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1-50 of 163
- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Physically imposing, intense Yaphet Kotto was one of the few actors of his generation to succeed in breaking racial stereotypes in Hollywood. He was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Gladys, a nurse and army officer, and Abraham Kotto, a businessman-turned-construction worker. His father was a Cameroonian immigrant, of royal ancestry (his great-grandfather had been a king in pre-colonial days), and his mother's family was from Antigua and Panama. Yaphet, whose first name means "beautiful" in Hebrew, was raised in the Jewish faith. After his parents divorced, he was brought up by his grandparents in the tough Bronx district of New York. He also had an aunt in showbiz who ran a dance academy. Among her alumni were Marlon Brando and James Dean. In fact, it was Brando's performance in On the Waterfront (1954) which inspired Kotto to go into acting.
He began acting on stage in 1958 with little theatrical experience, making his debut in the title role of Othello, a role he eventually reprised on screen in 1980. He also appeared on Broadway as understudy to James Earl Jones in The Great White Hope. After joining the Actor's Studio, Kotto commenced his screen career and soon gathered critical recognition with several edgy performances across diverse genres. From playing a barkeeper in 5 Card Stud (1968) and a thief in The Thomas Crown Affair (1968), he moved on to juicier supporting roles as the evil Kananga/Mr. Big in the James Bond thriller Live and Let Die (1973), Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in the telemovie Raid on Entebbe (1976) and the ill-fated Nostromo engineer Parker in Alien (1979). Kotto also starred as a street-smart Detroit car worker in Blue Collar (1978) and had a recurring role as a senior detective on television's long-running crime series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993) (in addition to penning several scripts for the show). He was even on a Paramount shortlist for the coveted role of Jean Luc Picard in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), alongside Mitchell Ryan and Roy Thinnes). He apparently spurned the role for fear of being typecast, but came to rueing that decision in later years. For the same reason Kotto had also turned down the part of Lando Calrissian in the Star Wars franchise (which went to Billy Dee Williams).
Kotto died on March 15 2021 in Manila, Phillipines at the age of 81.- Pepsi Paloma was born on 11 March 1966 in Manila, Philippines. She was an actress, known for Virgin People (1984), Krus sa bawat punglo (1982) and The Victim (1982). She died on 31 May 1985 in Quezon City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
- Director
- Writer
- Composer
Born October 22, 1947 in Jefferson County, Kentucky, William Brent Girdler launched his filmmaking career with the 1972 release of Asylum of Satan. He made a total of nine films in six years and provided the music for the Pat Patterson quickie Dr. Gore. Girdler died in a helicopter accident in the Philippines after completing his final movie The Manitou.
Girdler wore many hats in respect to his filmmaking, writing six of his nine films and composing the music for three. He also produced two of his own movies. His early works were filmed in his hometown of Louisville, KY with the assistance of many friends and local investors. Girdler's first two low budget horror entries, Asylum of Satan and Three on a Meathook, made only a slight impact on the drive-in movie scene, but they got his foot in the door with Sam Arkoff and AIP. Girdler subsequently made three blaxploitation films: Zebra Killer, Abby, and Sheba Baby. After his AIP stint ended, Girdler directed the political thriller Project Kill starring Leslie Nielsen. Eager to return to horror, Girdler sought finances from Edward Montoro and thus brought Grizzly and Day of the Animals into the world. Girdler hoped to strike gold when he bought the rights to Graham Masterton's 1976 best-selling novel 'The Manitou' for $50,000, and he did just that. Within three months of securing the rights, Girdler began shooting the movie with Tony Curtis and Susan Strasberg in the leading roles.
William Girdler's most successful effort is Grizzly, a bleak Jaws knockoff starring a giant fuzzy bear. Made on a fairly tight budget, Grizzly ranked among the most successful films of 1976. Abby, a 1974 Exorcist rip-off which prompted a lawsuit from Warner Brothers, was also a box-office hit and made more money via domestic rentals than Blacula. Legal issues prevented Girdler from seeing profits for both films. Other box office hits born of Girdler include the Pam Grier vehicle Sheba Baby and The Manitou (a posthumous hit).- Actor
- Director
- Producer
After his school education, Gustaf Gründgens volunteered for the Western Front in 1916. The following year he joined the Saarlouis front theater group, which he led two years later. After the war, he trained from 1919 to 1920 at the Düsseldorf Theater School of Stage Arts. He took on his first roles at the municipal open-air theater and a year later an engagement at the municipal theaters in Halberstadt. This was followed by acting work in Kiel and Berlin. From 1923 Gustaf Gründgens played at the Kammerspiele in Hamburg. Within five years he took on 71 roles and directed 32 productions.
