RIP Luiz Carlos Barreto

 

Luiz Carlos Barreto called Bolsonaro's policy for cinema a "crime against the homeland"

Producer, who died at the age of 98, criticized cuts in audiovisual and the end of the renewal of the Screen

Veja

By Kelly Miyashiro

July 22, 2026

 

The death of producer Luiz Carlos Barreto, known as Barretão, at the age of 98, on Wednesday, 22, also rescues firm positions that he has adopted in defense of Brazilian cinema in recent years. In a 2020 interview, the producer classified as a "crime against the homeland" the conduct of audiovisual policy during the government of Jair Bolsonaro.

One of the most influential names in the history of national cinema, responsible for remarkable productions such as Vidas Secas (1963) and Dona Flor e seus Dois Maridos (1976), Barreto argued that the audiovisual sector should be treated as an important economic engine. For him, Brazil had the conditions to occupy a prominent position in the global entertainment industry.

"Cinema is part of the entertainment and leisure industry. This is now one of the fastest growing sectors of the world economy. Brazil has everything to be one of his leaders. This cannot be thrown away. It is a crime against the homeland what they are trying to do with Brazilian cinema," he said at the time, in conversation with Folha.

In the interview, Barretão also criticized the Bolsonaro government's decision not to renew the Screen Quota, a mechanism that, since 2001, determined the reservation of space for Brazilian films in movie theaters. According to him, the measure contradicted an obligation provided for by law. "A president who fails to comply with what is in the law is a crime of malfeasance," he declared.

The criticism extended to the scenario faced by the National Cinema Agency (Ancine), which, at that time, suffered from budget restrictions imposed by the federal government. For Barreto, the weakening of public policies aimed at audiovisual put at risk a strategic production chain for both culture and the country's economy.

Death of Luiz Carlos Barreto

The great producer of Brazilian cinema Luiz Carlos Barreto died in the early hours of Wednesday, 22, at the age of 98. Known as "Barretão", he had been facing various health problems since March 2024, after an accidental fall, and had been hospitalized since July 14

Barretão had a unique importance in the Cinema Novo scenario, when various filmmakers in Brazil decided to use cameras as a political tool, inspired by the mechanisms of Italian neorealism and the French new wave. Having graduated in Literature and worked as a journalist and photojournalist, he first served as director of photography for Vidas Secas (1963), an adaptation of the novel of the same name by Graciliano Ramos directed by Nelson Pereira dos Santos. He would repeat the function only one more time, in an even more significant film: Terra em Transe (1967), by Glauber Rocha.

In 1963, he founded the production company L.C. Barreto Produções Cinematográficas and thus provided several titles to be made. The list includes Garrincha – Alegria do Povo (1963), A Hora e a Vez de Augusto Matraga (1965) and O Dragão da Maldade Contra o Santo Guerreiro (1969).

Throughout his six-decade career, he produced more than 80 films, including historic public successes such as Dona Flor and her Two Husbands (1976), directed by his own son, Bruno Barreto — whose illustrious career still bore great fruits, including The Kiss on the Asphalt (1981) and What Is This, Companion? (1997), nominated for the Oscar for best international film. Luiz Carlos' other son, Fábio Barreto, was also a great filmmaker and competed for the Hollywood award with O Quatrilho (1995). In addition to the two, Barretão is also the father of Paula Barreto, who worked in the production of the brothers' films, among others.

The trio is the result of Luiz Carlos' marriage to Lucy Barreto, who became his work partner at L.C. Barreto. Together, they were the most renowned producer couple in the country.

Barretão participated in the backstage of God Is Still Brazilian, by Cacá Diegues, which will be released soon.

BARRETO, Luiz Carlos

Born: 7/20/1928, Sobral Ceare. Brazil

Died: 7/22/2026, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

Luiz Carlos Barreto’s westerns – producer:

Antonio das Mortes – 1969

Luzia - 1988

RIP Mitch Byrd

 

RIP Mitch Byrd (1962-2026)

Comic Art Fans

July 21, 2026

 

Artist Mitch Byrd has passed away this week following an illness at age 64 years old. On behalf of the CAF community, we extend our deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.

Mitch Byrd, Known for Green Lantern, Guy Gardner: Warrior, and Lady Death, Dies

The comics community is mourning the loss of artist Mitch Byrd, whose energetic storytelling and distinctive style made him a familiar name to readers throughout the 1990s and beyond. Byrd built a career that spanned mainstream superheroes, independent comics, and fantasy illustration, earning the respect of fans and fellow creators alike. He died following a heart attack after a long illness, leaving behind a legacy of memorable artwork and countless fans inspired by his talent....

Mitch Byrd (July 28, 1962 – July 21, 2026) was an illustrator that worked for numerous companies such as Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and Image. His work encompassed many popular titles like Green Lantern, Lady Death, Generation X, Shi, and Starman. He was also called upon to do licensed work on Predator and Starship Troopers.

BYRD, Mitch

Born: 7/28/1962, Jackson, Mississippi, U.S.A

Died: 7/22/2026, U.S.A.

 

Mitch Byrd’s western – comic book:

Cowboy Zombie - 2024

RIP Joachim Kerzel

 1941 – 2026: Joachim Kerzel

Batman News

By von Florian

July 22, 2026

 

As Peter Flechtner (the regular German voice of Ben Affleck) announced on his Instagram channel, his mentor—actor and dubbing legend Joachim Kerzel—passed away on July 20 at the age of 84.

Joachim Kerzel began his acting training in 1963 at the University of Music, Drama and Media in Hanover, graduating in 1965. Following a career on various theater stages and in television productions, Kerzel increasingly shifted his artistic focus toward voice dubbing starting in the 1970s.

Throughout his extensive dubbing career, his distinctive voice became inextricably linked with acting greats such as Dennis Hopper, Dustin Hoffman, Jean Reno, and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Following the death of Manfred Schott, Kerzel established himself as Jack Nicholson’s regular German voice, beginning with “The Witches of Eastwick” (1987). Consequently, he naturally provided the German voice for Jack Napier/the Joker in Tim Burton’s “Batman”.

But his contribution to the Batman films didn't end there: in 1992, he provided the German voiceover for the *Batman Returns* trailer—you can listen to it here.

In addition to his work as a voice actor, Joachim Kerzel was also in high demand behind the scenes of the dubbing industry. For instance, he wrote the German dialogue for the film “The Grifters” and served as dialogue director for the first and second seasons of David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’.

He also left a lasting mark as an audiobook narrator, captivating a vast audience with his readings of Ken Follett’s “The Pillars of the Earth”, William Peter Blatty’s “The Exorcist”, and Stephen King’s “The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon” and the short story collection ‘Night Shift’.

The Batman-News team extends its deepest sympathies to his family and loved ones. As fans of Batman, film, and television series, we will always remember him for his body of work as a voice actor and audiobook narrator.

