Stella Adler

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags on January 30, 2017 by Cade

adler1February 10, 1901 – December 21, 1992

To those outside the acting profession or theater and film circles, Stella Adler may not be an instantly recognizable name, but within these groups, she is a titanic figure. Adler rose to fame from a small child in a prominent Yiddish acting family in New York City. Her onstage upbringing led her to Broadway, London, Paris and Hollywood. At an early age, she met renowned Russian director, Konstantin Stanislavski, and was immediately enthralled with his teachings and techniques. After joining the famed Group Theater in New York, Adler studied under Stanislavski for a brief time in France. At that point, the course of her career as an acting teacher was basically set in stone. Continue reading →

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Jean-Michel Basquiat

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , , on January 23, 2017 by Cade

basquiat1December 22, 1960 – August 12, 1988

Jean-Michel Basquiat was a significant neo-expressionist artist in the late-70s/early-80s New York City pop-cultural scene. Rising to notoriety as a street artist (he comprised half of the graffiti-art duo, SAMO), Basquiat eventually found a following in various galleries in Manhattan. His work consisted of both image and text, highly influenced by juxtaposition and dichotomy. Basquiat also created experimental music with his band, Gray (a nod to Gray’s Anatomy, the reference book that heavily influenced his work throughout his life – not the ABC television show that debuted 17 years after he died.) Through his art and music, he spoke out against institutionalized racism and power structures and made commentary on issues such as class struggle and heritage. Continue reading →

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Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds

Posted in Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills with tags , , on January 17, 2017 by Cade

fisher_reynolds2
October 21, 1956 – December 27, 2016
April 1, 1932 – December 28, 2016

Carrie Fisher was born into Hollywood royalty. Her father was crooner Eddie Fisher and her mother was actress and iconic girl-next-door, Debbie Reynolds. Onstage from the very beginning, she enjoyed a very successful career. She will forever be linked to her most indelible character, Princess Leia from the blockbuster Star Wars film franchise. But, she was more than a strong, rebellious princess. Fisher was a fearless comedic actor and writer. She wrote critically-acclaimed screenplays and novels and was for a time, the go-to “script doctor” in the industry. She overcame personal demons stemming from drug abuse and bi-polar disorder and always, always, kept her wit. Continue reading →

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Eubie Blake

Posted in Cypress Hills Cemetery with tags on January 10, 2017 by Cade

blake2February 7, 1887 – February 12, 1983

Jazz and ragtime pianist/composer, James Hubert “Eubie” Blake was, by all accounts, a naturally-gifted musician. He first exhibited his talent at a random music store organ at the age of five. In a career that spanned nearly 70 years, Blake wrote for vaudeville, Broadway, film and television. His hit songs such as “I’m Just Wild About Harry” and “Charleston Rag” became mainstays in popular music. Continue reading →

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Henny Youngman

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags , on January 2, 2017 by Cade

youngman1March 16, 1906 – February 24, 1998

Henny Youngman was the “King of the One Liners.” As a comedian, Youngman worked tirelessly for 7 decades. His trademark routine – which involved a series of quick, one-liner jokes and violin interludes – made him a truly unique comedy legend. Known to play anywhere, anytime, for any amount of money, Youngman never let success alter him. He was a mainstay on TV shows like Laugh-In and appeared in classic films ranging from Mel Brooks’ History of the World, Part 1 to Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas. Continue reading →

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Bert Lahr

Posted in Union Field Cemetery with tags , on December 27, 2016 by Cade

lahr1August 13, 1895 – December 4, 1967

Tony Award-winning comedian/actor, Bert Lahr, dropped out of school to join a vaudeville troupe. It was on the stage that he spent most of his career. But it was on film – one film, in particular – where he found his greatest and most notable success. Lahr brought his humor and bravado to the role of the Cowardly Lion in the classic The Wizard of Oz and generations have loved him for it.

Irving Lahrheim was New York through and through. He was born there. He died there. And he performed practically the entire time in between. Continue reading →

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Betty Comden

Posted in Mount Carmel Cemetery (NY) with tags , on December 19, 2016 by Cade

comden1May 3, 1917 – November 23, 2006

Dubbed “Miss Words” by her writing partner of more than 60 years, Adolph Green, Betty Comden contributed wit and brilliance to popular songs on the stage and screen for most of the 20th Century. The lyricist team of Comden and Green got their start as part of the Greenwich Village troupe The Revuers where they collaborated with other young artists like Judy Holliday and Leonard Bernstein. Along with Bernstein (whom they would work with many times), Comden and Green created their first Broadway musical, On The Town, in 1944. Continue reading →

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Bill “Bojangles” Robinson

Posted in The Evergreens with tags , , on December 12, 2016 by Cade

bojangles1May 25, 1878 – November 25, 1949

Bill “Bojangles” Robinson began his life as Luther Robinson in Richmond, VA where he learned to dance for pennies on the street. Busking led to bit parts and “picknaninny” roles in local minstrel shows. This led to predominantly-white vaudeville shows…and then he went to work.

Widely regarded for his tap dancing prowess and innovation, he busted through the racial barriers of his day at every level, eventually becoming one of the first Black solo performers in vaudeville and, ultimately, making a name for himself on Broadway. Continue reading →

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Leonard Bernstein

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , on December 5, 2016 by Cade

bernstein1August 25, 1918 – October 14, 1990

“The other night I bippy nigh, blabba habba dooby die, mowt say hiddy lie, LEO-NARD BERN-STEIN!” – It’s The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) – R.E.M. (paraphrased)

Louis “Leonard” Bernstein was and is an American musical treasure. Reaching international acclaim, Bernstein is most widely known as the long-time musical director of the New York Philharmonic Orchestra and for his many stage and screen compositions. Bernstein grew up in Massachusetts, graduated from Harvard and, by way of grad school in Philadelphia, made his way to New York. It was in New York where he joined The Revuers and began his composing and conducting career. In 1943, he filled in as the main conductor for the NYPO and became an instant success. Continue reading →

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Fred Ebb

Posted in Green-Wood Cemetery with tags , , on November 28, 2016 by Cade

ebb1April 8, 1928 – September 11, 2004

Lyricist Fred Ebb worked with a number of composers throughout his career, but it was his partnership with John Kander that garnered him his biggest successes. Kander and Ebb wrote some of Broadway’s biggest all-time hits: Cabaret, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, among others. In addition to the stage, they wrote for films as well. Most notably contributing the theme song to Martin Scorsese’s 1971 film New York, New York which was launched into the stratosphere by Frank Sinatra. Continue reading →

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