During this time he acquired a wide repertoire from classical drama to modern plays. In 1924 he made his debut as a director of plays such as "Anja and Esther" (1924) by Klaus Mann. In it he played the main role alongside Erika and Klaus Mann as well as Pamela Wiedekind. Gründgens married Erika Mann in 1926, but the marriage ended in divorce almost three years later. In 1927, Gründgens played at the Kammerspiele of the German Theater in Berlin. Productions and engagements at various stages in Berlin followed until 1933. In 1929 he directed his first opera, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's "The Marriage of Figaro". He appeared frequently in cabarets with Grethe Weiser and Ernst Busch.
Gründgen also began his film work during this time. Gründgens often played seducers, shady characters, bon vivants, con artists and blackmailers, who were later portrayed well in films. In 1932, Gründgens was engaged at the Prussian Theater. There he played his first role as Mephistopheles in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's "Faust". Two years later he took over the position of director at the State Theater and became a state actor. He was appointed State Councilor in 1936 and married the actress Marianne Hoppe. In 1937 Gustaf Gründgens became general director of the Prussian State Theater.
He also appeared in front of the film camera several times for titles such as "The Girl Johanna" (1935), "Dance on the Volcano" (1938) and in the propaganda film "Ohm Krüger" (1941). He also directed films such as the aviation comedy "Capriolen" and "The Step from the Way" (1938) with Marianne Hoppe. A propagandistic tendency includes Gründgen's film "Two Worlds" (1939), which tells of two boys' harvest work. In 1938 and 1941, Gründgens staged opera works in Berlin and Vienna. He achieved a personal success in 1941 with the new production of Goethe's tragedy "Faust I", in which he also played Mephistopheles. The following year he was a member of the troop support team in Norway and in 1943 he took part in the service in the replacement department as a private.
After the end of the war, Gründgens spent nine months in a Soviet internment camp. In the denazification process, he was exonerated by, among others, Ernst Busch. In 1946 he played at the Deutsches Theater in Berlin. His first role was that of Christian Maske in "The Snob" by Carl Sternheim. From 1947 to 1955, Gründgens headed the Düsseldorf Municipal Theater as general manager. He was then general director of the Deutsches Schauspielhaus Hamburg. His production of "Faust I," which he performed in Moscow and New York, became world-famous. The play was made into a film in 1960. After the 1962/63 season he resigned from the position of director.
Gustaf Gründgens died of a stomach hemorrhage in Manila on October 7, 1963, during a trip around the world.- Mico Palanca was born on 3 February 1978 in the Philippines. He was an actor, known for Bituing walang ningning (2006), Ang probinsyano (2015) and Yamashita: The Tiger's Treasure (2001). He died on 9 December 2019 in San Juan City, Metro Manila, Philippines.
- Dindo Fernando was born on 19 November 1940 in Virac, Catanduanes, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Langis at tubig (1980), Gaano kadalas ang minsan? (1982) and Magdusa ka! (1986). He died on 27 August 1987 in Manila, Philippines.
- Ronaldo Valdez was born on 27 November 1947 in Manila, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Loving Someone (1993), Sukob (2006) and Nasaan ang puso (1997). He was married to Maria Fe Ilagan Gibbs. He died on 17 December 2023 in Manila, Philippines.
