Advanced search

Nobody in the history of films has ever gotten dropped into quicksand by a tree possessed by the spirit of a wrongly killed chief's son like Suzanne Ridgway. Her career didn't always start out so glamorous. Her undeniable beauty got her a movie contract where they saw her as a potential foil for a comedian. Like a lot of ideas in Hollywood, it never came to fruition and Ridgway quickly found herself working in bit roles and as an extra.

By the 1940s, Ridgway was reduced to appearing in roles that required girls who looked pretty but who didn't have much chance for improvement. Her acting ability was very limited and this further hampered her career. Her exotic appearance led her to constantly get cast in roles of Spanish or Mexican girls and she had trouble delivering dialog with an accent. Like a true professional, she did what she was told and she was able to collect paychecks for 20 years while experiencing all facets of the business.

By the late 1940s, Ridgway frequently found herself being fought over by pirates, cowboys, and derelicts. What had once been a promising young actress was primarily reduced to window dressing for whatever scene she appeared in. She still managed to appear in some higher-budget films like "Calamity Jane" where she gets to wink at Doris Day in a silent bit role and as a guest in a hotel lobby admiring Glenn Ford. Eventually, she met producer Lindsley Parsons who helped get her a role in the film masterpiece "From Hell It Came." Her final acting role was in her husband's film "The Purple Gang" where she played Daisy, a girl who constantly reported crimes and when she finally saw a real one, nobody would believe her.

While most actresses quickly give up on Hollywood, Suzanne Ridgway never gave up on her dream. She wanted to be an actress who starred in films. When she finally got her chance, she was attacked by a possessed tree and tossed into quicksand. She got further than most and she leaves a long-lasting legacy that will forever be remembered by the countless fans on this true leading lady.

Ed Love was born on 24 May 1910 in Tremont, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an assistant director, known for Fantasia (1940), Fantasia 2000 (1999) and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987). He died on 6 May 1996 in Valencia, California, USA.

William Colby was born on 4 January 1920 in St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. He was an actor, known for Vietnam: A Television History (1983), Spycraft: The Great Game (1996) and On Company Business (1980). He was married to Barbara Colby. He died on 6 May 1996 in Rocky Point, Maryland, USA.

Heini Kaufeld was born on 19 July 1920 in Hamburg, Germany. He was an actor and director, known for Kein Auskommen mit dem Einkommen (1966), Petrus gibt Urlaub (1967) and Tratsch im Treppenhaus (1974). He died on 6 May 1996 in Hamburg, Germany.

Harold Lockwood was born on 3 June 1908 in New York City, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Twinkletoes (1926). He died on 6 May 1996 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, USA.

Ivan Savkin was born on 6 April 1925 in the USSR. He was an actor, known for Ivan's Childhood (1962), Solntse, snova solntse (1977) and Na ostrove dalnem (1957). He died on 6 May 1996.

Ernst Heise was born on 6 July 1928 in Oranienburg, Germany. He was an actor, known for Bitva za Moskvu (1985), Albert Einstein (1990) and Das unsichtbare Visier (1973). He died on 6 May 1996 in Berlin, Germany.

Pekka Langer was born on 12 October 1919 in Gothenburg, Västra Götalands län, Sweden. He was an actor and writer, known for Suss gott (1956), Farbror Pekkas handelsbod (1965) and Längta efter kärlek (1968). He died on 6 May 1996 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Otto Scheutz was born on 7 March 1902 in Kråksmåla, Kalmar län, Sweden. He was a production manager and actor, known for Farligt löfte (1955), Jens Mansson in America (1947) and Flicka utan namn (1954). He died on 6 May 1996 in Södermalm, Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden.

Sherri Dally was born on 2 February 1961 in Lancaster, California, USA. She died on 6 May 1996 in Ventura, California, USA.

Zhanna Goroshenya was born on 28 May 1947. She was an actress, known for Molodye (1971) and Terem-teremok (1971). She died on 6 May 1996.

Fred Simpfenderfer was born on 23 January 1911 in North Dakota, USA. Fred died on 6 May 1996 in San Francisco, California, USA.