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- Actor
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Bob Saget was an American actor, stand-up comedian, and television host from Philadelphia. His best known role was playing pater familias Danny Tanner on the hit sitcom "Full House" (1987-1995). He played the character again in the sequel series "Fuller House" (2016-2020). Saget served as the original host of the long-running clip show "America's Funniest Home Videos" from 1989 to 1997. Saget voiced the narrator in the hit sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" (2005-2014), depicted as an older version of main character Ted Mosby.
In 1956, Saget was born to a Jewish family in Philadelphia. His parents were supermarket executive Benjamin Saget and hospital administrator Rosalyn "Dolly" Saget. The Saget family eventually moved to Norfolk, Virginia. Bob received his early religious education at Temple Israel, a synagogue of Norfolk which adhered to Conservative Judaism. He was reportedly a rebellious student.
Saget spend part of his high school years in Los Angeles, where he befriended veteran comedian Larry Fine (1902-1975). He attended a Philadelphia high school during his senior year. He was originally interested in a medical career but his English teacher Elaine Zimmerman convinced Saget to aspire to an acting or filmmaking career instead.
Saget received his college education at the "Center for the Performing and Cinematic Arts", a college associated with the Temple University of Philadelphia. One of his student films won a merit award at the Student Academy Awards. He graduated college with a Bachelor of Arts in 1978. He had already started performing in comedy clubs during his college years.
In 1978, Saget intended to take graduate courses at the University of Southern California. He dropped out due to health-related problems. He almost died due to a gangrenous appendix, costing him a loss of confidence. He decided afterwards to lose some weight, in the belief that it would improve his health.
Following his graduation, Saget spend about a decade working mostly as a comedian. He appeared in minor acting roles in both films and television. In 1987, Saget was performing comedy bits for the short-lived non-fiction show "The Morning Program". The show offered a mix of "news, entertainment and comedy", but was canceled due to low ratings.
Saget's big break came when he was chosen to portray widowed father Danny Tanner in the sitcom "Full House" (1987-1995). The series depicted Danny's efforts to raise three young daughters, with the assistance of his best friends. The show suffered from poor viewership in its first season, but attracted a family audience due to its portrayal of the struggles associated with parenting. By its third season, it was ranked among Nielsen's Top 30 shows. Saget became a household name, and the series lasted for 8 seasons and 192 episodes. The series was eventually canceled due to its increasing production costs. Its rating had remained high until its final episode.
In 1989, Saget was chosen as the host of the clip show "America's Funniest Home Videos". The show featured humorous homemade videos which were submitted by its viewers, often highlighting physical comedy, pranks, or unusual behavior by children and pets. While the show was popular with viewers, Saget himself was increasingly frustrated with its repetitive format. When his contract for the show expired in 1997, Saget was not interested in negotiating for a renewal.
In 1996, Saget directed the dramatic television film "For Hope". The film depicted the struggles of a woman who is slowly dying due to being afflicted with scleroderma, an autoimmune disease with no known cure. Saget was reportedly inspired by the life and death of his sister Gay Saget, who had died due to scleroderma. The film received high ratings in its debut.
In 1998, Saget directed the comedy film "Dirty Work". It depicted two half-brothers who offer to perform revenge schemes for paying clients, but have a personal grudge against a man who reneged on a deal with them. The film under-performed at the box office, but gained a cult following due to its reputation as a "gag-fest".
From 2001 to 2002, Saget had the starring role of Matt Stewart in the sitcom "Raising Dad". The premise of the series was that widowed father Matt Stewart was trying to raise two daughter, while pursuing a teaching career at his eldest's daughter's high school. Despite the series having a similar concept to "Full House", it failed to find an audience. It lasted for a single season.
In 2005, Saget was cast as the narrator in the sitcom "How I Met Your Mother" (2005-2014). The premise of the series was that middle-aged Ted Mosby narrates his life story (and the life stories of his best friends) to his son and daughter. The series repeatedly implied that Ted was an unreliable narrator, who either embellished or censored aspects of his various stories. The series was quite popular, lasting for 9 seasons and 208 episodes.
In 2007, Saget directed the direct-to-video parody film "Farce of the Penguins". The film was a full-length parody of the documentary film "March of the Penguins" (2005), featuring penguins conversing about their love lives. It featured the voices of several then-popular actors, including several of Saget's former co-stars from "Full House".
In 2009, Saget was cast in the main role of Steve Patterson in the sitcom "Surviving Suburbia". The premise of the series was that the members of a suburban family have problems in interacting both with each other, and with their new neighbors. The series only lasted a single season, and struggled with low ratings.