- Actor
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
George Estregan was born on 10 July 1939 in Tondo, Manila, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Kid kaliwete (1978), Sa bulaklak ng apoy (1984) and Lumakad kang hubad... Sa mundong ibabaw (1980). He died on 8 August 1988 in Santa Mesa, Manila, Philippines.- Actress
- Producer
Susan Roces was born on 28 July 1941 in Bacolod City, Negros Occidental, Philippines. She was an actress and producer, known for Maligno (1977), Gumising ka... Maruja (1978) and Patayin mo sa sindak si Barbara (1974). She was married to Fernando Poe Jr.. She died on 20 May 2022 in Manila, Philippines.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Director
- Actor
Ricky Rivero was born on 7 May 1972 in Manila, Philippines. He was an assistant director and director, known for Eva Fonda (2008), Bakit may kahapon pa? (1996) and Magdusa ka! (1986). He died on 16 July 2023 in Manila, Philippines.- Dorothy Acueza Jones was born Jan 6 1936, the only child of Inocencia Acueza and American national John William Jones II. She finished high school at the Adamson University and took up Pre-law at the University of Sto Tomas (UST). She has a daughter, Kay Torres, by estranged husband Victorino Torres. Blanca was only 13 when she joined an amateur singing contest in Manila. Film star Delia Razon brought her to LVN matriarch Doña Sisang (Narcisa de Leon), who immediately cast her in Reyna Elena (1951). This was followed by Amor mio (1951), her first film appearance opposite Nestor de Villa, costarring Armando Goyena. Since then, she has appeared in numerous films, in various genres, but mostly with de Villa as a romantic and dancing partner. See Tumbalik na Daigdig (1953), Hijo de familia (1953), Waray-Waray (1954), the film which popularized her tomboyish, knife-wielding, man-battling persona; Ikaw Kasi (1955), Talusaling (1955), Darling Ko (1955), Ganyan Ka Pala (1956), Handang Matodas (1956), Bahala Na (1956), Turista (1957) and Tingnan Natin (1957). Still perpetuating her image as a tomboyish but lovable screwball, she also made Galawgaw (1956) opposite Jaime de la Rosa, who had earlier played leading man to her knife-wielding gamin in Batangueña (1953). Ms Blanca early on in her durable career could easily switch from screwball comedy to drama, as in Babaing Hampas-Lupa (1952), Rosalina (1957) and Limang Dalangin (1958). When LVN Studios stopped producing, Ms Blanca free-lanced, proving her mettle in a variety of films such as Shake, Baby, Shake (1966), Pag-Ibig, Masdan ang Ginawa Mo (1969), Forgive and Forget (1982), in which her popular love team with Nestor de Villa had a comeback, and My Heart Belongs to Daddy (1982), among many others. All in all, Ms Blanca made some 50 films with the dashing de Villa. Television proved to be very viable for Ms Blanca too. The "Nida-Nestor Show" and "John 'en' Marsha" became two of the longest-running sitcoms on Filipino television. In Fifty-Carats, O Di Ba? (1993), she shared top-billing with veterans Gloria Romero and the late Charito Solis. She also appeared in the television soap Mana-Mana. Ms Blanca has won 16 awards for her film work. She won the very first Best Supporting Actress award from the Film Academy of Movie Arts & Sciences (FAMAS) for her role as a tragic Korean woman, Lee Ming, who falls in love with Filipino soldier Boni Serrano in the film Korea (1952). She also won the best supporting actress award at the Metro Manila Film Festival for Batu-Bato Sa Langit (1975); Best Actress awards simultaneously from Film Academy of the Philippines (FAP), Gawad Urian Awards and Catholic Mass Media Awards for Miguelito, Ang Batang Rebelde (1985); Best Supporting Actress awards from FAP and FAMAS for Magdusa Ka (1986); and Best Supporting Actress awards from FAP, FAMAS and CMMA for Kid, Huwag Kang Susuko (1987). She was also twice winner of the Citizens' Award for Television (CAT) for Best Female TV Performer for the Nida-Nestor Show; and three-time winner of the Pambansang Akademya ng Telebisyon sa Agham at Sining (PATAS) award in 1975, 1976 and 1978, as Most Outstanding Actress in a Comedy Series, for John 'en' Marsha. In 1997, she won Best Supporting Actress for Babae (1997), from the FAP and the Metro Manila Film Festival. Two years later, still proving her timeless mettle, she won Best Actress at the FAMAS ceremonies for her work in Sana, Pag-Ibig Na (1998). She was top-billed for this film-- no mean feat, considering she was 62 years old. In 2000 and 2002, the Gawad Urian Awards and the FAP, respectively, honored her with the Lifetime Achievement Award. Ms Blanca was horrendously murdered in a parking lot in November 7, 2001. Her gruesome murder remains unsolved to this day.
