RIP Ignacio López Tarso

 

Actor Ignacio López Tarso died Saturday at the age of 98.

The San Diego Union Tribune

By Angela Janayna Mendoza Parada

March 11, 2023

 

"We regret to confirm the passing of the incredible actor Ignacio López Tarso. Q.E.P.D.", journalist Mara Patricia Castañeda reported through social networks.

Last Thursday, López Tarso was reported with pneumonia and intestinal obstruction, which kept him hospitalized for a week in Mexico City.

Born on January 15, 1925, Ignacio López López, (his real name), is considered one of the country's greatest actors during the 20th century.

His artistic career began in the theater with the help of the Mexican writer Xavier Villaurrutia, who was considered his greatest mentor.

In the cinema, he debuted in the film La Desconocido, directed by Chano Urueta, where he gave life to a police inspector. However, his biggest performance was in Macario, a film that managed to be Mexico's first nomination at the Oscars for Best Foreign Language Film.

El Derecho de Nacer, Senda de Gloria and El Encanto del Águila were some of his most representative projects on the small screen.

López Tarso also ventured into politics by being Federal Deputy of the LIV H. Legislature for the 8th Electoral District of Mexico City in 1991.

TARSO, Ignacio López (Ignacio López López)

Born: 1/15/1925, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

Died: 3/11/2023, Mexico City, Federal District, Mexico

 

Ignacio López Tarso’s westerns – actor:

The Guns of Juana Gallo – 1961 (Pioquinto)

My Son, the Heroe – 1967 (gunman)

Tona machetes – 1985

Astucia – 1986 (Don Palo)

The Soldiers of Pancho Villa – 2006 (Trinidad)

RIP Robert Blake

 

Robert Blake Dies: Actor In ‘Baretta’ And ‘In Cold Blood’ Was 89, Beat Real-Life Murder Rap

DEADLINE

By Bruce Haring

March 9, 2023

 

Robert Blake, the controversial actor who won a Lead Actor Emmy for Baretta and starred in films including In Cold Blood and Lost Highway before a murder trial ended his career, died today of heart disease in Los Angeles. He was 89. His niece, Noreen Austin, confirmed the news.

Blake’s long career ranged from a childhood stint in “Our Gang” at age 5 through major films and television before he was acquitted of murder in the 2001 death of his wife, Bonny Lee Bakley.

Over the course of 60+ years of working in Hollywood, Blake appeared in such classic films as Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948) alongside Humphrey Bogart; In Cold Blood (1967) with John Forsythe; as well as a range of studio Westerns using the stage name of “Bobby Blake” during the 1940s. His final feature film role was in Lost Highway (1997), directed by David Lynch.

In television, Blake was best known for his role as streetwise New York City undercover detective Tony Baretta in Baretta, which aired for four seasons on ABC from 1975-78. He was an Emmy Award For Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1975 and was nominated again for the role in 1977. He also earned two other Emmy noms during his career, for lead actor in the miniseries Blood Feud (1983) and Judgment Day: The John List Story (1993).

Baretta was created by prolific TV writer-creator Stephen J. Cannell and featured the memorable theme song “Keep Your Eye on the Sparrow,” sung by Sammy Davis Jr. It was a spinoff from another ABC crime drama, Toma, that debuted in 1973. But the show’s star, Tony Mustane, grew weary of the weekly production grind, so ABC brass decided to recast Blake in the role and retitle the series Toma Starring Robert Blake. But a few format tweaks later, Baretta was born.

The series debuted as a replacement show in January 1975 and finished its first season in the Top 25 among primetime shows. It leapt into the Top 10 for Season 2 — fueled by the lead character’s catchphrases including “And that’s the name of that tune” and “You can take that to the bank” — but would be canceled in 1978 after 80-plus episodes.

Several years later, Blake was cast as the lead of NBC drama Hell Town. He played Father Noah Rivers, aka Hardstep, who pretty much was Baretta in priestly garb, trying to bring hope to the East L.A. parish of St. Dominic’s. The series lasted only a handful of episodes in 1985.

