RIP Edward Irastorza

 

Edward Irastorza Dies: Award-Winning ‘Pan’s Labyrinth’ Visual Effects Producer Was 52

DEADLINE

By Dino-Ray Ramos

December 30, 2020

Visual effects producer and supervisor Edward Irastorza, who was known for his work on Guillermo del Toro’s Oscar-winning film Pan’s Labyrinth, died on December 21. He was 52.

The news of his death was announced on his Facebook account: “It is with great sadness that I need to let you know that my brother Edward has passed away. Even though he had been very sick for just over a year we were not expecting him to go when he did. He was looking forward to Christmas as Erik was going to be with us. Unfotunately he didn’t make it.”

Irastorza was born on December 10, 1968 in Santa Clara, Calif. He began his career with the VFX genius Phil Tippett and went on to work with some of the top visual effects supervisors and producers in film and in TV starting with Sam Raimi for the Hercules and Xena TV series.

He went on to work for Guillermo Del Toro on Hellboy, Blade 2 and the aforementioned Pan’s Labyrinth for which he was nominated for a BAFTA and won a Goya Award. In 2005, Irastorza worked with Robert Rodriguez on his adaptation of the graphic novel Sin City. 

“Ed Irastroza was a great collaborator and artist and he came to digital effects through a traditional, analog background,” Del Toro told Deadline. “He knew all the traditional optical process steps and raised through the ranks with Phil Tippet so, he was well versed in stop motion animation. He was flexible, affable and full of creativity. One of the best VFX supervisors I ever met.”

On the TV side, Sean Hayes and Norberto Barba recruited Irastorza to work on NBC’s Grimm. A big credit for visual effect guru was Amazon’s Electric Dreams, an anthology based on short stories by Philip K. Dick. Producers Isa Dick, Travis Beacham and Peter Horton were impressed with his work. He reteamed with Barba and did work on Mayans MC and went on to work his magic on the first season of Apple’s The Morning Show.

He reconnected with Tippett while Supervising and Producing Visual Effects for the Alec Baldwin Produced Crown Vic which opened the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

As a result of his stellar reputation, many reached out to him to work on big shows including Joe Bauer (Game of Thrones), Jay Worth (Westworld) as well as Blair Clark (Ted and the Paramount’s forthcoming Clifford the Big Red Dog). He reconnected with Tippett while Supervising and Producing Visual Effects for the Alec Baldwin Produced Crown Vic which opened the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.

Irastorza’s sister took to Facebook and wrote: “We would like to ask for a favor. As you, his friends, reflect on your memories of my brother could you write down some of your stories with him and send them to me? We would love to hear them and put together a keepsake for his son. It’s okay if they are not G rated. Thank you all for being his friend he really wanted to get back to work and be with all of you again. Now he is with the friends that went before him and my dad.” From there, the tributes started pouring in.

James Moran, who worked as first assistant director on Mayans MC remeberd Irastorza: “I only got to work with Ed a little bit on Mayans MC but he made a lasting impression. Loved his enthusiasm and attitude he came to set with every time.”

“I worked with Ed on Cats & Dogs, Blade II and Hellboy at Tippett Studio,” wrote VFX artist Jeff Johnson. “He was a big reason those projects ran so smoothly, but also that those projects were such a blast to work on.”

Director Tawnia McKiernan chimed in: “My favorite days were the ones where I had something that in solved visual effects on Grimm. Whether it was meeting discussing the effects or seeing Edward Irastorza on the set with those silver balls. Everyone yelling “BALLS”. He would laugh and do his job.”

She added, “Ed brought light to everything he touched. The creations on the screen showcased his talent. He was taken too soon and will be missed. But I know his light will make heaven even brighter. My deepest condolences and prayers for the family.”

“I moved to LA with Ed in 1993. We worked on a crap movie that didn’t pay us in San Diego, so we rented a house in Silver lake,” said friend and colleague Eric Faith. “He got a job on a Peter Falk Columbo movie at Universal. After that he worked hard and moved up quick. He got me a job at Kevin Kutchaver’s VFX company and we got to work together again. Ed helped me with my films and was always there to be a friend.”

Another colleague, Mike McEveety wrote,” So sorry to hear about Ed’s passing. I [knew] Ed from Grimm, but it turned out that we may have met 20 years earlier on a shoot for Columbo that my father was directing. So, we spent most of our time reminiscing about Columbo. I had an opportunity to bring my son, who was 12 at the time, to spend a week with me in Portland. I remember bringing him by Ed’s office where he was working on some creature morphs. I remember Ed taking time out to show my son the process of the morph. I know how Ed wished his son could be there too. He mentioned to me often how much he missed and loved his son. RIP Ed.”

IRASTORZA, Edward

Born: 12/10/1968, Santa Clara, California, U.S.A.

Died: 12/21/2020, Studio City, California, U.S.A.