In 2014, Saget published his memoirs under the title "Dirty Daddy". In 2016, a sequel series to "Full House" was introduced under the title "Fuller House". It featured the lives of two of Danny Tanner's daughters, and Danny's grandchildren. Saget played the recurring role of Danny for 15 episodes. The sequel series lasted for 5 seasons. This was Saget's last major role in a sitcom. He continued, however, to regularly host television events.
In January 2022, Saget was in Florida for a stand-up tour. On January 9, Saget was discovered dead in his hotel room at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, located south of Orlando, Florida. He was 65-years-old. His autopsy revealed that the cause of death was blunt head trauma from an accidental blow to the back of his head, likely from a fall. He had died in his sleep. He was buried at the Mount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery, next to the graves of his parents and his sister. Mourners honored Saget by offering donations to the charity "Scleroderma Research Foundation" (SRF), since Saget had long served in its board of directors. Saget is gone, but his popularity endures due to his acting and directing roles in several popular films and television shows.- Actress
- Producer
- Casting Director
American leading lady, briefly prominent on screen during the 80s and 90's. Blond, gray-eyed Darlanne (whose not very Hollywood-sounding birth name literally translates to 'wing' in German) began her career in 1974 as a model with the Eileen Ford and Zoli Agencies in New York. Seven year later, though very much a success in this most competitive industry (earning $300 per hour) she decided, that, at 25, she "was washed up as a model". Determined to make a serious go of becoming an actress, Darlanne's early film roles instead suggested inevitable typecasting as high fashion models, accentuating allure factor rather than acting ability. As it turned out, more promising offers did come her way, beginning with a role as the chief love interest in Roger Corman's cultish space opera Battle Beyond the Stars (1980). She was then briefly featured as Robert De Niro's girlfriend Eve, the first person murdered in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), followed by a grittier role as a junkie/police informant in To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). Between 1986 and 1991, Darlanne derived her primary source of income from the small screen where she found an appreciative audience playing Julie Torello, the wife of Dennis Farina's tough 1960s Chicago cop in Crime Story (1986) and Lacey Marseille in season three of Wiseguy (1987). She took over the female lead in season seven of Hunter (1984), but, given 'creative differences' between her and co-star Fred Dryer , she wanted to quit the show and her character was killed off after twelve episodes. Darlanne's career then gradually lost direction and she retired from acting in the mid-90s. Between 2002 and 2007, she held a position as a college professor teaching drama and production at the University of Central Florida film faculty.- Actress
- Soundtrack
This warm and winning, very non-theatrical brunette was born Phyllis St. Felix Thaxter in Portland, Maine, on November 20, 1919. The daughter of Maine Supreme Court Justice Sidney Thaxter, her acting talent came from her mother's side, who was a one-time Shakespearean actress. Phyllis was educated for a time at St. Genevieve School in Montreal and back at Portland's Deering High School.
She apprenticed in summer stock and had joined the Montreal Reperatory Theatre company by the time she made her Broadway debut at age 17 in "What a Life!" in 1939, the "Henry Aldrich" play. She went on to play a maid and to understudy the leading ingénue in "There Shall Be No Night" (1940), which starred America's premiere theatrical couple, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne, then understudied Dorothy McGuire in the hit dramatic play, "Claudia", later that year. She eventually played the title role both on Broadway and on the road, but lost out on the film role to McGuire.
Hollywood films reached her sights a few years later with the MGM war film, Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944), proving quite convincing as Van Johnson's noble wife. Similar to Margaret Sullavan, June Allyson, Dorothy McGuire and Teresa Wright, Phyllis was depended on as a stabilizing factor in melodramas and war pictures, often the dewy-eyed, altruistic wife, girlfriend or daughter waiting on the home-front.
Other important films included the girl with a split personality in Bewitched (1945), and as a angst-ridden, teary-eyed bride-to-be in Week-End at the Waldorf (1945). She was dutifully wholesome as the daughter who reunites Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in the movie The Sea of Grass (1947) and evoked tears, yet again, as little Margaret O'Brien's mother in Tenth Avenue Angel (1948). So natural and non-glamorous was she that she tended to blend into the woodwork while the flashier actresses often stole the thunder and the notices.
Audiences did not always fully appreciate Phyllis's understated work. She finished out her MGM contract with Act of Violence (1948), ever-faithful to even the bad guy, this time psychotic gangster Robert Ryan. Phyllis moved to Warner Brothers in the 1950s and played more of the same. The ever-patient wife to a slew of top actors including shady boat skipper John Garfield in The Breaking Point (1950), an alcoholic Gig Young in Come Fill the Cup (1951) and law-abiding Gary Cooper in Springfield Rifle (1952), her nascent career at Warners was suddenly curtailed by illness.
