RIP Pilar Pellicer

Mexican actress Pilar Pellicer dies

The National Association of Interpreters reported the death of the Mexican actress Pilar Pellicer, at 82 years of age.

Archyworlddys

May 16, 20209

“The DirectiveCouncil and the Mexico Surveillance Committee, communicate the sensitive death of the interpreter Pilar Pellicer; actress who began her career in the last stage of the Golden Age of Mexican Cinema. Our condolences, to her daughter, Ariane Pellicer” .

Pilar Pellicer was niece of “The Poet of America” ​​Carlos Pellicer, sister of the also actress Pina Pellicer.

She made her film debut in the movie “The Doll Seller” in 1955.

Pilar has loved movies since childhood, when her uncle played movies for her and her little brothers.

“And I saw him put up a stage and dance!” the actress recalled in an interview for EL UNIVERSAL in 2018.

So it was normal that the one born in 1938 in Mexico City, devoted herself fully to the big screen and whose filmography includes “Pedro Páramo” and “La choca”.

“I love cinema with all my soul, whoever gives me recognition for it, I receive it with love,” he said in 2018, the year in which he received a tribute within the framework of the Guanajuato International Film Festival (GIFF).

As part of his career, in 1959 he worked on the movie “Nazarín” and shared the scene with Marga López, Rita Macedo, Ignacio López Tarso, and Ofelia Guilmáin.

That same year he received a scholarship from the French Institute for Latin America to study acting in Paris, France, where he remained for six years working in Gallic cinema, television and theater.

During this time she married the American sculptor James Meccalf, with whom she had a daughter, Ariane.

In recent years he has produced plays and directed films.

PELLICER, Pilar (Pilar Pellicer López de Llergo)

Born: 2/2/1938, Villahermosa, Tabasco, México

Died: 5/16/2020, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Pina Pellicer’s westerns – actress;

The Bandits - 1967

Day of the Evil Gun – 1968 (Lydia Yearby)

La choca – 1974 (La choca)

Manuel Saldivar, el texano – 1977

Con la muerte en ancas – 1980 (Casey’s mother)

Zorro: The Gay Blade – 1981 (Don Francisco’s wife)

Quell and Co. – 1982 (Señora Romero)

RIP Fred Willard

Fred Willard, ‘Best in Show’ and ‘A Mighty Wind’ Actor, Dead at 86

Prolific comic actor was master of mockumentary genre

Rolling Stone

By Daniel Kreps

May 16, 2020

Fred Willard, the prolific comic actor and master of the mockumentary genre who stood out in ensemble comedies like Best in Show, For Your Consideration and This Is Spinal Tap, died Friday at the age of 86.

Willard’s rep Glenn Schwartz confirmed his death to Rolling Stone, adding that the cause of death was natural causes. Willard’s daughter Hope Mulbarger said in a statement, “My father passed away very peacefully last night at the fantastic age of 86 years old. He kept moving, working and making us happy until the very end. We loved him so very much! We will miss him forever.”

Jamie Lee Curtis, wife of Willard’s longtime director Christopher Guest, first shared news of the actor’s death.

“How lucky that we all got to enjoy Fred Willard’s gifts,” Curtis tweeted. “He is with his missed Mary now. Thanks for the deep belly laughs Mr. Willard.” Willard’s wife of 40 years, Mary, died in 2018.

Willard is best known for his work in Guest’s comedies — Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, For Your Consideration and A Mighty Wind — as well as scene-stealing moments in This Is Spinal Tap, Anchorman, Austin Powers and Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle.

A veteran of the stage and sketch comedy, Willard made his big-screen debut in a little-seen 1967 film titled Teenage Mother. After a decade of bit parts, Willard landed a role on the Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman spinoff Fernwood 2 Night in 1977; the following year Willard hosted an episode of Saturday Night Live with musical guest Devo.

Willard’s work with Guest first began in 1984 when the two appeared onscreen together in Rob Reiner’s groundbreaking mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap in a scene where Willard’s Air Force lieutenant gives the Spinal Tap, including Guest’s Nigel Tufnel, a tour of the military base. Guest would later cast Willard in prominent roles in five mockumentaries he helmed, most recently 2016’s Mascots.

With hundreds of credits over an acting career that spanned over 50 years, Willard built a reputation where he could pop up in any setting — sitcoms (New Girl, Community), cartoons, late-night TV, offbeat comedies (Tim & Eric, Comedy Bang! Bang!, I Think You Should Leave), reality television (The Bachelor and The Bachelorette), game shows, commercials, even soap operas (an Emmy-nominated turn on The Bold and the Beautiful) — and it was not out of character.

Willard will appear posthumously in the upcoming Netflix satirical series Space Force; a testament to his enormous filmography, Willard previously starred in an unrelated 1978 TV movie also titled Space Force, which he lampooned\ in a 2019 Jimmy Kimmel Live sketch. Kimmel tweeted Saturday, “There was no man sweeter or funnier.  We were so lucky to know Fred Willard and will miss his many visits.”

