Archive for the Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) Category

Mario Lanza

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , on December 16, 2013 by Cade

lanza1January 31, 1921 – October 7, 1959

A handsome tenor with an astounding voice, Mario Lanza took various stages and – ultimately – Hollywood by storm in the late 1940’s and ’50’s. His ability to bring heavy doses of charm and romanticism to his roles set him apart from many of his contemporaries. He was discovered by Louis B. Mayer at a 1947 performance at the famous Hollywood Bowl. Mayer immediately signed Lanza to a multi-year contract with MGM. He appeared in films like The Great Caruso, The Toast of New Orleans and Because You’re Mine churning out popular recordings from each.

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Fred MacMurray

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , , on October 24, 2013 by Cade

macmurray1August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991

Frederick Martin MacMurray’s nearly 50-year career was about as successful and varied as any you will find.  Throughout the 1930’s and ’40’s, MacMurray brought his talents from the stage to some of the most popular films of the era. He worked with everyone from Humphrey Bogart to Katharine Hepburn. His films with iconic director, Billy Wilder, (including the ultimate film noir Double Indemnity and the quintessential comedy The Apartment) became Hollywood classics. MacMurray later worked on a number of Disney live-action films like The Shaggy Dog and The Absent-Minded Professor while also landing what is possibly his most recognizable role (to folks under the age of 50 anyway): Steven Douglas, the father on the long-running TV sitcom My Three Sons.

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Audrey Meadows

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , , on May 30, 2013 by Cade

Audrey Meadows The Honeymooners, c. 1955 - 1957

February 8, 1922 — February 3, 1996

If your one and only claim to fame is playing the straight foil to Jackie Gleason’s frenetic and iconic Ralph Kramden, then you’re still doing alright.  Audrey Meadows was a stage and TV actress who just happened to win the role of Alice Kramden despite being “too pretty.” Meadows played Alice a couple of times prior to The Honeymooners becoming a hit TV show and she never looked back. Continue reading →

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Jack Haley

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , , on March 15, 2013 by Cade

haley1

August 10, 1898 – June 6, 1979

I’m not going to say that Jack Haley wouldn’t have had a career if Buddy Ebsen didn’t almost die from a reaction to aluminum-based make-up…but he certainly wouldn’t have been AS famous.  Probably.  I don’t know.  Jack had a pretty decent career as a song-and-dance man/comedian.  He starred in such musicals as Alexander’s Ragtime Band and Poor Little Rich Girl.  But none of them came close to as big as his accidental role as the Tin Man in The Wizard of Oz.  It’s true, though, he did replace TV’s Jed Clampett in the iconic role when Ebsen had a serious reaction to the metallic paint in the costume and make-up.  The rest is history.

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Ray Bolger

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , , , on March 7, 2013 by Cade

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January 10, 1904 – January 15, 1987

Song and dance man, Ray Bolger, had quite the stage and film career going when he stumbled upon a little role as a scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.  Total career killer that one.

Seriously, though, Bolger was immensely talented and any lack of recognition of his work outside of Oz is strictly on us.  We suck.

 

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John Candy

Posted in Holy Cross Cemetery (CA) with tags , on March 4, 2013 by Cade

candy1

October 31, 1950 – March 4, 1994

John Candy was a comedic giant of the 1980’s. The Canadian actor created memorable roles on the sketch comedy show, SCTV, and found great success in films such as Planes, Trains and Automobiles, Uncle Buck and Spaceballs. The rotund actor was infinitely likable and beloved by audiences and costars alike.

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