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- Award-winning Greek-American actor Michael Constantine (born 22 May 1927) is best known for his portrayal of the Windex bottle-toting family patriarch "Gus Portokalos" in the sleeper hit My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002). Before his appearance in that movie and the subsequent TV series based on it, he was primarily known for his portrayal of principal Seymour Kaufman in the series Room 222 (1969), for which he won a 1970 Emmy Award as Best Supporting Actor (in 1971, he also received a second Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe nomination as Best Supporting Actor for the role).
Michael Constantine was born Constantine Joanides in Reading, Pennsylvania, to Greek parents, Andromache (Fotiadou) and Theoharis Ioannides, a steel worker. He made his Broadway debut as part of the ensemble of the hit play "Inherit the Wind," which made its bow at the National Theatre on April 21, 1955, and closed on June 22, 1957, after 806 performances. During the run of the play, Constantine managed to work his way up into the part of "Conklin". His next appearance on the Great White Way was in "Compulsion," a dramatization of the Leopold & Loeb trial, in which he played three parts: speakeasy owner "Al," defense attorney "Jonathan Wilk" and "Dr. Ball." The show had a modest run of 140 performances in the 1957-58 season at the Ambassador Theatre.
On October 19, 1959, Constantine was part of the opening-night cast of the hit play "The Miracle Worker," appearing in the role of "Anagnos." It ran for 719 performances at the Playhouse through July 1, 1961, but his next play, "The Egg", was a flop, lasting but one week (eight performances) at the Cort in January 1962. His last turn on Broadway was in Tony Richardson's staging of Bertolt Brecht's mediation on the rise of Adolf Hitler, "Arturo Ui" (a.k.a. "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui"). Constantine played the character "Dogsborough" in support of the great Broadway star Christopher Plummer's "Arturo Ui." It, too, was a one-week flop, lasting but eight performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in November 1963. Constantine's Broadway career was at an end.
He made his motion picture debut in The Last Mile (1959) in support of Mickey Rooney, but had already begun appearing in the medium in which he made his reputation, television, the year before. He appeared in teleplays on the omnibus television anthologies Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950) and Play of the Week (1959) and made numerous guest appearances on TV series, where his ethnic look made him valuable as heavies on such programs as The Untouchables (1959). In film, he appeared in such productions as Robert Rossen's classic The Hustler (1961), If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) and the film version of Woody Allen's play, Don't Drink the Water (1969), the latter two films revealing his flair for comedy.
Constantine was a regular on the series Hey, Landlord (1966). His stint on Room 222 (1969) was followed by his star-turn in the short-lived series Sirota's Court (1976), for which he received his second Golden Globe nomination, this time as Best Leading Actor in a Musical or Comedy TV Series, in 1976. After that, he remained steadily employed but his career remained rather quiet until cast he was cast in My Big Fat Greek Wedding (2002).
Michael Constantine died in August 2021. He was 94. - Actor
- Soundtrack
George Cole OBE was a veteran British film, television and stage actor whose impressive career spanned over 60 years. For many, he will perhaps be best remembered for playing one of the most endearing characters of recent times on British television, "Arthur Daley", the shifty but very likable "business man" in the hit ITV drama series, Minder (1979).
However, Cole had long been a household name well before "Minder" aired on television. His successful film career began in the 1940s, appearing with Alastair Sim and Sir John Mills in the film Bombsight Stolen (1941). Further success came throughout the 1950s and 1960s, where he played the part of "Flash Harry" in the popular "St Trinians" films, alongside his close friend and mentor, Alastair Sim. By 1963, Hollywood had recognized the talents of Cole and he was cast in the iconic film, Cleopatra (1963), starring Elizabeth Taylor, Richard Burton and Rex Harrison. During the 1970s, George continued to star in films and television programmes, becoming a regular and sought after actor. It is interesting to note that, in 1971, he appeared with Dennis Waterman (who would later become his Minder (1979) co-star) in the horror film, Fright (1971). In 1979, Cole was cast as the hapless "Arthur Daley", a self-professed entrepreneur in the ITV drama Minder (1979), a role he played until 1994. The role showcased Cole's acting prowess and brought him to the attention of a younger audience.