On television, fans also watched Blake on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, where he was a recurring guest who appeared in funny skits with longtime friend Johnny Carson and other featured celebrities.

He is also remembered as a pitchman in commercials for STP, Geico and others.

But there was also a darker side to the Blake story.

Bakley, Blake’s second wife, was found shot to death outside of Vitello’s restaurant in the San Fernando Valley in 2001, after the couple had dined there. Blake told police that he had gone back into the restaurant to retrieve a handgun he’d left on the floor of their booth.

Blake was charged with Bakley’s murder in 2002, along with solicitation of murder, conspiracy and special circumstances of lying in wait. But a jury found him not guilty of the crimes in 2005 after a widely watched three-month trial saw Blake weep into the shoulder of his lawyer after the jury acquitted him. The seven men and five women found him not guilty of soliciting a former stunt double whom he met on the Baretta set to kill his wife.

And though Bakley’s children won a wrongful-death suit against Blake shortly thereafter, her killing officially remains unsolved.

During the course of the trial, their unhappy marriage details became sensational news fodder.

It was revealed that Bakley had at least a dozen aliases and 10 former husbands. The defense contended she had trapped Blake into an unloving marriage by becoming pregnant with his child — after first saying the father was Christian Brando, son of Oscar winner Marlon Brando. Thus, the motive for Blake, who referred to his wife as a “pig,” was established. But the jury didn’t believe the stuntman’s testimony, thanks to his history of drug abuse.

The judge ordered that Blake be given back his passport and $1.5 million bail.

In his later years, Blake wrote his memoir, The Life of a Rascal, and lived quietly in the Los Angeles area.

A private memorial service will be held to honor his life. In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations be made to City of Hope.

BLAKE, Robert (Michael James Gubitosi)

Born: 9/18/1933, Nutley, New Jersey, U.S.A.

Died: 3/9/2023, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Robert Blake’s westerns – actor:

Cheyenne Wildcat – 1944 (Little Beaver)

Marshal of Reno – 1944 (Little Beaver)

The San Antonio Kid – 1944 (Little Beaver)

Sheriff of Las Vegas – 1944 (Little Beaver)

Tucson Raiders – 1944 (Little Beaver)

Vigilantes of Dodge City – 1944 (Little Beaver)

Colorado Pioneers – 1945 (Little Beaver)

Dakota – 1945 (little boy)

Great Stagecoach Robbery – 1945 (Little Beaver)

Lone Texas Ranger – 1945 (Little Beaver)

Marshal of Laredo – 1945 (Little Beaver)

Phantom of the Plains – 1945 (Little Beaver)

Wagon Wheels Westward – 1945 (Little Beaver)

California Gold Rush – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Conquerors of Cheyenne – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Home on the Range – 1946 (Cub Garth)

In Old Sacramento – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Out California Way – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Santa Fe Uprising – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Sheriff of Redwood Valley – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Stagecoach to Denver – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Sun Valley Cyclone – 1946 (Little Beaver)

Homesteaders of Paradise Valley – 1947 (Little Beaver)

The Last Round-Up – 1947 (Mike Henry)

Marshal of Cripple Creek – 1947 (Little Beaver)

Oregon Trail Scouts – 1947 (Little Beaver)

Rustlers of Devil’s Canyon – 1947 (Little Beaver)

Vigilantes of Boomtown – 1947 (Little Beaver)

The Treasure of the Sierra Madre – 1948 (Mexican boy selling lottery tickets)

Apache War Smoke – 1952 (Luis)

Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (TV) – 1952 (Rain Cloud)

The Cisco Kid (TV) – 1953 (Alfredo)

Three Violent People – 1956 (Rafael Ortega)

Broken Arrow (TV) – 1956, 1958 (Machogee, Viklai, young Apache warrior)

The Roy Rogers Show (TV) – 1956 (Charlie)

26 Men (TV) – 1957 (Tobe Hackett)

The Californians (TV) – 1958 (Cass)

