Advanced search

Markie Post grew up in Walnut Creek, California and started her career on films and TV shows, such as Card Sharks (1978) and "The New Card Sharks" (1986) and went on to even produce such projects as Double Dare (1976) and has made appearances on such television projects as 1st to Die (2003), E! True Hollywood Story (1996) and Electra Woman and Dyna Girl (2001). Perhaps her biggest TV role was as "Christine Sullivan" on Night Court (1984). She appeared in 156 episodes of this comedy, from 1984 to 1992.

During the early times of the Depression when life was more famine than feast, child stars became the blue plate special of the day, served up by Hollywood to help nourish a nation besieged with troubles. Following 20th Century-Fox monumental success with Shirley Temple in the early 1930s, every studio was out searching for its own precocious little commodity who could pack 'em in the aisles despite the lean times. While Paramount whipped up "Little" Mitzi Green, MGM offered Jackie Cooper in the hopes of finding a similar box office jingle. Wildly talented Janie Withers fit the bill, too, and although she earned pint-sized prominence just like the others, it was also for Temple's Fox Studios. As such, Jane remained somewhat of a side course to Temple's main dish (what child star didn't?) throughout much her young "B" level reign. Nevertheless, she became a major bright star in her own right.

The freckled, dark-haired hellraiser was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on April 12, 1926. The daughter of Walter and Lavinia Ruth (Elble) Withers, her parents wasted no time in prodding little Jane quickly into the world of entertainment. Jane was a natural--performing by the time she could walk and talk. By age three, she was taking singing and dancing lessons and at age 4, was starring on her own radio program in Atlanta. A spot-on mimic, she was simply uncanny when it came to impersonating the superstars of her day (W.C. Fields, Marie Dressler, Charles Chaplin) and was a veteran pint-sized performer by the time her family moved to Los Angeles after her father was transferred by his company. Jane was enrolled in Lawlor's Professional School and was soon modeling in shows, entertaining at benefits and making the usual rounds of the studios nabbing extra work while waiting for that one big film break.

She found it at age 8 when she won the plum role of the spoiled, obnoxious, doll-ripping, bicycle-riding brat who terrorizes sweet Shirley Temple in Twentieth Century-Fox's Bright Eyes (1934). The infamy earned Jane a sweet contract at Fox and for the next seven years she did it her way as the tyke star of close to 50 "B" level films. Where Shirley was cuddly and ultra huggable, brunette-banged Jane was fun, rambunctious and full of kinetic energy--a scrappy little tomboy who could take on any boy at any time. Her lively vehicles took full advantage of her talents for impersonating movie stars, too. Her first major success came in the form of the title role in Ginger (1935) in which Jane imitated the balcony scene from Romeo and Juliet and was rewarded by the studio with a contract of $125 weekly for six months. Her singing and dancing skills were utilized in such vehicles as This Is the Life (1935) and Paddy O'Day (1936). As the star, she was toned down, of course, from the all-out brat she played against Temple. Jane kept filmgoers entertained throughout the late 1930s with pictures like Pepper (1936) and Angel's Holiday (1937), in which she did an hilarious impression of Martha Raye. She ended 1937 with a bang when she was named one of Motion Picture's Poll's "Top Ten" (#6) box office favorites. Guess who was #1?

The early 1940s would tell the story as to whether Jane could survive the dreaded awkward teen transition that haunted every popular child star. She received her first screen kiss at age 13 in Boy Friend (1939) and was singled out for her work in The Ritz Brothers' Pack Up Your Troubles (1939), but Jane's antics simply didn't play as well and the studio began to lose interest. In fact, both Shirley and Jane felt the pressures of growing up and Darryl F. Zanuck let both of them go in July of 1942. Jane signed a three-year picture deal with Republic Pictures with lukewarm results. Her best dramatic role at that time came with The North Star (1943).

In 1947, the same year as her last picture of the decade, Jane married a wealthy Texas oil man, William Moss, and had three children by him--William, Wendy, and Randy. The marriage was not a happy one and lasted only six years. She also was suffering from rheumatoid arthritis. In 1955, she remarried, this time to Kenneth Errair, one-quarter of the harmonizing group "The Four Freshmen." They had two children, Ken and Kendall Jane. At the same time, she attempted a Hollywood comeback. While studying directing at the USC film school, she met producer/director George Stevens who cast her in an enviable character role in the epic-sized Giant (1956) supporting Rock Hudson, Elizabeth Taylor, and James Dean. Other film roles followed with The Right Approach (1961) and Captain Newman, M.D. (1963).