As well as starring in Minder (1979), George continued with other projects in film and television, including Root Into Europe (1992), An Independent Man (1995), Mary Reilly (1996), Dad (1997), Station Jim (2001), Bodily Harm (2002) and, alongside his good friend Dennis Waterman, in the BBC hit drama, New Tricks (2003). He also starred in several stage productions. It is hoped that Cole will not be be remembered simply for portraying "Arthur Daley", but instead for being one of Britain's most enduring actors, one of only a handful of actors who can claim to have had a 60-year career and for being an extremely likable, charismatic man.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Anton Rodgers was born on 10 January 1933 in Ealing, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988), The Merchant of Venice (2004) and The Fourth Protocol (1987). He was married to Elizabeth Garvie and Morna Watson. He died on 1 December 2007 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Producer
- Writer
Canadian actor who was long resident in the UK. He worked as a recreational therapist in a mental hospital in his native country, and claimed he gained more knowledge about acting in that role than he would do later. He arrived in England in 1949 and studied at London's Guildhall School of Music and Drama. After working in radio and theatre, he was given a seven year contract with ABC Television (the British company) after appearing in the prison drama The Last Mile in 1957. He later branched out into films, but was never to fulfill his early promise.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Robin Hardy was born on 2 October 1929 in Wimbledon, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for The Wicker Man (1973), Forbidden Sun (1988) and The Fantasist (1986). He was married to Victoria. He died on 1 July 2016 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ronald Allen was born on 16 December 1930 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for A Night to Remember (1958), The Projected Man (1966) and Doctor Who (1963). He was married to Sue Lloyd. He died on 18 June 1991 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Donald Buka was born on 17 August 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor, known for The Street with No Name (1948), One Step Beyond (1959) and Tales of Tomorrow (1951). He was married to Suzanne Marie (Fischer) Sinaiko, Joy Weber and Irene Maskell Mitchell. He died on 21 July 2009 in Reading, Massachusetts, USA.- Penny Morrell was born on 4 February 1938 in England, UK. She was an actress, known for The End of the Affair (1999), EastEnders (1985) and Armchair Theatre (1956). She was married to George Cole. She died on 3 January 2020 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Jeremy Hawk was born on 20 May 1918 in Johannesburg, South Africa. He was an actor, known for Elizabeth (1998), Dentist in the Chair (1960) and Dentist on the Job (1961). He was married to Tuli Hawk, Lisa Hawk and Joan Heal. He died on 15 January 2002 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Henry B. Longhurst was born on 7 February 1891 in Brighton, Sussex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Captain's Paradise (1953), The Crooked Lady (1932) and When Thief Meets Thief (1937). He died on 11 April 1970 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Producer
Gerry Fisher was born on 23 June 1926 in London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer and producer, known for Highlander (1986), Victory (1981) and The Exorcist III (1990). He was married to Jean Hawkins. He died on 2 December 2014 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Felix wanted to go into show business from school but his parents persuaded him to take an apprenticeship as a shop fitter which he finished in 1946t then he was called up to the Royal Berkshire Regiment.He enjoyed boxing and was an amateur Flyweight champion for London and the Southern Counties .He entered a talent contest in Reading in 1944 and encouraged by Elsie and Doris Waters when they were on the same radio show he became a warm up man on the Morecambe and Wise television show for 20 years , He married Mavis in October 1950 and had a son Robert ho became a policeman
- Music Department
- Writer
- Composer
John Philip Sousa was born on 6 November 1854 in Washington, District of Columbia, USA. He was a writer and composer, known for Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Octopussy (1983) and Spider-Man 2 (2004). He was married to Jane van Middlesworth Bellis. He died on 6 March 1932 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.- Actress
- Writer
An Australian-born actress and dramatist, who married Hugh Williams in 1940 and bore him three children. Their actor son Simon Williams married Belinda Carroll and Lucy Fleming, finding fame with "Upstairs Downstairs" and their elder son Hugo became a poet. Their daughter Polly was married to the actor Nigel Havers and was an actress and model, as Polly Williams. Amongst several plays that she wrote with her husband was "The Grass is Greener", which was filmed in 1961. She was widowed in 1969 and died in 1993.- Elwyn Brook-Jones was born on 11 December 1911 in Caerphilly, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for Odd Man Out (1947), Bonnie Prince Charlie (1948) and BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950). He was married to Julia Sandham. He died on 4 September 1962 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Producer
- Director
- Writer
Harold Baim was born on 6 April 1914 in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England, UK. He was a producer and director, known for Our Mr Shakespeare (1944), All That Glitters (1957) and Enchanted Cities (1957). He died on 1 March 1996 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Tommy Eytle was born on 16 July 1926 in Georgetown, British Guiana. He was an actor and composer, known for EastEnders (1985), Secret Agent (1964) and The Seventh Scroll (1999). He was married to Avis D'Ornellas. He died on 19 June 2007 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Robert Bridges was born on 19 December 1938 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982), The Tomorrow People (1973) and Nana (1983). He died on 24 March 1988 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Actor