The Restless Gun (TV) – 1958 (Lupe Sandoval)

Black Saddle (TV) – 1959 (Wayne Robinson)

Zane Grey Theatre (TV) – 1959 (CSA Cpl. Michael Bers)

Have Gun-Will Travel (TV) – 1960 (Jessie May Turnbow Lauro, Mexican ManSmollet, Bully)

The Rebel (TV) - 1960 (Virgil Moss)

Bat Masterson (TV) – 1961 (Bill-Bill MacWilliams)

Laramie (TV) – 1961 (Lame Wolf)

Wagon Train (TV) – 1961 (Johnny Kamen)

Rawhide (TV) – 1965 (Hap Johnson, Max Gufler)

Death Valley Days (TV) – 1966 (William Bonney, Billy the Kid)

Tell Them Willie Boy is Here – 1969 (Willie)

RIP Peter Heady

 

Poughkeepsie Journal

March 6, 2023

 

Peter Heady, 68, passed away Saturday, March 4th, surrounded by his family at home. Born at St. Francis Hospital to William Heady and Margaret Walsh, Peter grew up as the middle of seven children. Peter was a lifelong resident of the Hyde Park and Rhinebeck area. He graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1972. Following high school, he served in the US Air Force before returning to the area to attend Dutchess Community College where he studied science and photography. His love of the arts grew, and inspired him to transfer to RIT, where he earned a degree in Film and Photography, and later served as part of RIT’s Board of Advisors. Following college, he began his career in film. Starting with commercial work and feature film projects, he moved more into documentaries and independent films as his career progressed. Over the years, he worked for several New York City post-production houses, the most recent being Gold Crest Post in Manhattan. Peter was a talented musician. Despite his ability to play a wide variety of instruments, he narrowed his focus in later years to violin and then mandolin. Pete arranged for music lessons for himself and his children; and took the family to many music festivals over the years, including Grey Fox Bluegrass Festival. Peter was also active with his children with 4-H. The family raised chickens, dairy goats, and market hogs. Peter is survived by his wife Beth Valley Heady whom he married in 1989; his children, Brendan (and his wife, Amber), Riley, Seamus (and his wife, Sonya), and Casey; four grandchildren, Mackenzie, Aria, Carter and Mavis; siblings, Brian (and his wife, Coral) Heady, Peggy Bahret, Kathy (and her husband, Niel) Frederick, Eugene (and his wife, Lisa) Heady and Patricia French; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Calling Hours are Friday, March 10th, 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, at the Dapson-Chestney Funeral Home, 51 West Market St., Rhinebeck. Military Honors, Vigil services and remembrances will begin at 6:30 PM. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Saturday, March 11th, 10:00 AM, at Regina Coeli Roman Catholic Church, Hyde Park. Interment will follow at St. Peter’s Cemetery. The family invites all attendees for continued fellowship at a memorial celebration following the services on Saturday. Time and location to be announced. Memorial donations may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, Hudson Valley Chapter, NY 2649 South Road, Suite 101, Poughkeepsie, NY 12601. To share a remembrance or condolence with the family please visit dapsonchestney.com.

HEADY, Peter

Born: 5/28/1954, Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 3/4/2023, Rhinebeck, New York, U.S.A.

 

Peter Heady’s western – on-line artist:

Dead Man’s Burden - 2012

RIP Heinz Baumann

 

NDR

37/2023

The actor Heinz Baumann is dead. As the artist agency Hahlweg announced on behalf of the family, the native of Oldenburg died last Saturday at the age of 95.

Baumann was best known as an actor in crime roles. In "Adelheid und ihre Mörder" he played alongside Evelyn Hamann the somewhat goofy Chief Inspector Ewald Strobel, who could only solve his cases with the help of his resourceful secretary Adelheid. In the ZDF series "Soko 5113" he played the detective chief inspector Jürgen Sudmann.