Steve Carell, Willard’s cast mate in Anchorman and Space Force, tweeted Saturday, “Fred Willard was the funniest person that I’ve ever worked with. He was a sweet, wonderful man.”

WILLARD, Fred (Frederick Charles Willard)

Born: 9/18/1933, Shaker Heights, Ohio, U.S.A.

Died: 5/15/2020, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

Fred Willard’s westerns – actor;

Pistols ‘n’ Petticoats (TV) -1966

Sodbusters (TV) – 1994 (Clarence Gentry)

RIP Norma Doggett

Norma Doggett, Actress in 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,' Dies at 94

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

5/15/2020

She played Martha in the great MGM musical after dancing in several Broadway shows.

Norma Doggett, the Broadway dancer who portrayed Martha, one of the lovely ladies in the classic 1954 Stanley Donen musical Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, has died. She was 94.

Doggett, a longtime resident of Forest Hills in New York, died May 4.

On Broadway, Doggett appeared in six musicals from 1948-59, working for Irving Berlin, Jerome Robbins, Moss Hart and Joshua Logan and serving as an understudy to the likes of Ethel Merman, Florence Henderson and Allyn McLerie.

Doggett had auditioned for Seven Brides choreographer Michael Kidd in 1953 for a job as Gwen Verdon's understudy in the Broadway musical Can-Can, and he remembered her during casting for the MGM musical. 

She sprained her ankle during rehearsals and her position in several numbers were taken by one of the other brides. However, during filming, her replacement "sprained her ankle in the exact same spot," she recalled. "I had kept up my practice on the side. They put me in at the last minute and filmed all of my original dances."

Her Martha weds Daniel (Marc Platt), one of the rugged Pontipee brothers living in the Oregon mountains in the 1850s.

The others brides in the beloved musical were played by Jane Powell (Milly), Julie Newmar (Dorcas), Ruta Lee (Ruth), Nancy Kilgas (Alice), Virginia Gibson (Liza) and Betty Carr (Sarah). The film was nominated for the best picture Oscar but lost out to On the Waterfront.

Born in Chicago on Aug. 3, 1925, Doggett took dance lessons at Goldblatt's department store in her hometown and attended Senn High School with Harvey Korman. 

She caught the eye of choreographer Jack Cole while she was working as a line dancer at the Chez Paree supper club, and he invited her to audition for his upcoming Magdalena, which was to premiere at the Civic Light Opera in Los Angeles. She took a chance to come to L.A. and was hired.

Doggett accompanied the high-priced musical to San Francisco and then to Broadway, where it bowed in 1948. In the folk operetta, she worked alongside leading man John Raitt and was coached by Verdon, then serving as Cole's assistant.

In 1949, Doggett danced in All for Love and in Berlin's Miss Liberty, directed by Hart. Later, she worked in Berlin's Call Me Madam, starring Merman; Logan's Wish You Were Here, starring Shelia Bond, Jack Cassidy and Henderson; Fanny, in which she understudied Henderson; and Robbins' Bells Are Ringing.

After show business, Doggett worked as a secretary for Mobil Oil. She was married to Jack Bezwick from 1970 until his 1985 death.

DOGGETT, Norma

Born: 8/3/1925, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.

Died: 5/4/2020, Forest Hills, New York, U.S.A.

Norma Doggett’s western – actress:

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers – 1954 (Martha)

RIP Martin Spellman

In Memory of
Martin SPELLMAN IV
October 8, 1925 - May 6, 2020

Dignity Memorial

Martin SPELLMAN passed away on May 6, 2020. Funeral Home Services for Martin are being provided by Davies Cremation & Burial Services | Cremation Vancouver WA of Vancouver, WA.

SPELLMAN, Martin (Martin Spellman IV)

Born: 10/8/1925, Des Moines, Iowa, U.S.A.

Died: 5/6/2020, Vancouver, Washington, U.S.A.

Martin Spellman’s western – actor:

Santa Fe Stampede – 1938 (Billy Carson)

RIP Arthur Digham

Arthur Dignam dies aged 80: Veteran actor known for his roles in Moulin Rouge! and Australia suffers a heart attack while 'waving to a friend on his morning walk'

The Daily Mail

By Joshua Fox

May 11, 2020

Veteran Australian actor Arthur Dignam has died at the age of 80.

The Devil's Playground star suffered a fatal heart attack while waving to a friend on his morning walk on Saturday.

'He passed away surrounded by friends from his neighborhood,' said his son, Nicholas Gledhill.  

'We will have a fabulous wake for Arthur befitting his fabulous life when [Coronavirus] restrictions are lifted,' Nicholas added.

'In the meantime, I would be grateful if you would please pass on the news of his passing to anyone who should know and with whom I may not be in contact.'

Family and friends have since paid tribute to Arthur on social media.

'He was one of this country's greatest actors. He wasn't perfect, he led a full life and died as he lived, among friends. I will miss him,' wrote friend Anthony Hunt.

