (Christa Langewiesche)

Born: 12/23/1943, Winterberg, Gau Westphalia-South, Germany

Died: 1/30/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Christa Lang’s western – actress:

Charro! – 1969 (Christa)

RIP Gerardo Taracena

 

Gerardo Taracena, ‘Apocalypto’ actor and renowned Mexican performer, dies at 55

The Economic Times

By Maitreyee Thakkar

February 1, 2026

 

Gerardo Taracena, a celebrated Mexican actor and dancer known for Apocalypto and other projects, died on 31 January 2026 at the age of 55. The fact was confirmed by the Asociación Nacional de Actores (ANDA) in an official statement expressing deep sorrow over his passing. It has not elaborated on medical details or circumstances.

Born on 27 March 1970 in Mexico City, Gerardo Taracena developed an early passion for the performing arts, studying Dramatic Arts at the Centro Universitario de Teatro of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He began his artistic journey in theatre and dance, performing in numerous productions that showcased his expressive range and physicality.

Taracena’s talent quickly found expression beyond the stage, and by the late 1990s and early 2000s he was appearing in notable film and television roles. While his early work included a variety of national productions, he soon became known to international audiences as well.

Breakthrough in Hollywood

One of Taracena’s most internationally celebrated roles came in Mel Gibson’s Apocalypto (2006), where he portrayed Middle Eye, a fierce and memorable warrior in the epic historical drama. The film brought him global recognition and remains one of his most iconic screen performances.

In addition to Apocalypto, his Hollywood credits included roles in acclaimed films such as Man on Fire (2004) and The Mexican (2001), broadening his reach with North American audiences.

Success in Mexican cinema

Taracena’s filmography was vast and diverse, including a mix of dramatic and comedic work in Mexican cinema. He appeared in popular films such as El violín (The Violin), El Chamán in El Señor de los Cielos, Batman in La Reina del Sur, showcasing his range from intense character roles to lighter, heartfelt performances.

In the era of streaming, Taracena became widely recognized for his role in the hit Netflix series Narcos: México, where he portrayed Pablo Acosta Villarreal, a historical figure linked to the rise of modern drug trafficking along the US-Mexico border.

Beyond Narcos: México, he also appeared in other acclaimed television series, contributing to the growing international visibility of Mexican actors in global content platforms.

Taracena’s career spanned more than three decades and included over 30 theatre productions, numerous films and prominent television roles. He was widely respected not only for his screen presence but also for his commitment to the craft, blending physical performance, emotional depth and cultural authenticity.

Following news of his passing, ANDA publicly shared its condolences:

“La Asociación Nacional de Actores lamenta profundamente la partida de nuestro compañero Gerardo Taracena. Nos unimos a la pena que embarga a sus familiares, amigos y a la comunidad artística. QEPD.”

 

Colleagues, directors and fans have taken to social media to celebrate Taracena’s contributions and memories of his performances, particularly highlighting the strength and nuance he brought to every role.

 

As of the latest reports, the official cause of Gerardo Taracena’s death has not been disclosed by authorities or his family.

 

TARACENA, Gerardo

Born: 3/27/1970, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 1/31/2026, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

 

Gerardo Taracena’s westerns – actor:

Private Pérez – 2011 (Carmelo Benavides)

Texas Rising – 2015 (Manuel Flores)