KERZEL, Joachim

Born: 12/10/1941, Hindenburg, Upper Silesia, Germany

Died: 7/20/2026, Berlin, Berlin, Germany

 

Joachim Kerzel’s western – voice actor:

Return of Frank James – 1940 [1972 German voice of Louis Mason]

The Lone Ranger (TV) – 1956 [German voice of John Beradino]

Ghost Town – 1956 [1986 German voice of Kent Taylor]

Gunsmoke (TV) – 1955, 1961-1975 [German voice of Charles Wagenheim, Mayf Nutter, Ted Jordan, Larry Delaney, Ed Asner]

Bonanza (TV) – 1964, 1968, [German voice of John Vernon, Hal Baylor]

The Wild Wild West (TV) - 1965[German voice of Harold Gould]

The Legend of Custer (TV) – 1967 [German voice of Rory Calhoun]

Ace High – 1968 [German voice of bank employee]

Return of Sabata – 1971 [German voice of Luciano Rossi]

Alias Smith and Jones (TV) – 1971-1973 [German voice of John Russell]

Westworld – 1973 [German voice of Steve Franken]

The Crazy Bunch – 1974 [German voice of Oscar Giustini, Veriano Ginesi]

Mad Dog Morgan – 1976 [German voice of Dennis Hopper]

Centennial (TV) – 1978 [German voice of Clint Ritchie]

Wanda Nevada – 1979 [German voice of Ted Markland]

Chisolms (TV) – 1979-1980 [German voice of Michael Swan, Robert Barton,

Thunder 2 – 1987 [German voice of Bo Svenson]

Last of the Mohicans – 1992 [German voice of Mac Andrews]

Silent Tongue – 1996 [German voice of Alan Bates]

And Starring Pancho Villa as Himself (TV) – 2003 [German voice of Alan Arkin]

Gods and Generals – 2003 [German voice of narrator]

Westworld (TV) – 2016-2022 [German voice of Anthony Hopkins]

RIP Mike Preston

 

Mike Preston, ‘Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior’ and ‘Hot Pursuit’ Actor, Dies at 93

Variety

By Matt Minton

July 22, 2026

 

Mike Preston, known for playing settler leader Pappagallo in “Mad Max 2: The Road Warrior” and Detective Bob Delaney in the Australian series “Homicide,” died June 8 in Florida. He was 93.

Preston’s death was confirmed to Variety by his wife, Josie Preston.

Preston, who was born Jack Davis, was an early U.K. chart-topping singer in the late ’50s with three Top 40 hits. He then relocated to Australia and began working as a nightclub singer and performer.

He found success hosting “In Melbourne Tonight,” before going on to appear in 42 episodes of the Australian series “Homicide.” He had a recurring role in the soap opera “Bellbird” and also appeared in “Dixon of Dock Green,” “Tandarra,” “Chopper Squad” and “Cop Shop.”

His first feature film role was in 1969’s “Stoney,” which also featured Barbara Bouchet and Richard Jaeckel. He worked with George Miller on the beloved “Mad Max” sequel “The Road Warrior,” led the sci-fi flick “Metalstorm: The Destruction of Jared-Syn” as the titular character, and appeared in eight episodes of “Hot Pursuit” as Alec Shaw, alongside actors like Kerrie Keane, Eric Pierpoint and Dina Merrill.

Throughout the ’80s and ’90s, Preston appeared in guest spots on over a dozen shows, including “Ellen,” “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” “Shadow Chasers,” “Outlaws,” “Superbly,” “Alien Nation,” “Dark Justice,” “Highlander,” “Steel” and “Law & Order.” His last credit was a voice role in the video game “The Getaway,” released in 2002.

Preston is survived by his wife, Josie Preston, and two daughters.

PRESTON, Mike (Jack Davis)

Born: 5/14/1938, Hackney, London, England, U.K.

Died: 6/18/2026, Florida, U.S.A.

 

Mike Preston’s westerns – actor:

Rush (TV) – 1974 (Green)

Lost in the Wild - 1976 (O’Shaunessy)

Tandarra (TV) - 1976 (Davey Doolin)

Five Mile Creek (TV) – 1984 (Boz Deagan)

Outlaws (TV) – 1987 (hit men leader)

RIP Charles Gaines

 

Charles Gaines, author of Birmingham-based novel ‘Pumping Iron,’ dies at 84

AL.com

By Michaela Yielding

July 21, 2026

 

 

Charles Latham Gaines III, the Birmingham author whose book and documentary “Pumping Iron” helped launch Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career and bring bodybuilding into the mainstream, died at age 84 on July 21, 2026.

According to alabamaauthors.org, Gaines was born January 6, 1942, to Margaret Shook Gaines and Charles Latham Gaines in Jacksonville, Florida. When he was about 10, he and his family moved to Birmingham.

In Birmingham, Gaines attended Mountain Brook Grammar School, Indian Springs School and Birmingham University School, one of the institutions that later became the Altamont School, according to the American Museum of Fly Fishing.

According to the Notable People Project, in 1960, Gaines enrolled at Washington and Lee University but left the school to travel the country. He later enrolled at Birmingham-Southern College, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1963. Gaines married his wife Patricia Ellisor, an artist and the 1961 Miss Alabama, on June 20, 1963.

They were married for 63 years until his passing.

The alabamaauthors.org profile noted that Gaines and his wife spent two years living in Ireland, where he wrote and she painted and sculpted. In 1967, He earned a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Iowa Creative Writing Workshop.

Gaines had three children: Latham, Greta and Shelby. Since 2003, Gaines and his wife split their time between homes in Monastery, Nova Scotia and Argo, Alabama.

Gaines published numerous books throughout his career, including novels “Stay Hungry,” “Dangler” and “Survival Games.”

According to Alabama Public Radio, Gaines’ first novel, “Stay Hungry,” published in 1972, and set in Birmingham, drew on the bodybuilding culture he explored as a teenager. Gaines later wrote the screenplay adaptation, which became the 1976 film “Stay Hungry,” starring Jeff Bridges, Sally Field and Schwarzenegger.

The film was shot in Birmingham and featured several historical sites.

His non-fiction book, “Pumping Iron” and the later film of the same name, which he wrote and narrated, are credited with introducing competitive bodybuilding and Arnold Schwarzenegger to a wider audience, according to The Barbell.

Gaines and George Butler used the book as the basis for their 1977 documentary “Pumping Iron.” The film centers on the rivalry between Schwarzenegger and fellow bodybuilder Lou Ferrigno in the competition for the Mr. Olympia title.

According to IMDb, “Pumping Iron” became a box-office success, helping make Schwarzenegger a household name and popularized the bodybuilding culture, which became a fitness craze of the 1980s.

In 2023, Gaines wrote about the kidnapping of his friend, Birmingham businessman Elton B. Stephens Jr., in 2020.

The American Museum of Fly Fishing notes that Gaines was a lifelong bird hunter and angler who fished in more than 25 countries. He was a founding member of the U.S. Fly Fishing Team and competed in World Championship Fly Fishing events in New Zealand and Tasmania.

Gaines wrote scripts for two feature films, two award-winning documentaries and a PBS adaptation of Edith Wharton’s novel “Summer.” He also wrote numerous segments for ABC’s “American Sportsman.”

Gaines was the recipient of two Emmys and two Cine Golden Eagle Awards for his television writing, according to Alabama Authors.

According to his client profile for InkWell management, he also wrote extensively for publications including Harper’s, GEO, Sports Illustrated, Town & Country, Architectural Digest, Garden & Gun, Southern Living, Men’s Journal and Esquire.

Gaines also served as a board member of the U.S. Fly Fishing Team and a U.S. National Council member of the Atlantic Salmon Federation.

Along with Hayes Noel and Bob Gurnsey, Gaines co-invented the game of paintball and co-founded the company National Survival Game. He received the Paintball Lifetime Achievement Award and was inducted into the Paintball Hall of Fame.

The Notable People Project wrote that he was inducted into the Alabama Writers Hall of Fame in 2018 and received the Truman Capote Prize for Lifetime Achievement in Literary Nonfiction in 2020. In 2026, he received the Heritage Award from the American Museum of Fly Fishing for his contributions to the sport and to fishery conservation.

Gaines was also named a Distinguished Alumnus by both The Altamont School, formerly Birmingham University School, and Birmingham-Southern College, according to The American Museum of Fly Fishing. He periodically taught as an associate professor in the Graduate Creative Writing Program at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky.

Gaines is survived by his wife, Patricia; children, Latham, Greta and Shelby Gaines; five grandchildren Cassidy and Ryder Haje, and Lucy Bo, Belle and Rose Gaines; and his sister, Hansell Burke, along with her children, Monte, Justin and Chris.

GAINES, Charles (Charles Latham Gaines III)

Born: 1/6/1942, Jacksonville, Florida, U.S.A.

Died: 7/21/2026, Trussville, Alabama, U.S.A.