It was TV, however, that would turn Jane into a wealthy woman as a friendly household pitchwoman. Her decades-long job as the dress-downed Josephine the Plumber pushing Comet cleanser made her one popular gal when working in films became a non-issue. From time to time she made guest appearances on such fun, lightweight shows as The Munsters (1964), The Love Boat (1977), Murder, She Wrote (1984), and Hart to Hart (1979). Known for her strong spiritualism and charitable contributions, Jane's buoyant, indefatigable nature was still, at age 90+, highly infectious. She not only did voiceover work for Disney's animated features but still popped up here and there for interviews and convention signings--as bright-eyed and bushy-tailed as she was in her childhood heyday. A widow in 1968, (her second husband perished in a June 14th plane crash in California), she also lost one of her five children, Randy, to cancer when he was only 33.

BRAD ALLAN: Born with an inherent fascination of all things Chinese, Brad Allan started studying martial arts, boxing, gymnastics and Chinese circus arts from the age of 10 years. At age 15 years, Brad met two of China's greatest wushu athletes Liang Chang Xing and Tang Lai Wei of the renowned Beijing Wushu Team (the same team as Jet Li). Under their expert guidance Brad quickly rose to become one of Australia's top wushu athletes. At the age of 22 years Brad returned to Australia after several years studying language and martial arts in Asia. It was in his home town of Melbourne that he met his mentor and master, Jackie Chan. A chance encounter gave Brad an opportunity to demonstrate his skills to Jackie and his team; a dream come true that would change his life forever. As the first non-Asian member, Brad spent the next 12 years traveling and performing around the world as part of the illustrious Jackie Chan Stunt Team. It was during this time and under Jackie's direct guidance that Brad progressed from stunt performer, to action choreographer, to stunt coordinator and finally action director. Brad Allan traveled one of the more unique paths to Hollywood and brought a unique visual style that combined the best of the east and west. Action transcends language and cultural boundaries; It can excite us, move us and make us laugh. Brad Allan had a global vision for action film making. He worked with an international team of skilled professionals from all over the world united by their passion for action and film making. His goal was to entertain, excite and motivate the human race.

Dennis D.T. Thomas was born on 9 February 1951 in Orlando, Florida, USA. He was an actor and composer, known for 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), The Nutty Professor (1996) and Nick of Time (1995). He was married to Phynjuar. He died on 7 August 2021 in Montclair, New Jersey, USA.

This Kansas redhead, only 16 when she was cast in Seven Days' Leave (1942), was already working as a nightclub entertainer. When her first role received excellent notices, stressing her singing and wide-eyed appeal, she was signed to an RKO contract. RKO made little use of her comedy talent, assigning her to a series of second leads for "jitterbug appeal" in low-budget musicals. In most of these, she played a mature-looking, boy-crazy teen with a vital, stimulating personality. Her most memorable screen moment (aside from her songs) was swooning at Frank Sinatra's feet in Higher and Higher (1943). Following her marriage to actor Wally Cassell in 1947, she had only two more roles, and definitely retired from acting in 1952. Husband Cassell (in films 1943-58) went into business, and the couple subsequently owned the prosperous Law Printing Co., which was sold in 1993. Marcy has two children and is a grandmother.

Dan Kneece spent the first 18 years of life in Blackville, South Carolina, and attended public school there. In 7th grade, he won a medal at Edisto Conference in for playing Overture Eroica on the Oboe. Dan won the John Phillip Sousa Award in 1974 for being the best Senior musician at Blackville High School. He was awarded Associate of Arts (1976), Bachelor of Media Arts (1978), and Master of Media Arts (1980) degrees from the University of South Carolina, and a Certificate in Cinema from the University of Southern California (1976). His animated thesis film, Cera, 1980, received a regional nomination for a student Academy Award and a print was presented to Shanxi University in China as part of their permanent collection soon thereafter by the University of South Carolina. Cera was also shown at the first Internation Animation Celebration in Los Angeles. He began work as a professional Camera Operator in Columbia, South Carolina at WIS-TV in 1979. In 1982, Dan was taught Steadicam operation by the inventor, Garrett Brown, with the assistance of Randy Nolen and Toby Phillips. In 1988, Dan assisted Ted Churchill in teaching Steadicam for Cinema Products. From 1990 to 1994, Dan was the lead factory Steadicam Instructor for Cinema Products in the United States and abroad. During this time he taught many top operators in the business today.

