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
October 17, 1918 – May 14, 1987
Actress, dancer and all-around bombshell, Rita Hayworth, captivated Hollywood audiences throughout the 1940s and ’50s. Glamorous and talented, she was the quintessential Golden-era beauty. Her personal life was quite public and tremendously busy. She once quipped that men “fell in love with [her iconic character] Gilda, but they wake up with me.” She was married five times, including to actor/director Orson Welles and Prince Aly Khan. Rita struggled with alcohol most of her life. She died from complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 68. Continue reading
November 25, 1920 – January 14, 2009
Ricardo Gonzalo Pedro “KHAAAANNN!” Montalbán y Merino, the Mexican-born actor who literally invented a fake type of leather, was probably best known to American television audiences as the charming Mr. Roarke on the 1970’s-’80’s ABC series, Fantasy Island. Of course, hanging out in trippy paradise with Hervé Villechaize wasn’t Montalbán’s only claim to fame. He also rose to pop-culture infamy by portraying Khan in both the TV and motion picture versions of Star Trek. Continue reading
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.
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.
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.
May 3, 1903 – October 14, 1977
Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby was a talented singer. His rich baritone voice epitomized the easy-going crooner of the 1940’s and ’50’s. He was a box office and record sales titan for more than two decades.
But, enough with the niceties.
Bing was also an incredibly…how to say it…”grumpy” individual. Rumors and stories of his abusive relationship with his family are numerous. Whether they’re true or not? Not for me to say. So, no need to dive into them here.
Celebrity Graveland 