 

Charles Gaines’ western – actor:

Thomasine & Bushrod - 1974 (bank customer)

RIP Francesco Massaro

 

Director Francesco Massaro has died, he worked with Visconti, Germi, Tognazzi

He was 90 years old, he has conducted in his career among others Serrault, De Sio, Placido, Banfi

 ANSA

July 20, 2026

Francesco died today in Rome Massaro, director, screenwriter and screenwriter, born in Padua on August 23, 1935.

"With him, a protagonist of more than half a century disappears century of Italian cinema and television, a man who had learned the trade on set alongside some of the greatest masters of our cinema and who, over the course of his long career, has been able to tell the story of the country through the great and the small screen, with a particular ability to speak to the large audience".

This is what a family of the director.

His professional history "has its roots in the great season of Italian cinema". Moved to Rome at the beginning In the sixties, Massaro began his apprenticeship as a volunteer assistant director in Luchino's The Leopard Visconti, whose details of the eternal dance scene with Alain Delon and Claudia Cardinale. Its true was however due to Pietro Germi, of whom he was for a long-time years as an assistant director, participating in masterpieces such as Divorce Italian style, Seduced and abandoned and Ladies and Gentlemen, entirely set in his Veneto, in Treviso. Its training ended working alongside directors such as Eduardo De Filippo and Dino Risi, in Straziami, ma di baci saziami (1968). It was at that time that he also met Ugo Tognazzi, destined to play an important role in his career.

In fact, the actor became, together with Mariangela Melato, protagonist of his directorial debut, The General Sleeps in feet (1972), an anti-militarist comedy with grotesque tones.

He became a versatile director, able to move with naturalness between different genres, from comedy to medical drama up to yellow. He has made caustic films such as La banca di Monate (1972), with Walter Chiari and a very talented and award-winning Paolo Bonacelli (1976), and very popular works such as Al bar dello sport (1983), with Lino Banfi and Jerry Calà, as well as productions television series such as Pronto soccorso (1990-1992), with Ferruccio Amendola, "who inaugurated in Italy the medical drama", and the miniseries Secret Province and Secret Province 2 - The crimes of the house on the river.

Massaro "was much more than a director - it is emphasized -. Writing has accompanied his entire life professional". Screenwriter and screenwriter, "he was profoundly attentive to the construction of stories and characters and He collaborated, over the years, with the Pantheon of writers and screenwriters of Italian cinema", including Ugo Pirro, Rodolfo Sonego, Suso Cecchi D'Amico, Luciano Vincenzoni and, in more with Ennio De Concini, Enrico Vanzina, Giuseppe D'Agata, and Franco Ferrini. For him "directing was always born from the story and from writing, even before arriving on set".

In the cinema he has directed, among others, Michel Serrault and Tomas Milian in The Wolf and the Lamb, Diego Abatantuono and Leo Gullotta in I carabbinieri, Jerry Calà and Isabella Ferrari in Domani mi groom, up to Michele Placido, Kate Capshaw and Giuliana De Sio in Meet a friend. Among his latest works are the miniseries Benedetti dal Signore and O la va, o la spacca with Ezio Greggio, in 2004.

"Those who knew him remember his clear character, sometimes rough, but also his taste for storytelling and paradox, humanity and the ability to build authentic relationships - yes he adds -. With Francesco Massaro, a witness disappears precious of an unrepeatable season of Italian cinema, especially of that cinema that was inspired by literature and writing skills, and, at the same time, one of the architects of that popular television that has been able to bring together in front of the screen million people".

MASSARO, Francesco

Born: 8/23/1935, Padua, Veneto, Italy

Died: 7/20/2026, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Francesco Massaro’s western – assistant director:

A Stranger in Paso Bravo – 1968

RIP William Wisher

 

CBR

By Jeremy Dick

July 18, 2026

William Wisher Jr., the accomplished screenwriter best known for his collaborations with longtime friend James Cameron, has passed away. He was 71 years old.

 

Wisher's death was announced by his friend, David Poland, in a post shared on X. The post reads, "Sad to announce the passing of screenwriter William Wisher at the age of 71. His credits include T2, The Terminator, Judge Dredd, and Live Free or Die Hard. He loved his wife Debbi… and cigarettes, scotch, and guns. An old friend and a good guy."

Deadpool creator Rob Liefeld also commented on the news, noting in his own X post, "Oh man! William Wisher was a gem. I worked with him for 2 years on separate drafts of The Mark, a movie I set up with Tom Cruise at Paramount. So talented and so kind, full of great stories with Cameron. Rest In Peace."

William Howard Wisher Jr. was born on May 23, 1955. According to an obituary, he died on July 14, 2026. His cause of death is not yet known.

Cameron developed the original concept for The Terminator with Wisher, with the pair collaborating over the phone while fleshing out the script. Wisher also co-wrote a novelization of the beloved sci-fi action movie with Randal Frakes. Cameron and Wisher also both wrote the screenplay for Terminator 2: Judgment Day, which still stands tall as one of the most revered action movies ever made. Many fans and critics also consider T2 to be the best sequel to any film.

William Wisher Jr. Had On-Screen Cameos in Terminator 1 & 2iam Wisher Jr. Had On-Screen Cameos in Terminator 1 & 2

Additionally, Wisher had on-screen appearances in both of the Terminator movies he co-wrote. In the first installment, he appears as a police officer who refers to himself as 1L19; Arnold Schwarzenegger's Terminator incapacitates him before stealing his police cruiser. Wisher later appeared as a mall shopper in T2, where he can be seen taking pictures of Schwarzenegger's Terminator getting back up after being thrown through a window by the T-1000 (Robert Patrick). Cameron has stated that he considers both roles to be the same character.

Wisher also played a reporter in Cameron's The Abyss. His other on-screen credits include roles in Xenogenesis and Martini Ranch: Reach.

Beyond his work with Cameron, Wisher was a writer and executive producer for the Pierce Brosnan thriller I.T. as well as the Bruce Willis action sequel Live Free or Die Hard. He also worked on the scripts for several horror films, including Pumpkinhead, A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child, Exorcist: The Beginning, and Dominon: Prequel to The Exorcist. Wisher's other screenwriting work includes Judge Dredd, The 13th Warrior, Judgment Night, Broken Arrow, Eraser, and Mercury Rising.

WISHER, William (William Howard Manley Wisher Jr.)

Born: 5/23/1955, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A

Died: 7/14/2026, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

William Wisher’s western – writer:

Desperado: The Outlaw Wars (TV) – 1989

RIP Patrick Tse Yin

 

Patrick Tse Yin dies at 89: 7 defining movies of the Hong Kong screen legend

Tatler

By Zabrina Lo

July 20, 2026

 

From suave 1960s matinee idol to veteran Hong Kong Film Award winner, the cinema icon Patrick Tse Yin left an indelible mark on Asian pop culture

Legendary Hong Kong actor Patrick Tse Yin died on July 20, 2026, at the age of 89. His death was confirmed by his son, singer-actor Nicholas Tse, and daughter Jennifer Tse via social media statements.

Affectionately known throughout the entertainment industry as Sei Gor (“Fourth Brother”), Tse enjoyed a illustrious career spanning seven decades. His journey began in 1952 at age 16 when he enrolled in the Lingkuang Film Company actor training class, before debuting the following year with Diwa Film Company in In the Lee of the Loom.

In 1956, director Chun Kim recruited him to the newly formed Kong Ngee Company, where Tse catapulted to superstardom with Murder in the Night, making him the highest-paid actor in Southeast Asia at the time.

Renowned for his effortless charm, suave screen presence, and signature sunglasses, Tse transitioned seamlessly from a matinee idol into a versatile director and character actor.

YIN, Patrick Tse

Born: 8/19/1936, Guangdong, China

Died: 7/20/2026, Hong Kong, China

 

Patrick Tse Yin’s western – actor:

Millionaires' Express – 1986 (man at train station)

RIP Terence Donovan

 

Actor Terence Donovan dies aged 90 after more than half a century on Australian screens

ABC News

By Melissa Brown

July 19, 2026

 

Celebrated Australian actor, and Neighbours and Home and Away star, Terence Donovan has died in Melbourne aged 90.

