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1-15 of 15
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Known to classic film fans by various nicknames--including Miss Deadpan, Frozen Face, and Miss Ice Glacier--this statuesque, dark-haired singer/actress carved a unique niche for herself on stage and screen by the hilarious Sphinx-like way she delivered a song. The daughter of the captain of detectives of the Los Angeles Police Department, Virginia Lee O'Brien became interested in music and dance at an early age (it didn't hurt her career chances that her uncle was noted film director Lloyd Bacon). Her big show-business break came in 1939 after she secured a singing role in the L.A. production of the musical/comedy "Meet the People". On opening night, when time came for her solo number, Virginia became so paralyzed with fright that she sang her song with a wide-eyed motionless stare that sent the audience (which thought her performance a gag) into convulsions. Demoralized, Virginia left the stage only to soon find out that she was a sensation.
Signed by MGM in 1940, she deadpanned her way to acclaim and immense popularity with appearances in some of the studio's most memorable musicals including Thousands Cheer (1943), The Harvey Girls (1946), Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), Ziegfeld Follies (1945), Panama Hattie (1942), Ship Ahoy (1942), Meet the People (1944) and Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), performing inimitable renditions of such classic songs as "The Wild Wild West" (from The Harvey Girls), "A Fine Romance" (from Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)), "It's a Great Big World" (from The Harvey Girls (1946)), "Poor You" (from Ship Ahoy (1942)), and "Say We're Sweethearts Again" (from Meet the People (1944)).
Although too often relegated to featured songs and small supporting roles, she still managed to become an audience favorite by the sheer force of her personality, polished vocals and way with a comic quip. The latter ability is especially apparent in one of her last MGM films, Merton of the Movies (1947), in which she co-starred with Red Skelton. In 1948, after 17 memorable screen appearances for MGM, the studio unceremoniously dropped her from its roster. She returned to films only twice more after her termination from MGM, in Universal's Francis in the Navy (1955) and Disney's Gus (1976), preferring to focus her energies on television and the stage, where she delighted audiences for three more decades.
In the 1980s the still youthful beauty toured the country in a one-woman show and recorded a live album at the famed Masquers Club entitled, "A Salute to the Great MGM Musicals". One of her last significant stage appearances came in 1984 as Parthy Ann in the Long Beach Civic Light Opera's production of "Showboat", with Alan Young. She remained in semi-retirement in a large home in Wrightwood, California, for most of her later years until her death at the Motion Picture Country Hospital in Woodland Hills in January, 2001.- Katherine Anderson was born on 9 May 1911 in San Francisco, California, USA. She was an actress, known for Tight Spot (1955), Guiding Light (1952) and Queen Bee (1955). She was married to Poul W. Fricke. She died on 16 January 2001 in the USA.
- Peter Armstrong was born on 20 May 1936 in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. He was an actor, known for Babe: Pig in the City (1998), Color Me Dead (1969) and Stir (1980). He was married to Sammy Armstrong. He died on 16 January 2001 in Australia.
- Richard Woods was born on 9 May 1923 in Buffalo, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for Miller's Crossing (1990), I.Q. (1994) and The Hudsucker Proxy (1994). He died on 16 January 2001 in Englewood, New Jersey, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Sigurd Werring was born on 8 March 1930 in Kristiansand, Norway. He was an actor and writer, known for Skuggen av ein helt (1972), Svendsen går videre (1949) and Marerittet (1989). He died on 16 January 2001.- Anne-Marie Jabraud was born on 20 December 1935 in Paris, France. She was an actress, known for Les enquêtes du commissaire Maigret (1967), Preuve d'amour (1988) and Les brigades du Tigre (1974). She died on 16 January 2001 in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, France.
- Jackie Cosbey was born on 4 April 1924 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He was an actor, known for Carolina (1934). He died on 16 January 2001 in Carson City, Nevada, USA.
- Carl King was born on 30 July 1921 in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. He was an actor, known for Man Against Crime (1949), Captain Video and His Video Rangers (1949) and The Favor (1994). He was married to Jean King. He died on 16 January 2001 in North Palm Beach, Florida, USA.
- Nancy was born and raised in Sacramento, California, and graduated from Encina High School in the class of 1974. After graduation she stayed in Sacramento until 1977, when she moved to the Los Angeles area, where that same year she enrolled in California State University, Fullerton. She continued live and work in the Los Angeles area until her death in 2001, where she was living in West Hills.
In 1997, she adopted her daughter, Julianna, who was four at the time of her death. Nancy's parents Gino and Emily Ziliotto, who were very close to both Nancy and Julianna, brought Julianna back to Sacramento to live with them. Nancy's body was then returned to Sacramento, where she was buried at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery.
At the time of her death, Nancy had been employed at Warner Bros. Studio for 14 years. While there, she worked as an administrator, holding various positions for numerous executives. During her last year there she co-wrote, along with her husband, Christopher Dane Owens the screenplay, "Gabriel's Gift," which was subsequently sold to producer/director Robert Marcarelli. - Auberon Waugh was born on 17 November 1939 in Dulverton, Somerset, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Thirty Minute Theatre (1961), Good News Week (1996) and Television Scrabble (1984). He was married to Teresa Lorraine Onslow. He died on 16 January 2001 in Combe Florey, Somerset, England, UK.
- Archie Fire Lame Deer was born in Corn Creek, South Dakota, on the rosebud Sioux reservation. His father was John Fire Lame Deer, a well-known Lakota holy man. He enlisted in the army twice and was a veteran of the Korean War, a member of the special forces and a p.o.w. With Richard Erdoes. He wrote Gift of Power: the life and teachings of a Lakota medicine man.
- Edward Patton was born on 3 May 1952. He died on 16 January 2001 in Overland Park, Kansas, USA.
- Former president of the United Auto Workers, Woodcock became well known for his role of re-establishing full diplomatic ties between the U.S. and China during the Carter administration. Appointed U.S. Ambassador to China in 1979, Woodcock helped open the U.S. Embassy in Beijing in 1979, and served as a tour guide to Chinese President Deng during his 9-day tour of the United States in 1979.
- Wanda Pilsudska was born on 7 February 1918 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland. She died on 16 January 2001 in Warsaw, Mazowieckie, Poland.
- Production Designer
- Set Decorator
- Costume Designer
Marcel Bogos was born on 28 August 1926 in Galati, Romania. He was a production designer and set decorator, known for The Swashbuckler (1971), Un comisar acuzã (1974) and Secretul cifrului (1960). He died on 16 January 2001 in Bucharest, Romania.