Edward Irastorza’s western - visual effects coordinator:

The Jack Bull (TV) - 1999

RIP Claude Bolling

 Death of Claude Bolling, jazzman and composer of film scores

Le Point

12/30/2020

The jazz pianist, conductor and composer Claude Bolling, who wrote numerous scores for films like that of "Borsalino" and arranged "La Madrague", a famous song by Brigitte Bardot, has died at the age of 90, his entourage announced to AFP on Wednesday.

Mr. Bolling, who suffered from various pathologies, died on Tuesday at Saint-Cloud hospital, west of Paris.

Born in Cannes on April 10, 1930, he left Paris for Nice during the Occupation and followed the teaching of Marie-Louise "Bob" Colin, pianist, trumpeter and drummer in one of the many popular female orchestras in between. two wars. She encouraged him to return to Paris where he created his first orchestra at 16 and recorded his first record at 18.

Disciple of Duke Ellington, the famous American jazz composer, he created a jazz "big band" in 1956 which would last until the mid-2010s, an exceptional longevity.

In France, he is considered a benchmark in the world of jazz. Among those who passed in his "big band" were renowned musicians such as his alto saxophonist Claude Tissendier.

In the 1950s, Boris Vian, who nicknamed him "Bollington", opened the doors to variety and musical direction for many stars such as Brigitte Bardot, Juliette Gréco and Henri Salvador.

"Claude Bolling, my + dubol + left taking with him my youth and 60 years of faithful friendship, joie de vivre, funny songs and a carefree bond," responded Brigitte Bardot in a statement sent to AFP.

"It's a day like any other and yet you are leaving. I sing it for you today with tears in my eyes", she added.

He has composed film scores, the most famous of which are "Borsalino" (1970) by Jacques Deray, with Alain Delon and Jean-Paul Belmondo, but also "Le Magnifique", "Lucky Luke", or even "Les Brigades du Tigre".

This jack-of-all-trades has multiplied the experiences by marrying a jazz trio with a classical soloist. He composed and recorded in particular "Suite pour Flûte et Jazz Piano Trio" with the famous French flautist Jean-Pierre Rampal, a work which broke attendance records in the Billboard charts in the United States (530 weeks) and led Claude Bolling even on stage at Carnegie Hall in New York.

BOLLING, Claude (Claude Jean Harry Bolling)  

Born: 4/10/1930, Cannes, Alpes-Maritimes, France

Died: 12/29/2020, St. Cloud, Île-de-France, France

Lucky Luke: Daisy Town – 1971

Lucky Luke: The Ballad of the Daltons – 1976

Escape from Grumble Gulch - 1982

Lucky Luke: The Daltons on the Run – 1982

Louisiana– 1983

Lucky Luke (TV) – 1983-1984, 1991

 

 

RIP Dawn Wells

 

Dawn Wells, ‘Gilligan’s Island’s’ Mary Ann, Dies of COVID at 82

Variety

By Pat Saperstein

December 30, 2020

Dawn Wells, who starred as “good girl” Mary Ann in popular 1960s sitcom “Gilligan’s Island,” died Wednesday of causes related to COVID-19 in Los Angeles. She was 82.

Attired in her ubiquitous gingham dress, which is on display at the Hollywood museum, the Mary Ann character played the demure foil to Tina Louise’s suggestive evening dress-clad Ginger. Both women were subjected

A native of Reno, Wells also appeared in “77 Sunset Strip,” “Maverick,” “Bonanza,” “The Joey Bishop Show” and “Hawaiian Eye.”

Publicist Harlan Boll announced her death.

Wells represented Nevada in the 1959 Miss America pageant and appeared on several TV series before being cast in “Gilligan’s Island” in 1964.

After the series ended in 1967, she returned for several TV movies and spinoff series. She served as producer on TV movies “Surviving Gilligan’s Island” and “Return to the Bat Cave” with Adam West.

She went on to appear in series including “Growing Pains,” “The Bold and the Beautiful” and “Baywatch.”

She voiced Gumbalina Toothington in “The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants” series.

In movies, Wells appeared in “Winterhawk,” “The Town That Dreaded Sundown,” “Super Sucker,” “The New Interns,” “It’s Our Time” and “Silent But Deadly.”

Wells had a long career onstage, appearing in the national tours of “Chapter Two” and “They’re Playing Our Song” as well as in “Fatal Attraction” with Ken Howard,” “The Odd Couple” with Marcia Wallace, “Steel Magnolias” and “The Vagina Monologues.”

 

Though she appeared in numerous TV shows, movies and plays, her role as Mary Ann was her most enduring, leading to gigs such as “castaway correspondent” for Australia’s Channel 9 and spokeswomand for the MeTV network. She wrote the book “A Guide to Life: What Would Mary Ann Do?” in honor of the 50th anniversary of “Gilligan’s Island.”

Wells is survived by her stepsister, Weslee Wells. Donations may be made to the Elephant Sanctuary, Terry Lee Wells Nevada Discovery Museum or the Shambala Preserve.