- Mark Gil was born on 25 September 1961 in Manila, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Zuma (1985), Palipat-lipat, papalit-palit (1982) and Agaw armas (1986). He was married to Maricar Jacinto-Eigenmann, Irene Celebre, Jaclyn Jose and Bing Pimentel. He died on 1 September 2014 in Manila, Philippines.
- Tessie Quintana was born on 17 July 1931 in Santa Rosa, Laguna, Philippines. She was an actress, known for Alaala kita (1961), Batas ng puso (1958) and Sa Tokyo ikinasal (1948). She died on 25 February 1969 in Manila, Philippines.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
The young Poe, only 16 years old, had dropped out of second year high (the farthest he got in school) to work as messenger for a film exchange at php18 a week,. Some friends of his at Everlasting Studio thought of him during a scene where a knife had to hit on a tree. Knives are usually wired for such scenes; but Ronnie was called in when the director heard he could hit the target with an unwired knife. He did - and got treated to a beer blowout by the crew. Markmanship and horsemanship were really got him into the movies. Those childhood summers in Baguio when he rode the ponies on Burnham Park, all the riding lessons he ever had, stood him in good stead when he turned movie "double." It started when lead star Lilia Dizon, who was doing Simaron (1956) with co-star Johnny Moreiro, sprained an ankle and couldn't do a riding scene, Asked to do it for her, Ronnie put on a shirt, tied on a bandana, made like a girl on a horse, and exhibited such riding skill. He became a regular stuntman st Everlasting, where he doubled in riding and other action sense.- Augusto Victa was an actor, known for Missing in Action (1984), Eskapo (1995) and Heatseeker (1995). He was married to Elisa. He died on 18 March 2019 in Manila, Philippines.
- Actress
Mona Lisa was born on 22 June 1922 in Manila, Philippines. She was an actress, known for Insiang (1976), Cain at Abel (1982) and Huwag mong salingin ang sugat ko (1991). She was married to Abelardo Guinto. She died on 25 August 2019 in Manila, Philippines.- Writer
- Director
- Producer
Danilo Zialcita was born in Manila. During his long career, he made 52 films as director - 22 of which he wrote either the story or screenplay or both. Zialcita has explored various genres that included action, drama, suspense and comedy.- Writer
- Soundtrack
Jose Rizal was born on 19 June 1861 in Calamba, Laguna, Philippines. He was a writer, known for El filibusterismo (1962), Sisa (1951) and Noli me tangere (1930). He died on 30 December 1896 in Bagumbayan [now Luneta], Manila, Philippines.- Actor
- Composer
- Writer
Eddie Peregrina was born on 11 November 1944 in Manila, Philippines. He was an actor and composer, known for Mardy (1969), What Am I Living For (1970) and Make Laugh, Not War (1971). He died on 30 April 1977 in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila, Philippines.- Actor
- Art Department
Lito Legaspi was born on 10 September 1941 in the Philippines. He was an actor, known for Sinong kapiling? Sinong kasiping? (1977), Ilustrado (2014) and Ang probinsyano (2015). He died on 8 September 2019 in San Juan, Metro Manila, Philippines.- Bert Olivar was born on 16 July 1921 in Manila, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Tagani (1956), Zuma (1985) and Kilabot sa barilan (1961). He was married to Rosalina Mendoza. He died on 30 March 2001 in Manila, Philippines.
- Ace Vergel was born on 22 January 1952 in the Philippines. He was an actor, known for Pieta (1983), Anak ng cabron (1988) and Basag ang pula (1984). He was married to Maya de la Cuesta. He died on 15 December 2007 in Sta. Cruz, Manila, Philippines.
- Director
- Actor
- Writer
Gerardo de Leon was born on 12 September 1913 in Manila, Philippines. He was a director and actor, known for Noli me tángere (1961), Huwag Mo Akong Limutin (1960) and El filibusterismo (1962). He died on 25 July 1981 in Manila, Philippines.- Cecille Iñigo was an actress, known for Tusong Twosome (2001), Wonder Dabiana (1978) and Pepeng Kuryente (1988). She died on 17 March 2005 in Paranaque, Metro Manila, Philippines.
- Mario Montenegro was born on 25 July 1928 in Pagsanjan, Laguna, Philippines. He was an actor, known for Venganza (1958), Anak ng supremo (1986) and Rebelde (1958). He was married to Letty Alonzo. He died in August 1988 in Manila, Philippines.