Actor instead of pilot

Baumann was born in 1928 in a small village near Oldenburg. His father was a ship's carpenter, his mother earned her money as a housekeeper. He himself dreamed of flying - he wanted to become a test pilot. But after the Second World War, these hopes were dashed. At the age of 20 he had his first engagement as an actor. He moved to Quedlinburg and first played theater in the newly founded GDR before he moved to West Germany after three years. In the first phase of his career he mainly played theater. In 1960 he celebrated his television premiere in the feature film "Das Spukschloss im Spessart".

With the comedian Beatrice Richter Baumann had a daughter in 1978, Judith Richter, who also became an actress and is known for numerous TV productions.

Foolish Inspector Strobel in "Adelheid und ihre Mörder":

At the side of Evelyn Hamann, Heinz Baumann lived out his comedic talent from 1992 in "Adelheid und ihre Mörder". For his role as Chief Inspector Strobel, he was awarded the Bavarian Television Prize in 2002.

The series came to an abrupt end with the death of Evelyn Hamann in 2007. As a result, Baumann's appearances on television became increasingly rare. His last appearance in front of the camera was in 2013 in the TV movie "Just Married".

BAUMANN, Heinz

Born: 2/12/1928, Oldenberg, Lower Saxony, Germany

Died:  3/4/2023, Munich, Bavaria, Germany

 

Heinz Baumann’s western – actor:

Stadt ohne Sheriff (TV) – 1972-1973 (Antonio Colani)

RIP Sara Lane

 

Sara Lane, Actress on ‘The Virginian,’ Dies at 73

After playing a prankster in the Joan Crawford-starring 'I Saw What You Did,' she spent four seasons as Elizabeth Grainger on the NBC series.

The Hollywood Reporter

By Mike Barnes

March 6, 2023

 

Sara Lane, who portrayed the orphaned frontier girl Elizabeth Grainger for four seasons of the NBC drama The Virginian, has died. She was 73.

Lane died Friday at her home in Napa, California, after a six-year battle with breast cancer, her husband, Jon Scott, told The Hollywood Reporter.

Lane joined the 1890s Western for the start of its retooled fifth season in September 1966 alongside two other new castmembers: Charles Bickford, who played her grandfather, John Grainger, the new owner of the Shiloh Ranch, and Don Quine, who portrayed her older brother, Stacey Grainger.

She appeared on 105 episodes of the Wyoming Territory-set series through March 1970, with James Drury‘s title character and Doug McClure’s Trampas looking after Elizabeth. The Virginian aired one final season without her.

The oldest of three kids, Susan Russell Lane was born in New York on March 12, 1949. Her parents, Rusty Lane (The Harder They Fall) and Sara Anderson, were actors. She and her family moved west when she was 12, and she attended Santa Monica High School.

After she appeared in commercials, producer-director William Castle saw her photo in the newspaper — she was a participant in a Miss Los Angeles contest — and eventually gave her a role as one of the prank-calling teens in the thriller I Saw What You Did (1965), starring Joan Crawford and John Ireland.

She was great at riding horses, which helped her land the gig on The Virginian.

Later, she was billed as Russell Lane in Schoolgirls in Chains (1973), The Trial of Billy Jack (1974) and Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977). She then retired from acting.

She and Scott were among the co-founders of the Havens Winery in Napa in 1984, and they helped run the place for more than two decades.

In addition to her husband of 43 years, survivors include their children, Sara and James; their granddaughter, Olivia; and her sister, Margretha.

LANE, Sara (Sara Russell Lane)

Born: 3/12/1949, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Died: 3/3/2023, Napa, California, U.S.A.

 

Sara Lane’s western – actress:

The Virginian (TV) – 1966-1970 (Elizabeth Grainger)

RIP Steve Barkett

 

Today’s Obits

March 4, 2023

 

Steve Barkett Obituary, Death – RIP Steve Barkett. I have searched far and low, but I have not been able to find any information that is connected to this topic anyplace… at least not yet. Nevertheless, Jim Wynorski informed me the other night that our common buddy Steve Barkett had recently passed away. This news came to me the previous night. While we were talking on the phone, he gave me this information. He has been suffering from the aftereffects of pneumonia for some time now.