- Writer
Raymond Baxter was born on 25 January 1922 in Ilford, Essex, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for Q5 (1969), BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950) and Pantomania, or It Was Never Like This (1955). He was married to Sylvia Kathryn Johnson. He died on 15 September 2006 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Soundtrack
David Byron was born on 29 January 1947 in Essex, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Life on Mars (2006), Uriah Heep: Lady in Black (1971) and Uriah Heep: Sunrise (1972). He died on 28 February 1985 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
- Producer
Dominic Fulford was born on 19 August 1939 in Salford, Lancashire, England, UK. She was an assistant director and production manager, known for Superman (1978), Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Krull (1983). She died on 23 April 2007 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actress
- Soundtrack
Binkie Stuart won a Daily Mail contest as "London's Prettiest Baby" in 1935. Through this she came to the attention of director Monty Banks, who saw her as England's answer to Shirley Temple. But Stuart never even approached the stardom of Temple in her brief film career, which was cut short by the outbreak of the Second World War.- Music Department
- Producer
- Director
Best known for producing Elton John's classic albums of the 1970s including Elton John, Tumbleweed Connection, Madman Across the Water, and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Gus Dudgeon was one of England's most successful record producers and a pioneer in the use of audio sampling.
Dudgeon's recording career started in the early 1960s at Olympic Studios in London where he was a tea boy. With neither musical nor technical training, Dudgeon worked his way up to staff engineer and joined Decca Studios. Among the classic records he engineered were the Zombies' hit single "She's Not There" and John Mayall's Blues Breakers album featuring Eric Clapton.
By the late 1960s Dudgeon had become a freelance producer and made a name for himself with his lush pop orchestrations such as those on David Bowie's "Space Oddity" and Harry Nilsson's reworking of Badfinger's "Without You". Dudgeon's use of an African tribal drum loop on the 1971 John Kongos hit "He's Gonna Step On You Again" is widely recognized as the first ever use of an audio sample in a commercial recording. However, it was with Elton John where Dudgeon's place in recording history would be sealed. Bernie Taupin may have provided the lyrics, Elton John the piano and vocals, but it was Dudgeon who provided the magic on tracks like "Your Song", "Tiny Dancer", and "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road".
Dudgeon remained active as a record producer throughout the 1980s and 1990s working with diverse artists such as Joan Armatrading and XTC in addition to reuniting with Elton John on his Live From Australia album. He was also active in the remastering of Elton John's CD back catalog for Universal.
On July 21, 2002 while traveling on the M4 near Reading, Dudgeon and his wife Sheila were killed when their Jaguar XK8 convertible left the road and crashed down an embankment. He was 59.- Producer
- Production Manager
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
John Pellatt was born on 1 January 1920 in Rochford, Essex, England, UK. He was a producer and production manager, known for Sebastian (1968), The Revolutionary (1970) and They're a Weird Mob (1966). He was married to Marigold Russell and Constance Powell. He died in July 2003 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actress
- Editor
- Soundtrack
Polly Ward was born on 30 June 1909 in Mitcham, Surrey, England, UK. She was an actress and editor, known for The Old Curiosity Shop (1934), Women Aren't Angels (1943) and Harmony Heaven (1930). She was married to Robert S. Freeman. She died on 23 February 1987 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Editor
- Editorial Department
- Additional Crew
Mark Talbot-Butler was born on 2 April 1965 in Nantwich, Cheshire, England, UK. He was an editor, known for Cloverfield (2008), Exam (2009) and The Runner (1992). He died on 30 December 2020 in Reading, England, UK.- Barbara Howitt was born on 30 January 1923 in Romford, Essex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956), Castle Dangerous (1958) and The Petrified Princess (1959). She died on 19 May 2011 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Art Department
- Art Director
Jim Morahan was born on 16 December 1936 in Hendon, London, England, UK. He was an art director, known for The Fifth Element (1997), The Avengers (1998) and Little Shop of Horrors (1986). He died on 17 March 2011 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Actor
- Soundtrack
Peter Hobbes was born on 27 March 1917 in Dover, Kent, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Barretts of Wimpole Street (1934), Curse of the Demon (1957) and My Brother Jonathan (1948). He was married to Isola Strong. He died in 1995 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- June Garland was born on 27 June 1920 in Newport, Gwent, Wales, UK. She was a writer, known for Trouble with Eve (1960). She died on 9 August 2000 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Producer
- Production Manager
- Director
Stanley O'Toole was born on 16 January 1939. He was a producer and production manager, known for Outland (1981), Enemy Mine (1985) and The Boys from Brazil (1978). He was married to Rachel Gurwitsch and Alice Mckenzie. He died on 12 June 2004 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Joe La Creta was an actor, known for A Small Circle of Friends (1980). He died on 30 June 2013 in Reading, Massachusetts, USA.