'This morning my father died': The Devil's Playground star suffered a fatal heart attack while waving to a friend on his morning walk on Saturday, according to his son, Nicholas Gledhill

Arthur's stage and screen performances date back to 1962. 

His most memorable roles include The Devil's Playground, We of the Never Never, The Dismissal, Moulin Rouge! and Australia.

Although he worked mostly in film and television, he is also remembered for his theatre and musical appearances.

Arthur was born on Lord Howe Island in September 1939. 

He attended Newington College in Sydney as a boarder from 1955 to 1956, before studying at the University of Sydney. 

After finishing his studies, he landed his first role in Lend Me Your Stable in 1962.   

DIGNAM, Arthur

Born: 9/9/1939, Lord Howe Island, New South Wales, Australia

Died: 5/9/2020, Australia

Arthur Dignam’s westerns – actor:

Five Mile Creek (TV) – 1984 (Arthur Archer)

Australia – 2008 (Father Benedict)

RIP Leslie Pope

Leslie A. Pope, Oscar-Nominated Set Decorator on 'Seabiscuit,' Dies at 65

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

5/9/2020

She also worked on superhero films featuring 'Spider-Man,' 'Captain America,' 'Ant-Man' and 'Avengers: Endgame.'

Leslie A. Pope, an in-demand set decorator who received an Oscar nomination for her work on Seabiscuit, has died. She was 65.

Pope, who was recovering from heart surgery in February, died Wednesday at her home in Venice, her friend Trish Gallaher Glenn announced.

Pope won Excellence in Production Design Awards from the Art Directors Guild for Catch Me If You Can (2002) and Avengers: Endgame (2019) and was nominated for Django Unchained (2012) and Captain America: The Winter Solider (2014) as well. 

She shared her Oscar nom for best art direction-set decoration on Seabiscuit (2003) with Jeannine Oppewall and worked on more than 50 projects during her career.

Born on June 2, 1954, in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Leslie Ann Pope attended Antioch College and earned her bachelor's degree in biology. She moved to New York City in 1979 to begin a career in the film business.

Her credits also included After Hours (1985), Angel Heart (1987), Matewan (1987), Ironweed (1987), The Prince of Tides (1991), Carlito's Way (1993), Donnie Brasco (1997), Spanglish (2004), Spider-Man 3 (2007), Get Him to the Greek (2010), The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) and Ant-Man (2015).

She was a member of the IATSE United Scenic Artists, Locals N.Y. #829 & #52, and L.A. #44 and NABET local #15.

Survivors include her husband, Doug, and siblings Janet and William. A private service has been held. 

Donations in her name can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Sister Study.  

POPE, Leslie A. (Leslie Ann Pope)

Born: 6/2/1954, Bowling Green, Kentucky, U.S.A.

Died: 5/6/2020, Venice, California, U.S.A.

Leslie Pope’s westerns – set decorator:

The Cowboy Way – 1994

Django Unchained - 2012

RIP Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar

Gunther Emmerlich: death drama! Singer mourns the loss of his beloved wife

News.de

3/27/2020

Singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich has to cope with the loss of his wife Anne-Kathrein Emmerlich. The actress with whom Emmerlich had a son died at the age of 71.

A sober obituary in the "Sächsische Zeitung" made the sad news public: singer and entertainer Gunther Emmerlich mourns his wife Anne-Kathrein. According to the ad, the actress died on March 20 at the age of 71.

Gunther Emmerlich mourns the late wife Anne-Kathrein

"We mourn the pain of Anne-Kathrein Emmerlich with great pain," said the family's briefly formulated notice of grief. What Anne-Kathrein Emmerlich died of at 71 was not made public.

Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar is dead: Gunther Emmerlich's wife died at 71.

In addition to Gunther Emmerlich, the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren of the popular entertainer mourn their mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Gunther Emmerlich and Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar, the maiden name of the deceased, had a son. Gunther Emmerlich brought a son from earlier relationships, and Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar a daughter. The family of Anne-Kathrein and Gunther Emmerlich also includes ten granddaughters and a great-grandchild whose names were mentioned in the obituary notice.

Gunther Emmerlich separated from wife Anne-Kathrein since 2014.

Gunther Emmerlich and his wife Anne-Kathrein had been married for 35 years before the couple decided to go their separate ways in 2014. In the "Super Illu" Gunther Emmerlich spoke about his single life at the age of 75 last year. After his wife moved out of their shared house in Dresden, Emmerlich admitted that his wife was "sometimes by my side, even as a person who understood me". Gunther Emmerlich maintained contact with Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar despite the spatial separation, the couple never divorced.

Anne-Kathrein Emmerlich was successful as an actress.

Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar, like her husband Gunther Emmerlich, worked in the entertainment industry and enjoyed success as an actress. She was seen in films such as "Don't think I'm crying" or on the theater stage.

 

KRETZSCHMAR, Anne-Kathrein

Born: 3/28/1948, Germany

Died: 3/20/2020, Dresden, Saxony, Germany

Anne-Kathrein Kretzschmar’s western – actress:

Karl May (TV) – 1992 (Karla May)