While visiting her family in Portland, she contracted a form of infantile paralysis. Fortunately, she recovered quickly but the ailment triggered the termination of her contract. Film roles were few and far between after this. Still displaying her built-in compassion and concern, her best-known part came with the touching but relatively minor role of farm wife "Martha Kent" in the highly popular Superman (1978) film series with the late Christopher Reeve as her adopted superhero son and Glenn Ford as her husband. She was also a steady guest star on TV with numerous dramatic appearances including The Twilight Zone (1959), The F.B.I. (1965), Cannon (1971), Medical Center (1969), Barnaby Jones (1973) and several TV movies.
Married for nearly two decades to James T. Aubrey (1918-1994), who became president of CBS-TV before taking over MGM, they had three children--including Schuyler, who would become the actress Skye Aubrey. Following the couple's divorce in 1962, Phyllis married Gilbert Lea, who owned Tower Publishing Company in Portland. They eventually retired to Cumberland, Maine, where she involved herself in civic/community activities and dedicated herself to hospital volunteer work.
Phyllis died in Florida on August 14, 2012, at age 92.- Yvonne Suhor, visiting assistant professor of theatre, received her MFA from the University of California and has been a professional actress, director and teacher for several years. She was a regular on ABC's The Young Riders (1989), played Cicely in an Emmy award-winning episode of Northern Exposure (1990), played a recurring role in Brooklyn Bridge (1991) and has guest-starred in numerous shows including Murder, She Wrote (1984), Star Trek: Voyager (1995) and Dillinger (1991) (with Mark Harmon). Her stage credits include Steppenwolf's award-winning production of Grapes of Wrath. She also toured Australia with Steppenwolf's internationally acclaimed production of Lydie Breeze and won a JEFF nomination for her performance in Vampires. Suhor teaches voice, movement and acting in the theatre department.
- Bob Ross was born on 29 October 1942 in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA. He was married to Lynda Lucille Freeman, Jane Ross and Vicky Ross. He died on 4 July 1995 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Music Department
- Writer
- Director
Christina Grimmie was an American actress, singer, song writer, and YouTube sensation. Grimmie is known as 'zeldaxlove64' on YouTube. Grimmie gained recognition after posting covers of popular songs on YouTube. She also placed 2nd Runner up on The Voice. On June 10, 2016, Grimmie was shot three times by 27-year-old Kevin James Loibl of St. Petersburg, Florida, while she signed autographs following her performance with Before You Exit at The Plaza Live in Orlando. Loibl then fatally shot himself after being tackled by Grimmie's brother Marcus. Grimmie was taken to the Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition; she died early the following day.- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
"The American Dream" has been one of the most popular and colorful professional wrestlers in history. Rhodes began wrestling in the 1960s and gained a reputation as a fast-talking, hard-rocking wrestler. He teamed early in his career with fellow Texan, the late Dick Murdoch, and, for more than 20 years, they wreaked havoc in on- and off-again tag team appearances. Rhodes, always a tough brawler with a few "scientific" moves, finally won his first NWA World heavyweight championship by beating "Handsome" Harley Race in 1979. Although his first title reign would last less than a week, Rhodes managed to capture the NWA title on two more occasions. Today, Rhodes runs a small promotion called "Turnbuckle Championship Wrestling" and continues to wrestle. His son, Dustin Rhodes, appears as "Golddust" on Spike TV's WWE Raw (1993) series.- Actor
- Director
- Producer
Byron Mabe was born on 10 April 1932 in Walkertown, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor and director. He was married to Jennifer Ann Sharkey, Katherine Landstein and Patricia Joyce Steffey. He died on 13 May 2001 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Captured when he was two years old, Tilikum was a whale who spent over three decades in captivity, trained by SeaWorld to perform tricks and stunts. Controversy began to mount around him after he was involved in the death of a trainer in 2010, with much public outcry as it was revealed that he had been involved in the deaths of two other trainers earlier in his life. This controversy became the subject of the BAFTA nominated documentary _Blackfish (2013)_, directed by Gabriela Cowperthwaite. Less than four years after the movie's release, Tilikum passed away from bacterial pneumonia on January 6, 2017.