A close up black and white photo of a man smiling while looking at the camera.

Actor Terence Donovan had a decades-long career, with roles in numerous iconic Australian television shows. (Instagram)

His son, fellow actor Jason Donovan, announced the news on Sunday via social media, paying tribute to his beloved father as "larger than life" and "our world".

"It is with great sadness but also a sense of celebration of a long full life that myself and my brother Paul announce our father Terence died peacefully last night here in Melbourne," he wrote.

"Our dad was a huge character, larger than life.

"We will desperately miss him but we take comfort knowing we were all here by his side in his final days."

Jason Donovan said his father lived "life to the max".

"He was our best friend … our world," he said.

"How lucky are we to have a Dad like you."

Born in England in 1935, Terence Donovan moved to Australia as a teenager.

In a social media post, Jason Donovan revealed his father had followed his brother George to Australia in search of a new life and always dreamed of being an entertainer.

He said one of his first TV appearances in Australia was on Channel 7's Live Variety Show in September 1960 at the age of 25, singing 'I've got you under my skin'.

He was a stage actor before launching what would be a decades-long career on Australian television with guest roles in Consider Your Verdict in 1961.

His prolific portfolio featured television, movies and mini-series appearances, including playing Henry Craig in the 1982 movie The Man From Snowy River.

He was best known for roles in Division 4, Cop Shop, Breaker Morant and Power Without Glory.

He had an uncredited role as a policeman in the 1968 movie Oliver! before landing roles in iconic 1980s Australian TV series such as Sons and Daughters, Prisoner, A Country Practice, The Flying Doctors and Blue Heelers.

In 1986, he took on the role of Doug Willis in Neighbours and Al Simpson on Home and Away.

Fellow Neighbours alumni Kylie Minogue has paid tributes on social media.

"Vale Terence," she wrote.

    "Thankful for your kindness and guidance in my early, crazy tv days with Jason. Xx"

Her sister Dannii Minogue joined her in remembering the talented performer.

"What an incredible life and body of work. I'm so glad his family were with him."

Writer and journalist Nikki Gemmell played Donovan's screen teenage daughter in the short film The Winds of Jarrah, during which she stayed at the remote filming location alone.

She remembered him as a kind, dignified, "impossibly handsome man of integrity" with a warm, sunny smile.

"There was my timber-cutter dad, Terry, always looking out for me; checking I was OK and telling me about his family, so proudly; always guiding, encouraging, helping," she wrote.

Donovan was a passionate advocate for Australian content on television.

In 1961, just 1 per cent of drama on Australian television was Australian.

Donovan was one of a number of actors from the series Homicide and Division 4 to march through the centre of Melbourne in 1970 demanding the federal government introduce local content quotas.

He later addressed a crowd on behalf of the Make It Australian committee.

"The facts cannot be ignored that almost all our newspapers, radios and television are controlled by about four men, who I believe have selfishly exploited their privileged position and avoided their responsibility to the Australian community, especially to children, and to the Australians employed in the entertainment community," he said to loud applause.

In 2001, Jason Donovan was the subject of an Australian Story episode.

He explained that he was mostly brought up by his father after his parents divorced when he was five.

"I felt I was in a better position to gain custody and so I got full custody of [Jason]," Terence Donovan told the program.

Jason Donovan posted a tribute to his father on social media on his 90th birthday last year, describing him as his hero.

A black and white photo of a young boy sitting on a park bench and a man standing beside him with one foot on the seat.

Jason Donovan described his father as his best friend. (Instagram: jdonofficial)

He remembered boogie boarding with him at Bondi Beach when he was a child and family road trips between Melbourne and Sydney in the 1970s, playing the Beatles' Abbey Road album in their car.

"Dad, you are complicated yet so simple, unique and limited edition," Jason wrote.

"You've always placed me higher than you, always wanted me to do better than you.

"You've been a best friend, a wing man, biggest critic, a pain in the arse, a nightmare!

"Outrageously outspoken .. and most of the time just outrageous.

    "I can't begin to tell you how many times people say 'god you look like your father'. I'll take it !!"

Jason thanked the staff at Cabrini Hospital Melbourne for looking after his father in his final days.

DONOVAN, Terence (Terence Patrick Donovan)

Born: 10/28/1935, Stalnes, Middlesex, England, U.K.

Died: 7/18/2026, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

 

Terence Donovan’s westerns – actor:

Songs of the Civil War (TV) – 1965

Songs of the Wild West (TV) – 1965

Rush (TV) – 1974-1976 (Doctor Kirby)

Tandara (TV) – 1976 (Sean Daly)

The Man from Snowy River – 1982 (Henry Craig)

RIP Brenda Fricker

 

Oscar-winning actress Brenda Fricker dies at 81

BBC

By Ian Youngs

July 17, 2026

 

Irish actress Brenda Fricker, who won an Oscar for her role in 1989 film My Left Foot and had well-loved parts in Home Alone 2 and TV's Casualty, has died at the age of 81.

Fricker won the Oscar for best supporting actress in 1990 for playing Daniel Day-Lewis's on-screen mother in My Left Foot.

She played nurse Megan Roach in the BBC's Casualty from 1986, making her final appearance in 2010; and was the Central Park pigeon lady in 1992's Home Alone sequel.

In a statement, her agent Phil Belfield said: "We will never see her like again and the world is lesser for the lack of her."

He added: "I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over."

Fricker's former Casualty co-star Derek Thompson, who played long-running character Charlie Fairhead, paid tribute to the actress, telling BBC News: "Truly the best I have ever worked with, and I've worked with a lot of actors".

Cathy Shipton, who played Lisa 'Duffy' Duffin, added that Fricker as "one of the most authentic people I've ever met".

"She lived her life courageously warts and all. I loved her for her wit, her intelligence and her brilliant sense of humour," Shipton told BBC News.

"Life happened when you were around Brenda. We shared a love of dogs - collies and my girl Juno is named after her favourite collie.

"I love her and miss her and am so glad l knew her."

Born in Dublin, Fricker began her acting career with parts and in TV and the theatre, including Ireland's first soap opera Tolka Row in the 1960s, ITV soap Coronation Street in 1977, and Licking Hitler, a Play For Today written by David Hare, in 1978.

She was in the cast of the first episode of long-running BBC medical drama Casualty in 1986, remaining a fixture until 1990 and returning regularly in the subsequent years.

She made history in 1990 when she became the first Irish actress to win an Academy Award, beating Hollywood stars including Julia Roberts and Anjelica Huston.

My Left Foot told the true story of an Irish man named Christy Brown, played by Day-Lewis, who was born with cerebral palsy and could control only his left foot. The actor also won an Oscar for his starring role.

Another memorable role came two years later when Fricker was cast as the homeless bird lady befriended by Macaulay Culkin's Kevin in Home Alone 2.

Her other film credits included 1993's So I Married An Axe Murderer, 1994's Angels In The Outfield, 1996's A Time To Kill and 2003's Veronica Guerin.

However, she later claimed she would have gone on to have a better career if it hadn't been for her success at the Oscars.

"What did happen was the old curse of the Oscars, as they call it," she told the Times in 2024.

The accolade led to her being typecast and overlooked for a lot of roles, including in theatre, she said.

"So there's a lot that's not great about an Oscar. And you don't get any money. They could give you a few bob with it, at least," she joked.

'Warmth and toughness in the same breath'

Ireland's Tánaiste (deputy prime minister) Simon Harris said he was "deeply saddened" by the death of "a national treasure".

"She was a consummate performer who graced our screens and stages with remarkable talent and authenticity. Brenda brought depth and humanity to every role she undertook," he said.

"She truly was among the greatest exports this country has ever produced and an ambassador for Irish talent on the world stage. Quite simply, we will never see the like of her ever again."