A few months before we moved to Florida, we spent the majority of our time hanging out at my house in Granada Hills. After we relocated, we spent the most of our time socializing in Florida. My heartfelt condolences go out to Chris Barkett and Denise Gibson, as well as the rest of his family. I am truly sorry for your loss. In this trying time, I pray that everyone of you finds the solace and strength that you need. A significant number of people in this region knew Steve and had heard of him.

Due to the fact that his flat was rendered uninhabitable as a result of the earthquake that devastated the region in the early 1990s, he was compelled to stay with us for a while while he looked for a new place to call home. We were involved in a substantial amount of illegal activity, and had we been found out about it, it would have resulted in our incarceration in at least some of the situations in which it was possible for it to take place. We worked together on a variety of films, the most notable of which are BEVERLY HILLS VAMP, DINOSAUR ISLAND, and RAPID ASSAULT, amongst others. We collaborated on the creation of these films. Due to the fact that you were actually remarkable, Steve, I will miss you in a huge manner after your passing.

BARKETT, Steve (Stephen F. Barkett)

Born: 1/1/1950, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.A.

Died: 3/3/2023, California, U.S.A.

 

Steve Barkett’s western – actor:

Hard Bounty – 1995 (Paco)

RIP Tom Sizemore

 

Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ Actor, Dies at 61

 

Variety

By Ellise Shafer

March 3, 2023

Tom Sizemore has died after being taken off life support, his manager Charles Lago confirmed to Variety on Friday. The 61-year-old actor suffered a brain aneurysm on Feb. 18.

“It is with great sadness and sorrow I have to announce that actor Thomas Edward Sizemore (‘Tom Sizemore’) aged 61 passed away peacefully in his sleep today at St Joseph’s Hospital Burbank,” Lago said in a statement. “His brother Paul and twin boys Jayden and Jagger (17) were at his side.”

Lago had previously said on Feb. 27 that “doctors informed his family that there is no further hope and have recommended end of life decision.”

On Feb. 18, Sizemore collapsed in his Los Angeles home and was transported to the hospital by paramedics. There, doctors determined that he had suffered a brain aneurysm as the result of a stroke. Sizemore had remained in critical condition since then and had been in a coma under intensive care.

Known for playing the tough guy, Sizemore rose to fame in the 1990s with films like “Harley Davidson and the Marlboro Man,” “Passenger 57,” “True Romance” and “Natural Born Killers.” He got his big break in Steven Spielberg’s 1998 war film “Saving Private Ryan,” in which he played Technical Sergeant Mike Horvath. “Saving Private Ryan” went on to score a best picture nomination at the Academy Awards. Over the course of his career, Sizemore has worked with directors including Michael Mann, Martin Scorsese, Peter Hyams, Carl Franklin, Oliver Stone, Ridley Scott and Michael Bay.

Sizemore was also a convicted abuser. In 2003, he was convicted of domestic violence against his girlfriend at the time, and in 2017, Sizemore pled no contest to two charges of domestic violence after being arrested a few months earlier on suspicion of assaulting his partner.

In 2005, Sizemore was sentenced to several months in jail after being caught attempting to fake a urine test. In 2007, he was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, and in 2019, he was arrested for possession of “various illegal narcotics.” Sizemore has been public about his struggles with substance abuse, appearing on “Celebrity Rehab With Dr. Drew” and “Dr. Phil” to discuss his legal troubles.

SIZEMORE, Tom (Thomas Edward Sizemore Jr.)

Born: 11/29/1961, Detroit, Michigan, U.S.A.

Died: 3/3/2023, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A.

 

Ted Sizemore’s westerns – actor:

Wyatt Earp – 1994 (Bat Masterson)

Big Money Rustlas – 2010 (Tom)

Traded – 2016 (Lavole)

Hell Hole – 2020 (Roscoe)

Night of the Tommyknockers – 2022 (Marshal Steed)

Horace Bell – 2023