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Glenn Tryon was born on 2 August 1898 in Julietta, Idaho, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Lonesome (1928), The Secret Menace (1931) and Hot Heels (1927). He was married to Jane Frazee and Lillian Hall. He died on 18 April 1970 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Philip D. Garcia was an actor, known for Gullah, Gullah Island (1994). He died on 3 January 1997 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actress
- Producer
- Writer
A stage actress who was an alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Helen Gardner made her film debut with Vitagraph Pictures in 1911. In that year she appeared in Vanity Fair (1911), to critical acclaim. The next year she formed her own film production company, Helen Gardner Productions--as far as is known, the first film actress to do so--to make feature films that would be directed by her husband, Charles L. Gaskill. Her best known picture during that period was Cleopatra (1912). After making films on her own for a few years, she returned to Vitagraph in 1915 only to retire shortly thereafter, although she did return in the early '20s for a few small parts.- Brian Bradley was born on 19 October 1954 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), Amazing Stories (1985) and Angel (1999). He died on 31 March 2023 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Doreen Weese was born on 29 December 1927 in Leicester, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Jaws 3-D (1983), Kenan & Kel (1996) and Kenan & Kel: Two Heads Are Better Than None (2000). She died on 18 April 2018 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Muriel Sprissler Dafoe was born on 19 November 1921 in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. She was an actress, known for 4:44 Last Day on Earth (2011). She was married to Dr. William Alfred Dafoe. She died on 14 September 2012 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Composer
- Music Department
- Actor
Composer ("American Salute", "Pavanne"), conductor, pianist and arranger, educated at New York University and a music student of Abby Whiteside and Vincent Jones. At six, he had his first composition published ("Just Six"), and thereafter concertized until age 17. He was a staff arranger for Radio City Music Hall, and later a staff member at NBC. He was a guest conductor for several symphony orchestras. His Broadway stage scores include "Billion Dollar Baby" and "Arms and the Girl". He conducted his own orchestra on many recordings. Joining ASCAP in 1936, he became an ASVCAP director in 1959. His chief musical collaborators included Betty Comden, Adolph Green, and Dorothy Fields. His other popular songs and instrumentals include "Tropical", "Guaracha", "Bad Timing", "Nothin' for Nothin'", and "There Must Be Something Better than Love".- Soundtrack
Rob Grill was born on 30 November 1943 in Los Angeles, California, USA. Rob was married to Nancy Pilski and Ariadna Ruskin. Rob died on 11 July 2011 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actor
- Soundtrack
'Lonesome' Dave Peverett was born on 16 April 1943 in Dulwich, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Nebraska (2013), Wild Hogs (2007) and I Love You Phillip Morris (2009). He died on 7 February 2000 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Ginger Stanley was born on 19 December 1931 in Sandersville, Georgia, USA. She was an actress, known for Creature Feature: 60 Years of the Gill-Man (2014) and Creature Feature: 50 Years of the Gill-Man (2004). She died on 19 January 2023 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Writer
- Actor
- Producer
Gugu Liberato was born on 10 April 1959 in São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. He was a writer and actor, known for August Winds (2014), Miguelito (2000) and Domingo Legal (1993). He was married to Rose Miriam di Matteo. He died on 21 November 2019 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Rock singer Teddy Randazzo appeared in four major rock films: The Girl Can't Help It (1956), Rock Rock Rock! (1956), Mister Rock and Roll (1957) and Hey, Let's Twist! (1961). He wrote the 1959 Steve Lawrence hit "Pretty Blue Eyes" and the 1963 hit "Have You Looked Into Your Heart?" by Jerry Vale. Beginning his career singing with The Three Chuckles, his first hit was "Runaround" on Boulevard Records, followed by "Foolishly" on the X record label. Teddy's later releases on the Vik label (a subsidiary of RCA) were featured in the films "Rock Rock Rock!" and "Mister Rock and Roll". His biggest solo hit was "The Way Of a Clown", recorded for ABC-Paramount in 1960. He continued to record his own material and also became a producer for Colpix Records in the early 1960s. A number of years later Teddy teamed up with his best friend in the music business, producer Don Costa, to write, produce and arrange music for Costa's DCP label. The results of this relationship were classics like "Goin' Out Of My Head", "Take Me Back", "Hurt So Bad" and "I'm On The Outside Looking In", all performed by Little Anthony and the Imperials. More hits followed and Teddy never stopped writing, arranging and singing. Artists who recorded his songs include Frank Sinatra, The Lettermen and Linda Ronstadt, among many others.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Actor
- Production Manager
Gayle spent most of his life in the motion picture industry. While attending the University of Kentucky in Lexington, he became intrigues with the film industry while working part time in a theatre. Just prior to graduating, he packed his bags, boarded a bus and headed for the movie capital of the world - Hollywood.
Luckily, his Los Angeles landlady had an understanding brother-in-law Bill Clothier, who helped Gayle to obtain his first job as an extra at RKO studios. His employment was sporadic during those early years, but he accepted any and every job that became available. He became a member of the renowned riding group of Austrian Equestrian Von Opel only because of his persistence in appearing each day for training, and he subsequently became an expert horseman and trick rider performing the difficult Cossack and Roman riding feats. He also became a proficient stunt man, particularly with motorcycles and automobiles.
During his career as extra, double and as stunt man, he worked for all the major studios of that era, with the legendary directors and producers and among such stars as John Wayne, James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Spencer Tracy, John Garfield, Humphrey Bogart, Charles Laughton, Lana ?Turner, Loretta Young, Errol Flynn. Among his close friends were William Holden and Ralph Bellamy.