The US ambassador to Ireland, Edward Walsh, paid tribute to Fricker as "a giant of Irish film" and praised her "unforgettable" performance in My Left Foot.

Writing on X, he said: "From Dublin to Hollywood, her work brought Ireland's stories to the world and inspired generations on both sides of the Atlantic.

"She leaves a remarkable legacy, and I extend my deepest condolences to her family, friends, and all who loved her."

Teenage trauma

Fricker told her life story in her memoir last year, revealing an unstable upbringing in which she was beaten by her mother and groomed at the age of eight by a man who gave her elocution lessons and was sexually fixated with her, but who "never touched me".

She spent two years in hospital after a bicycle accident at the age of 14, but was truly left "broken" after being raped at 17 at a party, then raped again later by an English actor.

Despite her traumas, she also had fond memories of that era. "When I was growing up, you could be wild and God bless the wild days."

In that spirit, the path her life took was not calculated, she told The Times. "It's all been luck... happy accidents."

FRICKER, Brenda
Born: 2/17/1945, Dublin, Ireland

Died: 7/17/2026,

 

Brenda Fricker’s western – actress:

Painted Angels – 1998 (Annie Ryan)

RIP Hal Williams

 

'Sanford And Son' Hal Williams

Dead At 91

TMZ

July 16, 2026

 

Hal Williams -- the actor who famously played Officer "Smitty" Smith in the 1970s hit TV show "Sanford and Son" -- has died, according to his rep.

His manager, Zna Portlock Houston, tells TMZ ... Hal died from natural causes Wednesday morning at his home in Rancho Mirage, CA, noting that he had some health issues.

Houston said Hal felt tired upon his return two days ago from Ohio, where he attended a reunion celebrating "Sanford and Son" with former castmate, Howard Platt, who played Officer Howard "Hoppy" Hopkins.

In 1972, Hal launched his TV career, landing the role of Smitty in "Sanford and Son" alongside legendary comedian Redd Foxx, who played Fred Sanford, and Demond Wilson, who played Foxx's son, Lamont.

Then, in 1973, Hal scored a major role as Harley Foster in the popular TV show, "The Waltons." Hal also had a prominent part in the TV sitcom "227" as Lester Jenkins.

He also made cameos in a bunch of other TV shows, including "That Girl," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," "Cannon," "Police Woman," "Gunsmoke," "Good Times," "Knots Landing," "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Webster," "Hill Street Blues," "Magnum P.I.," "Night Court," and "L.A. Law."

Not only that, but Hal was featured on the big screen, too, securing parts in movies such as "Hardcore," "The Rookie," "Percy & Thunder," and "Flight."

Hal was 91.

RIP

WILLIAMS, Hal (Halroy Cadis Williams)

Born: 12/14/1928, Coumbus, Ohio, U.S.A.

Died: 7/15/2026, Rancho Mirage, California, U.S.A.

 

Hal Williams’ westerns – actor:

Kung Fu (TV) – 1973, 1975 (Caleb Brown)

Sidekicks (TV) – 1974 (Max)

Gunsmoke (TV) - 1975 (Widge Spott)

The Cherokee Kid (TV) - 1996 (Reverend Peel)

RIP Elsa Aguirre

 

Elsa Aguirre, Icon of Mexican Golden Cinema, die

She was the last diva of national cinematography and consolidated herself with fifty films in eight decades of artistic career

N+ Newsroom

July 15, 2026

 

Elsa Aguirre, one of the most iconic actresses of the Mexican Golden Cinema era, has died at the age of 95, the National Association of Interpreters (ANDI) reported. She was a passionate, simple and independent woman who consolidated herself with fifty films.

"The Board of Directors and the Vigilance Committee of the National Association of Interpreters communicate the sensitive death of our interpreter partner Elsa Aguirre," ANDI said at 0:12 a.m. on Wednesday, July 15, without detailing the causes of death.

Elsa Aguirre was a legend for her career on the big screen since 1946. Elegant, versatile and discreet, she was the last diva of the golden age of national cinematography.

She was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, on September 25, 1930 and participated in films such as "The Woman I Loved" and "Acapulco". She was the younger sister of actress Alma Rosa Aguirre.

Elsa Aguirre was recognized as one of the most beautiful women in Mexico. She was the fourth of five children: Alma Rosa, Hilda, Jesús, Elsa and Mario. Her other two sisters had their own, parallel careers in film and television.

She will be remembered for her great performance in films such as "La muerte de un gallero" (1977) and "Las figuras de arena" (1970). In "Cuidado con el amor" (1954), Pedro Infante sang the theme of "Cien años" to him. In addition to film, she developed an extensive career in television, theater, radio and live shows.

At some point, she said that she never dreamed of being an actress and her first interaction with the public was at the age of 14 in a beauty contest in which she won 300 pesos at the time, which eventually opened the doors of the big screen for her.

In that competition of the company Clasa Films Mundiales she participated with her sister Alma Rosa and, as they did very well, they were among the cast of the film "El sexo fuerte", directed by Emilio Gómez Muriel, produced in 1945 and starring Mapy Cortés.

Just last April, the government of Morelos celebrated Aguirre's career at the Ocampo Theater in Cuernavaca, where he was given recognition for more than 80 years of career.

Months earlier, on January 8, President Claudia Sheinbaum spoke with the artist and defined her as "an example of great strength."

"It has been an experience of great admiration and respect, very attentive to what I was talking about and simple. I felt a lot of closeness to that way of being," said the actress about that meeting with the president.

"Until I leave"

In her last years, Elsa Aguirre lived in retirement at her residence in the state of Morelos, where she occasionally gave interviews. Part of his longevity was attributed to a diet recommended by doctors, as he confessed that he stopped eating meat and seafood in the last six decades. He also excluded cigarettes and alcohol.

She also adopted a lifestyle based on meditation. Shee also performed social service in prisons and assured that the key was to live in the present and think first of others before of oneself.

Since the end of August 2025, the actress became more active on social networks, where she shared anecdotes, experiences, advice and moments from her daily life. He opened an official account on Facebook and, in the afternoons, he made live broadcasts to spend time with his followers, whom he always thanked for the love and support they gave her, according to a review by N+.

She said that her intention was to talk as much as she could with the public and the media: "until I leave." Often, she had to use an oxygen tank, but that did not prevent her from lucidity in her ideas and stories full of wisdom. In addition, she offered to answer questions.

In her last video, published on Tuesday, July 13, she remembered Joaquín Pardavé 71 years after his death and reviewed the films that marked her career. In her broadcasts she also spoke naturally about all kinds of topics: from cats, their diet, yoga and the benefits of bathing in cold water, to Luis Miguel, Nelson Mandela, an autograph signing by inbox and even the occasion when he rescued a badger from a pool.

In that way she also released his song "De mis labios a tus ojos", which she composed with Javier Manríquez as a song to summarize her life. She gave the same title to the piece of music and his autobiography.

What films did she act in?

Over eight decades, Elsa Aguirre starred in several outstanding films, along with figures such as Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete, Joaquín Pardavé, Pedro Armendáriz, Mario Moreno "Cantinflas", Ignacio López Tarso, Antonio Aguilar, among many others.

The film that marked the course of her career was Don Simón de Lira, after Julio Bracho convinced her parents to act, because they wanted to remove her from histrionics because they did not agree with her first two roles, whose productions with comic touches presented genre dynamics extremely transgressive for their time.

AGUIRRE, Elsa

Born: 9/25/1930, Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico

Died: 7/15/2026, Cuernavaca, Merelos, Mexico

 

Elsa Aguirre’s westerns – actress:

Watch Out for Love -1954 (Ana Maria)

Giant – 1956

El pistolero desconocido – 1967 (Maria)

La vuelta del Mexicano – 1967 (Rosario)

RIP Giovanni Ukmar

 

Westerns…All’Italiana!