Lily Lodge was born on 12 April 1930 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for Mona Lisa Smile (2003), The Great Gatsby (2013) and The Age of Innocence (1993). She was married to James L. Marcus. She died on 7 August 2021 in the USA.

Alma Cullen was born on 10 May 1938 in Liverpool, Merseyside, England, UK. She was a writer, known for Inspector Morse (1987), Intimate Contact (1987) and The Advocates (1991). She was married to James Cullen. She died on 7 August 2021 in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland, UK.

Isabel Martínez 'La Tarabilla' was born on 4 November 1945 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico. She was an actress, known for Amor en silencio (1988), Bajo el mismo techo (2005) and Pasaporte a la muerte (1988). She died on 7 August 2021 in Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

Egyptian actress, graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Zagazig, to go then to Cairo, discovered by the director "Noor Eldemerdash" then worked with "The Three-Lights Stage" team in the play (Hello Doctor) and that was the beginning to be known to the public, then her works rolled in between theater , cinema and television and the most important of which (Sorry For The Inconvenience), (People In Kafr Askar), (Ya Rab Walad).

Hung Liu was born on 7 February 1948 in Changchun, China. He was married to Li Yougang and Jeff Kelley. He died on 7 August 2021 in Oakland, California, USA.

Paul Williams was born on 4 May 1969 in Camden, New Jersey, USA. Paul is known for Unbreakable (2000), Shooter (2007) and Signs (2002). Paul died on 7 August 2021 in Mantua, New Jersey, USA.

Robert Hunt was an actor and writer, known for Bad Medicine, The Adventures of the Zordine Warriors (1997) and Force of the Ninja (1988). He died on 7 August 2021 in Scottsdale, Arizona, USA.

Ed Lipscomb was born on 10 October 1963 in Hammond, Louisiana, USA. He is known for The Highwaymen (2019), G.I. Joe: Retaliation (2013) and Speed (1994). He was married to Michelle Cornell and Kathleen Odom. He died on 7 August 2021 in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA.

Paulino Partida was an actor and director, known for The Shelter (2017), Season of Rage and Blood, Sand and Gold (2018). He died on 7 August 2021 in Mexico.

Carol Pastinsky was born on 6 January 1944 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was an actress, known for Caressed (1964). She was married to Harvie McCracken. She died on 7 August 2021 in Sechelt, British Columbia, Canada.

Babis Anthopoulos was born on 17 August 1933 in Athens, Greece. He was an actor, known for Something Hot (1964), Mia trelli... trelli oikogeneia (1965) and I geitonia mas (1972). He died on 7 August 2021 in Athens, Greece.

MGM was born on 24 March 2001. He was an actor, known for TD Raymo x Young 9 x MGM: Hood Anthem (2021) and MGM: Faceshot (2020). He died on 7 August 2021 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA.

Abdallah El Sharkawi was an actor, known for Wa Mn Allazi La Youheb Fatima? (1996). He died on 7 August 2021 in Egypt.

Ruth Segal was born on 9 June 1929 in Poland. She was an actress, known for Fantasy on a Romantic Theme (1977), Women in the Other Room (1967) and Aunt Clara (1977). She died on 7 August 2021 in Haifa, Israel.

Mika Sundqvist was born on 22 February 1947 in Kihniö, Finland. He was an actor, known for Kuningas lähtee Ranskaan (1986), Matti: Hell Is for Heroes (2006) and Pearls and Pigs (2003). He died on 7 August 2021 in Kihniö, Finland.

Viktoriya Rayevskaya was born on 23 October 1960. She was an actress, known for Dzhek Vosmyorkin, amerikanets (1988), Streets of Broken Lights (1998) and S chyornogo khoda (2009). She died on 7 August 2021 in Saint Petersburg, Russia.