He appeared in over 300 motion pictures, including Gone with the Wind, Fabian, Sergeant York, Yankee Doodle Dandy, Casablanca.
While on a bond-selling tour with Ralph Bellamy, he visited his parents in Kentucky and elected to live there where he subsequently met and married his wife Irene Parker, and moved to Florida in 1950.
Realizing the ideal film-making possibilities in Florida and his organizational ability led him toward production. He was among the very first to make films in Florida, beginning with the documentary on Seminole Indians. This was followed by four feature films made in Central Florida, the first one on Indian Chief Osceola entitled Naked in the Sun (afterwards it was changed) with James Craig, Lita Milan and Barton MacLane.
Between features, Gayle worked as assistant director and production manager for most of the large commercial houses, working on over 250 national television commercials.
He accepted the position of Florida manager of operations for VPI of New York and moved to Fort Lauderdale-Miami area from Orland, supervising commercial production in the southeast and Caribbean.
He subsequently worked for Ivan Tors Studios (Miami) on the television series of Flipper, Gentle Ben, and Quinn-Martin's Caribbe. Feature work included Island of the Lost, Aquanuts (Richardo Montalban); Hooked Generation (Rita Hayworth); Goodbye, Columbus; Black Like Me (James Whitemore); Stanley; Want a Ride, Little Girl?; Agnes, Impulse and Black Sunday.
He produced and directed television commercials and documentaries, one filmed for the Florida League of Women Voters called There Ought to be a Law, which won acclaim. At time of his death he was in the pre-production stage for production of his own feature from a screenplay by Robert Morgan, collaborating with William Shatner.
He was a member of Directors Guild of America (DGA), representative of the Florida DGA Council, member of F.& A.M. Lodge No. 1 (Lexington, KY); Racquet Club (Miami), and the Phi Sigma Kappa organization.- Christy McKee was born on 13 November 1978. She was an actress, known for Tigerland (2000). She died on 1 April 2006 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Irwin C. Watson was born on 6 April 1928 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Cotton Comes to Harlem (1970), A.E.S. Hudson Street (1977) and Good Times (1974). He was married to Edlyne Rosemond. He died on 1 February 1999 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Dawn Brancheau was born as Dawn Therese LoVerde on April 16, 1969 to Marion LoVerde and Charles LoVerde. She was the youngest of six children and always had a love for animals. During a family vacation to Orlando, she set her heart on becoming an orca trainer. She graduated from the University of South Carolina with degrees in psychology and animal behavior. She spent two years working with dolphins at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey then began her career at SeaWorld Orlando working with otters and sea lions in 1994. She started working with killer whales in 1996. She also married SeaWorld stunt water skier Scott Brancheau the same year. She worked with killer whales for 15 years as a SeaWorld trainer, eventually holding the title of senior animal trainer.
On February 24, 2010, she was performing a show with Tilikum, a large bull orca (the largest in captivity, measuring 22.5 feet long and weighing roughly 12,500 pounds). Near the end of the "Dine with Shamu Show," Tilikum pulled her into the water by either her arm or her ponytail (there are conflicting eyewitness accounts) and brought her to the bottom of the pool. She drowned and suffered many injuries including her scalp being entirely torn off from her head and her left arm completely severed near the shoulder.
Her death was the third fatality associated with Tilikum but many trainers believed this not to be the case, as they were not previously informed of the exact details of the incidents. Tilikum took part in the attacking and drowning of 21-year-old Keltie Byrne on February 20, 1991 at Sealand of the Pacific in British Columbia, Canada along with two other orcas (Haida II and Nootka IV). He was solely responsible for the death of Daniel P. Dukes, a 27-year-old man, in SeaWorld Orlando, Florida on July 6, 1999.