Her charitable efforts included working as chair of the Terry Lee Wells Foundation, focusing on women and children in Northern Nevada, and she received the Elephant Sanctuary Trumpeting Award for her work with the Elephant Sanctuary. She also ran the Film Actors Boot Camp for seven years in Idaho.

WELLS, Dawn (Dawn Elberta Wells)

Born: 10/18/1938, Reno, Nevada, U.S.A.

Died: 12/30/2020, Los Angeles, California

Dawn Wells’ westerns – actress:

Cheyenne (TV) – 1961 (Sarah Claypool)

Maverick (TV) – 1961 (Caprice Rambeau)

Tales of Wells Fargo (TV) – 1961 (Molly)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1961 (Mrs. Murray)

Bonanza (TV) – 1962, 1968 (Marty Johnson, Moon Holt)

Lawman (TV) – 1962 (Elly Stratton)

Laramie (TV) – 1963 (TV) (Millie)

The Wild Wild West (TV) – 1968 (Betsy Jeffers)

Winterhawk – 1975 (Clayanna) [narrator]

RIP Anton Florin

Actor Florin Anton has died. The Magician: When the actors leave the stage, they don’t know how to hold their hands, where to step so as not to confuse the world

News Breezer

December 30, 2020

Marian Râlea, the “magician” from Abracadabra, sent a few lines after the death of the actor Florin Anton.

“When the actors leave the stage, they don’t know how to hold their hands, where to step so as not to confuse the world. They become vulnerable and don’t know how to fight the human viruses that can kill them! Goodbye, my dear colleague and friend Florin Anton! Always stay in my soul, “wrote Marian Râlea on Facebook.

Actor Florin Anton has been part of the Comedy Theater team since 1982 when he starred Hieron II in Archimedes’ Secret Weapon by Dumitru Solomon, directed by Alexandru Colpacci (1982). Florin Anton, a graduate of the drama department in the class of Sanda Manu, Beate Fredanov and Ion Caramitru, played memorable roles on the stage of the Comedy Theater, such as Demetrius from A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Alexandru Darie (1990), Kreplin from Fuga Cătălina Buzoianu ( 1995), Alcandre from Iluzica Comică, directed by Alexandru Darie (1999), but also in cinematography: Pădureanca, directed by Nicolae Mărgineanu (1986), Miracolul, directed by Tudor Mărăscu (1987), Profetul, aurul şi, Sand Cliffs, directed by Dan Piţa.

FLORIN, Anton

Born: 9/2/1956, Bucharest, Romania

Died: 12/28/2020, Bucharest, Romania

Anton Florin’s western – actor:

The Oil, the Baby and the Transylvanians - 1981

RIP Josefina Echánove

 

The actress Josefina Echánove died at the age of 92

The Mexican artist participated in more than 30 feature films, was directed by Emilio Fernández and Gregory Peck, and participated in a score of soap operas.

Proceso

By Columba Vertiz De La Fuente

December 29, 2020

MEXICO CITY (apro).- Mexican actress Josefina Echánove, who appeared in the movies alongside Jane Fonda, Gregory Peck and Anthony Quinn, died this Tuesday at the age of 92.

In a statement, the actress's children - the singer María del Sol, the journalist Peggy Echánove and the actor Alonso Echánove - pointed out: “We deeply regret the departure of the leading actress and journalist Josefina Echánove, a worthy representative of Mexican women on and off the Mexican stages. To all our friends in the media, we appreciate your expressions of affection, respect, and space for family and close friends in these difficult times.

“We will take time to recover from this great loss, hoping soon to resume our public activities. Always thanking God for his prayers and for the life of the leading actress Josefina Echánove”.

Josefina Echánove was born on July 21, 1928 in New York, grew up in the city of Guanajuato and married the lawyer Alonso Echánove.

She created the Contemporary Dance group at the University of Guanajuato and began as an actress in Cervantes hors d'oeuvres.

Julieta Echánove worked in more than 30 national and international feature films, such as 'Los Hijos de Sánchez', by Hall Bartlett; 'Santitos', by Alejandro Springall; 'Perdita Durango', by Álex de la Iglesia; 'Cabeza de Vaca', by Nicolás Echevarría; 'Gringo viejo', by Luis Puenzo, and 'These ruins that you see', by Julián Pastor. It was directed by Emilio “El Indio” Fernández and Gregory Peck.

The actress also appeared in around twenty soap operas, including 'La gloria y el infierno', 'La Fuerza del Amor', 'La dueña' and 'Rubí'.

ECHANOVE, Josefina (Josefina Rojas Huddson)

Born: 9/29/1927, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 12/29/2020, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Josefina Echanove’s westerns – actress:

El caballo del diablo – 1975 (fiesta guest)

Old Gringo – 1989 (Clementina)

Cabeza de Vaca – 1991 (Anciana Avavar)