January 23, 1919 – September 15, 2011
Frances Bay (née Goffman) was a Canadian actor whose early career involved radio programming for troops during World War II. She studied acting under famed coach, Uta Hagen in South Africa before settling in Los Angeles. Her career didn’t really take off until she landed parts in a number of movies and TV shows in the 1970’s and ’80’s including a turn as Fonzie’s grandmother on Happy Days. Continue reading
May 11, 1911 – November 1, 1985
Comedian and actor, Phil Silvers, got his start in movie houses entertaining audiences when the projectors would break down. He spent the early parts of his career on the Broadway stage and in short subject films. Made the leap to feature pictures, but found his biggest fame as Sgt. Ernest Bilko on the CBS television show You’ll Never Get Rich – which was later named The Phil Silvers Show, once it was deemed a hit. Silvers was known as “The King of Chutzpah” for his physical, slap-sticky brand of comedy. Continue reading
April 13, 1962 – June 25, 1988
Hillel Slovak was a founding member and the original guitarist for the legendary Los Angeles-based rock band, the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Slovak met vocalist Anthony Kiedis and bassist Flea (Michael Balzary) in high school and formed the band with drummer, Jack Irons, for a one-time gig that turned into a steady, and very popular presence in the L.A. music scene. The line up recorded two albums – “Freaky Styley” and “The Uplift Mofo Party Plan” – all while battling severe addiction to drugs, most notably, cocaine and heroin. Slovak and Kiedis tried to sober up using each other as support, but the withdrawals proved to be too much and Slovak died of a heroin overdose at the age of 26 while separated from the band. Continue reading
March 24, 1924 – December 14, 1998
Norman Fell was a well-loved character actor who made appearances in many films including Catch-22, The Graduate, It’s a Mad Mad Mad Mad World and the original Ocean’s 11 (the one with Sinatra and co.) But, he is most known to television audiences as half of the original landlord couple, Stanley and Helen Roper, on the ’70s hit, Three’s Company. Even after the disastrous spin-off, The Ropers, people still loved Norman. He continued to work in TV and film and even reprised Mr. Roper on an episode of Ellen a year before his death. Continue reading
September 19, 1941 – July 29, 1974
Known to the world as “Mama Cass,” Ellen Naomi Cohen, AKA Cass Elliot, was a singer and member of the American vocal group, the Mamas & the Papas. Elliot’s voice can be heard prominently on many of their best-known recordings, including “California Dreamin'” and “Monday Monday.”
Celebrity Graveland 