Following her death, a ban on trainers entering a pool with an orca was solidified by an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) intervention. On August 23, 2010, SeaWorld was fined US$75,000 by OSHA for three safety violations, one directly related to her death. SeaWorld filed a series of appeals, seeking to lift the ban and return to water performances but eventually gave up in 2014. Lawmakers in California and the US House of Representatives proposed legislation to phase out orca captivity, and the California Coastal Commission moved in 2015 to ban orca breeding. - Jan Crouch was born on 14 May 1938 in New Brockton, Alabama, USA. She was a producer, known for The Glory of the Resurrection (1996), TotaLee Fit: with Lee Haney (1997) and Say Yes (1986). She was married to Paul Crouch. She died on 31 May 2016 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Tyler Cravens was born June, 28, 1967 in Evansville, Indiana (USA) but soon relocated several times before settling for the duration of his formative years in Jackson, Mississippi. Acting entered his life by way of his high school's annual theater competition: performances judged by local theater professors to decide which of the classes - Sophmore, Junior, or Senior - could produce the best original short play. Tyler discovered his nature in performance during this pinnacle time of life. The profession of acting, however, didn't become reality until some time after Tyler entered the US Army Reserves, attending basic training and advanced training at Ft. Jackson, SC, and then afterward enrolling at the University of Arkansas-Ft. Smith for a year and a half before then opting for active duty military. During the next six years of a military career he held duty stations at The Air Assault School (Ft. Campbell, KY), a year long stint in south Korea (Camp Humphreys), and then the 5th Special Group (Ft. Campbell, KY). It was with 5th Group that Tyler was deployed to Operation Desert Shield/Storm which garnered him the status of combat veteran. He ultimately achieved the rank of Sergeant, qualified as a Paratrooper (38 airborne jumps), became qualified in Air Assault tactics and Rappel Master, and attended Primary Leadership Development School where he finished 5th in his class. But throughout his life in the military, Tyler never lost his desire for the art of acting. Upon returning from the Gulf war (1991), he began performing regional theater and appeared in several local and regional commercials. Acting became Tyler's life while the Army was his day job. He left the military (1993) to continue his journey to today - a journey which has afforded him a variety of entertainment experiences such as, performing on cruise ships and at resorts abroad, stand-up comedian, voice over talent, and actor for stage and film / TV (SAG). Tyler's breakout on screen role was Deputy Lance Sanders in the critically acclaimed 'Maximum Bob'. To date (2015), Tyler has amassed notable credits reflecting work alongside, Jay Mohr, Bryan Cranston, Andy Garcia, Colin Farrell, Joel Schumacher, Beau Bridges, Ben Mendelsohn, Sissy Spacek and Tom Hanks to name a few. Tyler's mantra: "Onward & Upward!"- Actor
- Producer
- Additional Crew
Socrates Ballis was born on 27 August 1933. He was an actor and producer, known for Impulse (1974), Mission: Impossible (1966) and Mystery of the Sacred Shroud (1978). He died on 13 September 1998 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Omar Mateen was married to Sitora Yusufiy. He died on 12 June 2016 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Often called "The Father of American Dance", Ted Shawn was born in 1891. In his early 20s he was dancing professionally in Los Angeles. He teamed with Norma Gould, and in 1913 they starred in a series of short films for Thomas Edison, including Dances of the Ages (1913). In 1914 he met and married dance star Ruth St. Denis. They became a huge hit on the theater circuit and started the famous Denishawn Dance School in Los Angeles. Among their pupils were movie stars Lillian Gish and Louise Glaum. D.W. Griffith hired Shawn and St. Denis to choreograph and appear in his famous scene from Intolerance (1916), the dance on the steps before the huge city gates of Babylon. Shawn also appeared in Cecil B. DeMille's Don't Change Your Husband (1919) as a faun in a fantasy scene with Gloria Swanson and famously kissed her for 28 seconds. During the 1920s Shawn and St. Denis toured the US with their extravagant Denishawn dance company, which included Louise Brooks. They were a huge hit on tour, on Broadway, in recitals, and even in vaudeville. The act broke up in the 1930s, however, and Shawn started the nation's first dance company for men. Out of the Denishawn schools came star dancers like Martha Graham, Charles Weidman and Doris Humphreys. Shawn also appeared in a number of documentaries on dance as well as TV shows of the 1950s. He founded the famous Jacob's Pillow Dance Center in Massachusetts in 1932 which, as of this writing, is still going strong. At his peak in the 1920s, Shawn rivaled Rudolph Valentino, Ramon Novarro, and John Gilbert as a male sex symbol, based largely on his exotic dances and skimpy costumes
Ted Shawn died in 1972.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Bob Noble was born on 5 August 1932 in Brunswick, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for Gone Fishin' (1997), Dead of Night (1974) and Brenda Starr (1989). He died on 18 July 2023 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Charlotte Arren was born on 9 July 1911 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Broadway Melody of 1940 (1940), The Doorman's Opera (1935) and Calling All Stars (1937). She was married to Johnny Broderick. She died on 30 September 1986 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Mike Muckleroy was born in April 1930 in Giddings, Texas, USA. He was married to Paula Lane and Barbara June Wrobbel. He died on 26 January 2020 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Budge Threlkeld was born on 17 March 1946 in Pueblo, Colorado, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Terror Squad (1987), Hunter (1984) and Trying Times (1987). He died on 11 June 2005 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Grant was born in Oklahoma in 1962, twin to Gil Garcia. He obtained a Bachelor's in Business from Rollins College in the 80's and was a business owner and actor. He lost his two-week battle with Covid on August 18, 2021 at the young age of 58. Gone too soon!