By Tom Betts

July 12, 2026

 

Italian actor, stuntman, stunt coordinator, master of arms Giovanni Ukmar died in Rome on July 10th he had just turned 86 two weeks earlier. Giovanni was born in Pisa, Tuscany n June 26, 1940. He and his five brothers: Franco, Giancarlo, Sergio, Bruno and Clemente were some of the best and most active stuntmen and supporting actors in Italian films in the 1960s and 1970s. Giovanni alone appeared in around 140 films between 1959 and 2000. If an Ukmar was seen or credited in a film most likely one or more were also present. Ukmar was married to Ileana and has three children Massimiliano, Cristiano and Serena.

UKMAR, Giovanni

Born: 6/26/1940, Pisa, Tuscany, Italy

Died: 7/10/2026, Rome, Lazio, Italy

 

Giovanni Ukmar’s westerns – stuntman, actor:  

The Colt is My Law - 1965 (O'Brien henchman)

Fort Yuma Gold – 1966 (saloon patron) [stunts]

Johnny Yuma – 1966 (brawler) [stunts]

Seven Dollars to Kill – 1966 (saloon bouncer)

Two Sons of Ringo – 1966 (henchman)

Zorro the Rebel – 1966 (brawler) [stunts]

Beyond the Law – 1967 (shoot out victim) [stunts]

The Great Silence – 1967 (outlaw) [stunts]

Last of the Badmen - 1967 (Mendoza henchman)

Ciccio Forgives…I Don’t! – 1968 (brawler)

God Made Them, I Kill Them – 1968 (welcoming committee)

The Longest Hunt – 1968 (brawler)

No Graves on Boot Hill – 1968 (Fletcher henchman) [stunts]

Boot Hill – 1969 (miner)

Death on High Mountain – 1969 (brawler)

The 5-Man Army – 1969 (Mexican soldier)

The Forgotten Pistolero – 1969 (Francisco henchman) [stunts]

God Will Forgive My Pistol – 1969 (Clayton henchman)

Night of the Serpent – 1969 (Hernandez soldier)

No Room to Die – 1969 (Fargo henchman) [stunts]

The Stranger’s Gundown – 1969 (Murdock henchman)

Arizona Returns – 1970 (saloon patron)

Have a Nice Funeral My Friend – 1970 (casino brawler) [stunts]

Shango – 1970 (Martinez soldier)

Kill Django… Kill First – 1971 (saloon brawler)

Paid in Blood – 1971 (Shannon henchman)

Trinity Is STILL My Name! - 1971 (Parker henchman) [stunts]

Two Sons of Trinity – 1971 (Chan henchman)

The Ballad of Ben and Charlie – 1972 (brawler)

Beyond the Frontiers of Hate - 1972 (brawler)

Alleluia and Sartana, Sons of God - 1972 (McGregor henchman) [stunts]

God is My Colt .45 – 1972 (Collins’ henchman)

Now They Call Him Sacramento - 1972 (saloon patron) [stunts]

They Call Me Providence – 1972 (James’ henchman)

They Still Call Me Amen – 1972 (saloon brawler)

Trinity & Sartana Those Sons of Bitches – 1972 (McGregor henchman)

Hallelujah to Vera Cruz – 1973 (Don Felipe henchman) [stunts]

The Man Called Invincible – 1973 (party guard)

The Three Musketeers of the West – 1973 (gangster)

Return of Shanghai Joe - 1974 (peasant)

White Fang and the Gold Diggers – 1974 (Taft henchman)

Keoma – 1975 (Caldwell henchman)

White Fang and the Hunter – 1975 (Ferguson henchman)

Zorro – 1975 (dungeon guard)

A Man Called Blade – 1977 (Valler henchman)

E continuano a mangiare fagioli - 2027

RIP Rui Resende

 

Rui Rezende, actor of "Roque santeiro", dies at the age of 88

Information was confirmed through a statement from Retiro dos Artistas, where the actor had lived since 2019

VOGUE

By Redação Vogue

7/12/2026

 

Rui Rezende died this Sunday (12.07), at the age of 88. According to information from the Retiro dos Artistas, where the actor had lived for 7 years, he had been hospitalized for ten days at the São Francisco Hospital in Providência de Deus, in Tijuca, Rio de Janeiro.

The institution mourned the loss in a statement shared on official social networks. "It is with deep regret that we say goodbye to Rui Rezende, one of the great names in Brazilian dramaturgy. Throughout his decades-long career, Rui thrilled the public with his talent on stage, in cinema and on television, building a trajectory marked by dedication to art and characters that will remain alive in the memory of generations.

"Since 2019, I was part of the family at Retiro dos Artistas, where she found a home surrounded by affection, respect and care. Hospitalized since July 2 at the São Francisco Hospital in Providência de Deus, in Tijuca, Rui left, leaving an immense miss among friends, collaborators and admirers. His story will live on in his work, in his legacy and in the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing him, on and off stage. The Artists' Retreat pays its solidarity to family, friends and all who today feel the departure of this great artist. Rest in peace, Rui. 🖤.".

The cause of death was not disclosed.

Rui was born in Araguari, Minas Gerais, in 1938. The actor gave life to numerous characters in film and TV. One of the most striking was Professor Astromar Junqueira, a werewolf, in the 1985 soap opera Roque Santeiro, by Dias Gomes and Aguinaldo Silva.

Other successful characters in Rui Resende's career were Bob Lamb from "The Story of Ana Raio and Zé Trovão", produced by Rede Manchete in 1990 and reprised by SBT in 2010, and Menandro Olinda" from the miniseries Incident in Antares, produced by Rede Globo in 1994.

His most recent work on TV was participating in the series "Bom Dia, Verônica", in 2022, with the character Seu Tomé. He also made small appearances in other series, such as "Turma do Didi", "A Grande Família" and "Zorra Total". The actor also stood out in the theater with the plays "This World Is a Hospice", from 1985, "The Elephant Man", from 1990, and the most recent: "Paixão Segundo Nelson", from 2016.

RESENDE, Rui (José Pereira Rezende Filho)

Born: 11/18/1938, Araguari, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Died: 7/12/2026, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

 

Rui Resende’s western – actor:

Bang Bang (TV) – 2005-2006 (Jack Label)

RIP Sam Neill

 

Sam Neill, Jurassic Park Star, Dies at 78

The New Zealand actor also appeared in ‘The Piano’ and ‘Peaky Blinders’

People

By Victoria Edel, Kirsty Hatcher

July 13, 2026

 

Sam Neill has died at the age of 78. Neill was best known for his role in 1993’s Jurassic Park as Alan Grant, the film’s hero. He also had starring roles in The Hunt for Red October and The Piano and appeared in TV shows like The Tudors and Peaky Blinders.

In a statement shared on Instagram on Monday, July 13, the actor’s family said that his death was “sudden and unexpected.”

“It is with immense sadness that the whānau [extended family] of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” the statement began.

“Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterized his whole life,” the statement continued. “The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care. More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Neill was born Nigel Neill in Northern Ireland in 1947. His family moved to New Zealand, where his father was from, when he was 7 years old. “I’ve often thought that was the genesis of me becoming an actor,” he told The Irish Times in 2022 about adapting to a new country. “I think I had to learn how to act and sound like a New Zealander to avoid getting bullied at school.”

Neill did not like his birth name. “I was christened Nigel Neill — that’s like my parents giving me a disadvantage from the start,” he told Kelly Clarkson in 2024. When Clarkson said she liked it, he said, “No, no, you never want to be called Nigel. It’s also called ‘Nigel No Mates,’ you know, ‘Nigel No Friends.’ ” He had a best friend also named Nigel, and when they started watching westerns together, they picked new names. He became Sam at age 11.

He began acting during his college years and graduated from Wellington’s Victoria University with a degree in English. His earliest professional roles came in New Zealand productions.

In 1977, he had his breakthrough in Sleeping Dogs. The film was not only seminal for him, but for the entire New Zealand film industry, as it was the first local production to receive international attention.