- Location Management
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Producer
Cecil F. Ford was born on 24 October 1911 in Dublin, Ireland. He was an assistant director and producer, known for The Guns of Navarone (1961), Superman II (1980) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). He died on 27 March 1980 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Editor
- Editorial Department
- Director
Bill Lenny was born in 1928 in London, England, UK. Bill was an editor and director, known for Horror of Dracula (1958), Casino Royale (1967) and Ike: The War Years (1979). Bill was married to Peggy Withers. Bill died in 2002 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Camera and Electrical Department
Michael Walter was born on 16 December 1930 in Staines, Surrey, England, UK. He is known for The Lion in Winter (1968), Two Left Feet (1965) and The Cool Mikado (1963). He died on 4 January 2019 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Jack Herbert was born in 1891. He was an actor, known for Too Much Speed (1921), Across the Continent (1922) and Less Than Kin (1918). He was married to Barbara Neely. He died on 10 June 1957 in North Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
- Writer
Gene London was born on 9 June 1931 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Facts n' Fun (1953), Johnny Jupiter (1953) and Kartoon Klub (1953). He died on 19 January 2020 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.- William F. Jury was born on 5 December 1870 in Bermondsey, Surrey, England, UK. William F. was a producer, known for Kitchener's Great Army in the Battle of the Somme (1916) and The Battle of the Ancre and the Advance of the Tanks (1917). William F. was married to Eliza Ellen Marsh. William F. died on 2 August 1944 in St Peters Hill, Caversham, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Brin Rosser was born on 24 September 1936 in Maesteg, Mid-Glamorgan, Wales, UK. He was an actor, known for V for Vendetta (2005), Hourglass (2000) and Off We Go Then (2008). He died on 22 February 2015 in Woodley, Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Monica Dickens was born on 10 May 1915 in London, England, UK. She was a writer, known for The Lamp Still Burns (1943), Love in Waiting (1948) and Life in Her Hands (1951). She was married to Roy Stratton. She died on 25 December 1992 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Vivian Palmer was born on 28 August 1898 in Bedford, Bedfordshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The River of Light (1921) and Unmarried (1920). He died on 31 October 1983 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Richard Boston was born on 29 December 1938 in Blackheath, London, England, UK. He was married to Marie-Claude Thérèse Chapuis and Elizabeth Anne Caulkin. He died on 22 December 2006 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Eddie Redway was born on 12 May 1870 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for The Sunbeam (1916), The Winner (1914) and Pat Casey's Case (1914). He was married to Katherine Pearl Smith. He died on 9 April 1919 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Marina Banfield was an actress, known for Quartet (2012) and Countdown to Murder (2013). She was married to Bryan ?. She died on 6 June 2013 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Producer
- Soundtrack
Martin Rushent was born on 3 January 1948 in Pangbourne, Berkshire, England, UK. He was a producer, known for Freestyle (2010), The Human League: Don't You Want Me (1981) and Hype! (1996). He died on 4 June 2011 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Art Department
Charles Hammerton was born on 15 March 1909 in Twickenham, Middlesex, England, UK. Charles is known for The Avengers (1961), The Boy Friend (1971) and Zeppelin (1971). Charles was married to Monica Roma Woodley. Charles died in June 2005 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.- Additional Crew
Larry Miller was born on 27 December 1945 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA. Larry is known for WWII in HD (2009). Larry died on 8 March 2021 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.- Julian Letterlough died on 8 July 2005 in Reading, Pennsylvania, USA.
- Gretel Melbourn was born on 4 March 1939 in St Albans, Hertfordshire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for The Young Lady from London (1959). She died on 3 June 2003 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.
- Camera and Electrical Department
Ronnie Rampton was born in 1931 in Kensington, London, England, UK. Ronnie is known for Sense and Sensibility (1995), Local Hero (1983) and The Madness of King George (1994). Ronnie was married to Pauline Hartwell and Iris Anderson. Ronnie died in 2006 in Reading, Berkshire, England, UK.