Grant was also a member of Screen Actor's Guild. Acting was his life-long passion. He was talented and loved to share his knowledge with anyone who would listen! He would brighten up a set with his smile and always greeted you with a hand shake, hug or usually both. He has appeared in many movies, shows and commercials throughout the last 40 years. His early start was dancing(he was the greatest dancer), modeling during his younger years which led him to his all-time passion, acting. He so loved movies, music, golf, fishing basically anything that meant an adventure--and let's not forget his passion for food!
Grant was father to son, Sebastian, who he was most proud of. He loved his son deeply. He left him with the knowledge of business, they were business partners. He taught him so many great life lessons. Sebastian was his heart and soul and now Grant has the honor to be his guardian angel!
Grant had one of the greatest smiles you have ever seen and he had no problem sporting it! Bright, beautiful, enchanting and captivating to say the least but most of all, genuine. His smile was adored by many women too numerous to mention! The Latin from Manhattan!!!
Grant is survived by his son Sebastian, twin brother Gil García, Gil's wife Diana, nieces Victoria and Jackie; half-siblings Gloria, Jennie, George and Yvonne. Also survived by Lisena Giancarli, mother of Sebastian; and Ingrid Ginel, childhood/life-long friend and confidant.
We are broken by the loss of our loving, handsome and charming Grant. He was the most wonderful dad, brother and best friend anyone could ask for. He always had your back, one way or another! You were a light so bright...how do we shine without you!
"We will think of you always, and never stop talking about you so you will never be forgotten. We will hold you close within our hearts and there you will remain. To walk and guide us through our lives...Until we meet again." - Actor
- Additional Crew
Jack McLaughlin was born on 3 July 1953 in Florida. He was an actor, known for Miami Connection (1987). He died on 20 October 2016 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Actor
- Writer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Jack L. Harrell was an actor and writer, known for Murder à la Mod (1968), Lady in Waiting (1994) and Recess (2001). He died on 30 July 1999 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Daniel Dukes was born on 20 October 1971 in Columbia, South Carolina, USA. He died on 6 July 1999 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Wrestler and weightlifter Henry J. "Milo" Steinborn was born on March 14, 1893 in Siegburg, Germany. Milo grew up near Dusseldorf. At age fifteen Steinborn left home to become a merchant sailor. While living in Australia in 1914 Milo was placed in German internment camps after World War I broke out. It was during his time spent in these internment camps that Steinborn developed in interest in both wrestling and weightlifting. Milo was released from the camps in 1919 and came to America two years later. Steinborn initially made a name for himself with his amazing feats of physical strength at Hermann's Gymnasium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: He not only lifted 375 pounds in the two-arm clean and jerk, 220 in the one-arm snatch, and 240 pounds in the one-arm clean and jerk, but also smashed old marks for the squat (Steinborn played a key role in popularizing the squat in America), the one-arm snatch, and the continental lift.
Milo began his career in professional wrestling in 1922. Steinborn wrestled in over 300 matches in such states as New York, Georgia, and Tennessee. On March 7, 1926 Milo was severely injured while performing his Leg Bridge act in which he held up a bridge with his legs acting as pillars while a car filled with passengers drove over the bridge; he resumed his wrestling career several months later after recovering from these injuries. Moreover, when he was 57 Steinborn lifted an 800-pound elephant at the 1950 Chicago World's Fair. In 1952 Milo moved from Richmond, Virginia to Orlando, Florida and retired from wrestling the following year. Steinborn opened his own gym in Orlando in 1960 and went on to operate said gym for eleven years. Moreover, Milo worked as a wrestling promoter for eleven years at the Orlando Sports Stadium, where his weekly shows drew thousands of people. He retired from the world of wrestling in 1978. In addition, Steinborn was still doing deep knee bends with 400 pounds on his shoulders in his early 70's and continued to lift weights well into his 80's (he was still able to squat 125 pounds at age 90). Milo died at age 95 on February 9, 1989 in Orlando, Florida. He was survived by his sons Henry and Dick Steinborn, sisters Anne S. and Toni Marie, and seven grandchildren. - Linda Curtis was born on 20 May 1941 in Chicago, Illinois. She died on 4 October 1995 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Actress
- Writer
Kathleen Butler was born on 15 October 1890 in Michigan, USA. She was an actress and writer, known for McVeagh of the South Seas (1914), Her Wedding Bell (1913) and The Work Habit (1913). She died on 9 February 1978 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- John Albano was born on 12 September 1922 in New York, USA. John was a writer, known for Jonah Hex (2010) and Jonah Hex: Motion Comics (2010). John died on 23 May 2005 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Reinhard Bonnke was born on 19 April 1940 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany. He was a writer, known for How I Learned Faith (2006), Relying on the Anointing (2006) and The Art of the Impossible (2006). He was married to Anni Suelze. He died on 7 December 2019 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Producer
- Director
- Actor
Ralph is fourth generation European show business. His great grandfather was a theatrical architect and his grandfather was the head of AAFA Studios in Berlin. His mother was granted the first license for theater in the American Zone after World War II. Clemente's first professional appearance in show business was at age two where his first theatrical performance was as the son of renowned German actor Curt Jurgens.