He also began acting in Australian films; 1979’s My Brilliant Career, from director Gillian Armstrong, also found international success. In 1981, he had his biggest role yet, in Omen III: The Final Conflict. He also starred in Possession, which became a cult classic; in a 2024 interview with Decider, he called it “the most intense thing I’ve ever done.” Other film and TV roles included 1982’s Ivanhoe, 1987’s Amerika, 1988’s A Cry in the Dark (with Meryl Streep) 1989’s Dead Calm (with Nicole Kidman) and 1983’s Reilly, Ace of Spies, which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. In 1990, he appeared in The Hunt for Red October.

But his biggest role came in Jurassic Park. The lead part in Steven Spielberg’s dinosaur epic was hotly contested; he beat out Harrison Ford for the part. “I like playing villains and bad guys, characters with moral ambiguity, because, in a way, they are easier to play,” he told the Los Angeles Times when the film was released in 1993. But he was ready to step into the spotlight as the good guy, telling the outlet, “I see a bit of a place for myself here now.”

Along with Jeff Goldblum and Laura Dern, Neill helped make Jurassic Park a major success. He eventually returned to the franchise for 2001’s Jurassic Park III and 2022’s Jurassic World: Dominion.

Neill also continued to act in New Zealand films, including 1993’s The Piano, 2003’s Perfect Strangers and 2009’s Under the Mountain. In 2016, he appeared in Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople, and the director would also give him roles in some of the Thor films.

Neill also began to appear more often on television. He starred in the miniseries Merlin and shows like The Tudors and Alcatraz. He starred in Peaky Blinders with Cillian Murphy as the Chief Inspector Chester Campbell. Murphy praised him in a 2013 interview with The Huffington Post, explaining, “Chester Campbell is such a bastard in the series, but Sam Neill has got such a lovable quality, you can’t help but root for the character.” In 2024, Neill starred in the Peacock drama Apples Never Fall.

Neill reunited with his son Andrew, who he fathered when he was in his 20s but did not have a relationship with, in 2014. He shared another son, Tim, with his Omen III costar Lisa Harrow.

In 1989, he married Noriko Watanabe, a makeup artist. He adopted her daughter Maiko and they also shared daughter Elena. The couple separated in 2017.

In 1993, Neill opened a vineyard, Two Paddocks that has continued to be successful; he often shared scenes from the vineyard and his farm on his Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts. He was passionate about the environment and a trustee of New Zealand’s National Parks and Conservation Foundation.

“It doesn’t matter how popular an actor you are, nobody will remember you forever,” he told Esquire UK in 2016. “Acting is ephemeral so it’s nice if you can leave something behind, like a great wine or a beautiful house that has a legacy.”

In 2007, Neill was appointed a Distinguished Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit. In 2022, he was redesignated as a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, giving him the title “Sir.” In 2020 he received the Arts Foundation of New Zealand Icon Award; honorees are limited to 20 living people at a time.

Neill was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer in 2022. In 2023, he shared that he was in remission, but would likely have to receive chemo for the rest of his life. But he tried not to be fazed. “I know I’ve got it, but I’m not really interested in it,” he told Australian Story at the time. “It’s out of my control. If you can’t control it, don’t get into it.”

Neill was grateful that despite his acting career, he could have a relatively private life. “I have a number of friends who are real celebrities, you’d know who they are, and I wouldn’t swap my life for theirs for a moment, even though they’re immensely rich and, you know, immensely famous,” he told The Guardian in 2023.

“There’s a complete lack of privacy for one thing, and privacy is very, very, very important, I can walk down the street in Surry Hills and get my coffee, and nobody bothers me, you know? And there’s no paparazzi. My life is my own.”

Neill is survived by his children.

NEILL, SAM (Nigel Neill)

Born: 9/14/1947, Omagh, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, U.K.

Died: 7/13/2026, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

 

Sam Neill’s westerns – actor:

Robbery Under Arms – 1985 (Captain Starlight)

The Horse Whisperer – 1998 (Robert MacLean)

Sweet Country – 2017 (Fred Smith)

RIP Antoinette Bower

 

Antoinette Bower, ‘Star Trek,’ ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Prom Night’ Actress, Dies at 93

Born in Germany, she started out on the CBC in Canada, appeared with Charles Bronson in ‘The Evil That Men Do’ and had a recurring role on ‘Neon Rider.’

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

July 11, 2026

 

Antoinette Bower, the German-born British actress who starred on an Adam & Eve-like episode of The Twilight Zone and portrayed the seductive catlike alien Sylvia on an installment of Star Trek, has died. She was 93.

Bower died April 30 in an Eagle Rock senior retirement home in Los Angeles, her friend Carlotta Glackin — great niece of famed Golden Age character actor Edward Everett Horton — told The Hollywood Reporter.

On the big screen, Bower got top billing in the Filipino-shot horror film Superbeast (1972), played the wife of Leslie Nielsen and mother of Jamie Lee Curtis in the slasher classic Prom Night (1980) and was kidnapped by Charles Bronson in the action thriller The Evil That Men Do (1984).

For three seasons (1989-92), she recurred as the kind Fox Devlin, an associate of Winston Rekert’s Dr. Michael Terry, on the Canadian TV drama Neon Rider, set on a ranch in British Columbia for troubled and abused teens.

On the Rod Serling-penned, Ted Post-directed Twilight Zone episode “Probe 7, Over and Out,” which premiered in November 1963 during the anthology show’s fifth and final season, the statuesque Bower portrayed Eve Norda, a woman stranded on a distant planet. The only other person around is an astronaut named Adam Cook (Richard Baseheart).

Bower also was memorable as the villainous Sylvia opposite Theo Marcuse as Korob on the second-season Star Trek episode “Catspaw,” which premiered in October 1967.

Antoinette Alexandra Jane Bower was born to a German mother and English father on Sept. 30, 1932, in Baden-Baden, Germany.

Educated in England, she was a field language supervisor and welfare counselor in the late 1940s with the United Nations’ International Refugee Organization, which assisted millions of people left homeless across Europe and Asia following World War II.

Bower rejoined her family in Canada in 1953 and in Toronto landed a job with the fledgling Canadian Broadcasting Corp., where she worked in public affairs, wrote scripts and conducted interviews on live TV. She also did some acting, appearing in a 1958 TV adaptation of The Tell-Tale Heart and in 1959 on the syndicated series Hudson’s Bay.

She visited L.A. and in the early 1960s decided to stick around after landing an uncredited role in Marlon Brando’s Mutiny on the Bounty (1962) and guest-star parts on such shows as Adventures in Paradise, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Hong Kong, Wagon Train, Thriller, Hawaiian Eye and Perry Mason.

She remained quite busy through the early ’80s, showing up on Combat!, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Burke’s Law, The Wild Wild West, I Spy, The Fugitive, The Invaders, The Big Valley, Bonanza, Mannix, Hawaii Five-O, Get Smart, Hogan’s Heroes, Mission: Impossible, The F.B.I., Columbo, Kojak and Murder, She Wrote and in the 1983 miniseries The Thorn Birds.

She pretty much left acting after her run on CTV’s Neon Rider.

About 10 years ago, Bower completed a documentary about chuckwagon racing in Canada that she shot, directed, edited and narrated after spending several summers with the participants.

Glackin noted that Bower, who studied carpentry at Santa Monica College, had been a valued Home Depot employee who custom-built cabinets and tall bookshelves at her home in Beverly Glen.

She added that Bower was still getting lots of fan mail from the Star Trek faithful and that William Shatner had emailed his condolences after learning of her death. (She was one of the 20 or so women to kiss Capt. Kirk on the show, according to this post.)

Bower wed Texas-born pop artist James Gill in 1963, but their marriage ended in divorce. She was pre-deceased by her half-brother, Roger.

BOWER, Antoinette (Antoinette Alexandra Jane Bower)

Born: 9/30/1932, Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg, Germany

Died: 4/30/2026, Eagle Rock, California, U.S.A.