At 14, Clemente, his mother, sister and brother, moved to the U.S. He couldn't speak any English, and learned by watching a lot of TV. His mother opened the Laura Tolins School of Acting in Sarasota where he took acting lessons. Laura was a graduate of the State Theater in Berlin and a first generation student of Stanislavsky. Clemente says his mother could get a performance out of a kitchen sink. She was still teaching and directing plays until a few months before her death in 2006 at the age of 86.
After his discharge, Clemente joined his family in Miami, got his SAG card and started working both there and in New York City. He eventually performed in 70 national TV commercials. In the summer of 1965 he went back to Germany, his first visit since he left as a young boy. He got an agent in Munich and started to act on TV and in films.
His mother predicted he was going to be a director. While in Germany, Clemente started writing his first screenplay and soon, his mother's prediction started to come true. Clemente says, " I wanted to be able to tell stories, not just be part of them, take the audience on a journey, make statements and get people to laugh and to get them to think about things."
Clemente's first theatrical short The Inning of the Week won seven international film festival awards. This led to co-directing his first feature film, The Cayman Triangle. Clemente and his longtime girlfriend Emily decided to get married and start a family. He got a job teaching film production at the University of Miami. During his 10 years at the University he produced Cease Fire, starring Don Johnson which brought a lot of attention to himself and the UM film program.
Valencia College in Orlando was looking for someone to head a new film program and made an offer that Clemente couldn't refuse. Classes began in 1988 at Disney MGM Studios, then Universal Studios before becoming two year AS degree program.
His students get hands-on experience working on feature films. He picks the films that he would be interested in seeing and scripts that benefit and challenge his students. Since Valencia started to participate in feature film productions the students have had the opportunity to work with artists Robert Wise, George Romero, Reza Badiyi, Jonathan Krane, Julie Harris, Ruby Dee, Sally Kellerman, Joe DiMaggio, Ed Begley, Jr., Tyne Daly, Mickey Rooney, Talia Shire and Peter Spirer among many others. Ralph says, "Every film is different. You are constantly learning, you never know it all and hopefully you don't repeat the same mistakes. In teaching classes, I refer to filmmaking as team art. It takes a lot of people, artists and technicians to put something special on the screen."
Clemente aspires to make his pictures with Florida settings, writers and actors. Florida City directed by Clemente was shot entirely in Florida with mostly Florida actors. It is available in over 40 countries under the title Small Town Conspiracy.
"When you can have a positive effect on people's lives and help them reach their dreams, that are the best reward a teacher can have." Some of his students have gone on to direct or produce such films as The Rock, Armageddon, Pearl Harbor, National Treasure, Band of Brothers, The X Files and numerous others. Appearing on The Today Show, Steven Spielberg mentioned that Valencia Community College in Orlando, Florida had one of the best film schools in the country.
Clemente's son Parker continues the family tradition. He graduated from Valencia and the University of Miami and is fifth generation show business. His brother, Randolph, graduated from the University of Florida and St. Thomas University, school of law. He practices law in South Florida.
Among the many awards and recognitions Clemente has received over the years, the Miami Herald in one of their annual Arts Preview Magazine praised Clemente as the "Filmmaker to Watch". In 2008 Ralph became Film Florida Legends Award winner.- Producer
- Writer
- Production Manager
Nina Elias-Bamberger was born on 20 August 1954 in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. She was a producer and writer, known for Dragon Tales (1999), Big Bag (1996) and Shalom Sesame (1987). She died on 20 November 2002 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Austin Wilson was born on 5 February 1999 in Port Charlotte, Florida, USA. He died on 9 January 2018 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Director
- Writer
- Producer
R. John Hugh was born on 24 February 1923 in London, England, UK. R. John was a director and writer, known for Fall Girl (1961), Yellowneck (1955) and Johnny Tiger (1966). R. John died on 16 December 1985 in Orlando, Florida, USA.- Caylee Anthony was born on 9 August 2005 in Orlando, Florida, USA. She died on 16 June 2008 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Eve Titus was born on 16 July 1922 in New York City, New York, USA. She was a writer, known for The Great Mouse Detective (1986), Anatole (1962) and Alice of Wonderland in Paris (1966). She died on 4 February 2002 in Orlando, Florida, USA.
- Lorraine was born in Lynn, Massachusetts. Her family came to the United States from Montreal Canada. She has been in Showbusiness for over 80 years. She has 3 daughters and one son. She is a grandmother and is known to her grandchildren as "Momsie". She is also the mother of Donna Marie Cusano, author of "Johanna's Rose and screenwriter of "His Woman."