 

Antoinette Bower’s westerns – actress:

Hudson’s Bay (TV) - 1959 (Dorcas Cobb, Joanna Balfour, Oussitta)

Have Gun – Will Travel (TV) - 1961 (Sybil Lansing)

Wagon Train (TV) - 1961 (Diana Saybrook)

Stoney Burke (TV) - 1963 (Erna Bremen)

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters (TV) – 1963-1964 (Nellie)

The Wild Wild West (TV) - 1965 (Janet Coburn)

Iron Horse (TV) - 1966 (Angie Bemis)

A Man Called Shenandoah (TV) - 1966 (Lila Morgan)

The Big Valley (TV) - 1968 (Alicia Akers)

Bonanza (TV) - 1968 (Martha Cartwright Dorcas)

Lancer (TV) - 1969 (Angeline Ferris)

The Cowboy and the Ballerina – 1984 (Madame Rostov)

RIP Randolph Mantooth

 

Randolph Mantooth, Firefighter-Paramedic Johnny Gage on ‘Emergency!,’ Dies at 80

He partnered with real-life pal Kevin Tighe (Roy DeSoto) on the popular NBC series, then did lots of soap operas.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

July 10, 2026

 

Randolph Mantooth, who starred as the goofy but gallant firefighter-paramedic Johnny Gage on Emergency!, the 1970s NBC action show that changed life-saving services as we know it, has died. He was 80.

Mantooth died Thursday at a hospice facility in Ventura, California, his brother, Donald Mantooth, told The Hollywood Reporter. He had been “ill for a number of years and kept getting thinner and thinner,” he said.

Mantooth also had two stints (1987-90 and 1993-95) as Clay Alden/Alex Masters on the ABC soap opera Loving, and he appeared on other daytime serials including ABC’s General Hospital, CBS’ As the World Turns and ABC’s One Life to Live.

Mantooth was just getting started as a contract player at Universal when he was hired in 1971 to play Gage opposite Kevin Tighe as his partner, Roy DeSoto, on Emergency!, created by Dragnet legend Jack Webb and Robert A. Cinader.

When he was told he was going to play a paramedic, the first thing Mantooth said was, “What the hell is a paramedic? At that time, there were only [a handful] in all of California,” he told Amy Harrington in a 2013 interview for the TV Academy Foundation website The Interviews.

He said he initially didn’t want to do it because it meant he would have to get a haircut.

Gage and the more buttoned-down DeSoto worked out the Los Angeles County Fire Department’s Station 51, interacting often with Rampart General Hospital personnel Dr. Kelly Brackett (Robert Fuller), nurse Dixie McCall (Julie London) and Dr. Joe Early (Bobby Troup, London’s real-life husband).

Emergency! aired for six seasons, from January 1972 through May 1977, then tacked on seven telefilms over the next couple of years. There even was a Saturday morning animated series in 1973-74.

When the show premiered, there were 12 paramedic units in all of North America. In the next three years, 46 states enacted laws that allowed paramedics to practice emergency medicine. Within 10 years, more than half of all Americans were within 10 minutes of a paramedic rescue or ambulance unit.

Experts say that growth simply would not have occurred without Emergency!

“When you take life-saving services out of the hospital and into the field, the number of lives that are saved is incalculable,” Mantooth said. “The stars just lined up with this show perfectly for a purpose, for a greater purpose.

“I could be remembered for driving a car that has a name like the General Lee, not that there’s anything wrong with that show. Instead I’m remembered for something that changed emergency medicine, forever. How lucky can any one person be?”

Randy DeRoy Mantooth was born on Sept. 19, 1945, in Sacramento. He lived in 24 states before he turned 18 because his father, Buck, was a pipeline construction engineer whose job kept the family on the move.

“I was never in any town long enough to really cultivate long-lasting relationships with people, so I was always living in my own little fantasy world,” he said.

His mother, Sadie, was a waitress. After she and Buck divorced, she made good on her promise to give each of her four kids a car when they graduated high school.

Mantooth acted for the first time at San Marcos High in Santa Barbara, then followed his acting friends to Santa Barbara City College and then to New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he changed his first name to the more formal-sounding Randolph.

Famed Universal talent scout Eleanor Kilgallen spotted him in the play Philadelphia, Here I Come — he shared a best actor award with Brad Davis in that — and got him signed to a contract, bringing him to Los Angeles in 1970.

A scene he did that year with Hal Holbrook on an episode of NBC’s The Bold Ones: The Senator, where his character breaks down during courtroom testimony, was seen by Cinader. Said Mantooth, “From what I was told, he went, ‘That is my Johnny Gage.'”

Put to work on Emergency! alongside such seasoned performers as Fuller, London and Troupe, he and the similarly inexperienced Tighe “were in the same boat,” Mantooth said. “It was more like us against them.”

The pair took paramedic classes, where they learned how to insert an IV, and trained with the fire department. Cinader wanted the show to be funny but told his actors that “when the [station alarm sounds], funny is left at the door. You are now a professional,” Mantooth noted. “We never got away from that.”

He added: “We never went home with Johnny Gage, we never went home with Roy DeSoto, we didn’t hear about Johnny Gage’s drunk father beating his mother. Who cared about that? [The show] was about the job.”

Cinader insisted every rescue on the series had to have been done in real life, so writers combed firefighters’ logs for storylines. Meanwhile, NBC executives made sure that no one would die and no blood would be shown during the first couple of seasons.

Mantooth said that “if I fell off my roof cleaning the gutters, I’d want [Gage] to be there because he knows what he is doing.”

He and Tighe had the same agent, shared a motor home during the entire run of their show and became great friends. The series ended, Mantooth said, because his and Tighe’s original seven-year contracts had expired, Tighe didn’t want to continue and Mantooth didn’t want to go on without him.

When Mantooth raced home in 1978 to find his ranch in the Lobo Canyon area of Agoura Hills engulfed in flames, Tighe was already there, trying to get the animals safely off the property. Tighe later served as the best man at Mantooth’s 2002 wedding to actress Kristen Connors.

Mantooth followed Emergency! by joining the second season of the ABC comedy Operation Petticoat in 1978, followed by work the next year on the ABC comedy Detective School and on the HBO miniseries The Seekers, produced by Cinader.

After guest-starring on such shows as Battlestar Galactica, Charlie’s Angels, The Fall Guy, Diagnosis Murder and L.A. Law, Mantooth was in the middle of getting separated from his wife and wanted out of Los Angeles, so he moved to New York to work on Loving and said he had a blast.

On As the World Turns, he stepped in to play Oakdale chief of detectives Hal Munson after actor Benjamin Hendrickson died by suicide in 2006

Later, he appeared in such films as He Was a Quiet Man (2007) and Bold Native (2010) and on episodes of FX’s Sons of Anarchy in 2011. A year later, he and Tighe were named honorary fire chiefs by the L.A. County Fire Department.

In addition to his brother, he’s survived by his sister, Tonya.

In his TV Academy Foundation interview, Mantooth got emotional talking about how in the ’70s he was saved by paramedics who figured out he had carbon monoxide poisoning caused by a malfunctioning house furnace and how other emergency personnel brought his sister back from the dead after she was injured in a car accident in the ’80s.

“Do I respect paramedics? Do I respect firefighters?” he asked. “There’s a debt I owe them that I probably can’t ever pay back. But I’m gonna try.”

MANTOOTH, Randolph (Randy DeRoy Mantooth)

Born: 9/19/1945, Sacramento, California, U.S.A.

Died: 7/9/2026, Ventura, California, U.S.A.

 

Randolph Mantooth’s westerns – actor:

Alias Smith and Jones (TV) - 1971 (Dan Loomis)

The Virginian (TV) - 1971 (Lieutenant Dorn)

The Bravos (TV) – 1972 (2^nd Lieutenant Lewis)

The Seekers (TV) – 1979 (Abraham Kent)

Walker, Texas Ranger (TV) – 1997 (James Lee Crown)