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1-17 of 17
- Actor
- Writer
- Producer
Actor and comedian fondly remembered as the curmudgeonly reprobate Claude Jeremiah Greengrass in the long-running nostalgic police drama Heartbeat (1992). Greengrass had been written as a minor background character, but -- given a fair amount of latitude for interpreting his part -- Maynard was able to infuse the old rascal with outsize personality and humour which resulted into his becoming a popular mainstay. The son of a gardener and a laundry worker, Maynard (born Walter Frederick George Williams, he later adopted his nom de plume from Charles Gordon Maynard, creator of 'Maynard's Wine Gums') came from relatively humble beginnings. Displaying an early aptitude for music, he learned to sing and dance, play ukulele, mandolin and guitar.
By the age of nine he began performing in local clubs and music halls. From there, he progressed to repertory theatre, touring army camps with Jon Pertwee, making a few recordings for Decca and EMI, even managing a gig as a stand-up comic -- in between a strip show -- at The Windmill in London. In the 50s Maynard emerged as a proper TV star (sharing top billing with Terry Scott) in Great Scott, It's Maynard (1955). Having suddenly become a household name, he was now earning £ 1000 a week. Ironically, his ambition of becoming 'a serious actor' backfired and a return to repertory led to much reduced circumstances and a hiatus in his career. Though he eventually appeared in more than 30 films, he regarded none of them as particularly worthwhile and declared in a 2013 interview: "I enjoyed doing them. It was a laugh, but they weren't great. They damaged my reputation".
In the mid-70s, having very wisely returned to his forte with consecutive hits in TV sitcoms: as a roving-eyed widower in The Life of Riley (1975), as the hapless, klutzy protagonist of Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt (1974), and as grouchy, relentlessly misanthropic Fred Moffatt, forever evading and outwitting his creditors in The Gaffer (1981). In between, he also had diverse guest roles, including in, among others, Worzel Gummidge (1979), Minder (1979) and Dalziel and Pascoe (1996). Between 2003 and 2008, he also hosted his own -- sometimes controversial -- radio chat show on BBC Leicester, Maynard's Bill of Fare.
Having suffered a stroke in 2000 and forced to leave Heartbeat after season ten, Maynard eventually resurfaced in occasional guest appearances for the 2003 spin-off, The Royal (2003). Subsequently confined to wheelchairs and mobility scooters he latterly gave lectures at universities on humour and acting.
Bill Maynard passed away in a Leicestershire hospital on 30 March 2018 at the age of 89.- Actor
- Writer
- Stunts
Michael Polley is the Anglo-Canadian actor best known for his connection to the actress-director Sarah Polley, the offspring of his late wife, Diane Polley. Michael Polley was born in England in 1933 and studied acting during the 1950s; one of his classmates was Albert Finney, who compared the profession of acting to that of bricklaying.
Polley emigrated to Canada, settling in the Toronto metropolitan area, and practiced his craft on the stage. He married the former Diane MacMillian and the couple had four children, including the actor Mark Polley and producer John Buchan (their other children are a lawyer and a university professor), before Sarah entered the world when both were in their forties. Although Diane Polley was a professional actress, she made a name for herself as a casting director, and it was in that capacity that she launched her daughter Sarah's career when the precocious tyke was four (brother Mark had been a child actor, also). Both Michael and Diane objected to her pursuit of an acting career at so tender an age, but the young Sarah insisted and they relented.
Michael Polley supported his family as an insurance agent, but when young Sarah's career took off, he was there for her, acting as a guardian for her on sets, such as Terry Gilliam's The Adventures of Baron Munchausen (1988), in which he had a bit part. Michael is best-known as an actor for his recurring role as the town doctor on his daughter's TV series Avonlea (1990). Still acting in his seventies, Michael recently was cast in a major part in Sarah's TV-series directorial debut, The Shields Stories (2004).
His relationship to Sarah Polley was explored in her documentary Stories We Tell (2012), in which he is also featured.- Make-Up Department
Geralyn Wraith created the makeup, designing prosthetics and special makeup effects for "The Kids in the Hall". Ever since their first season, she was instrumental in helping create the innumerable characters for the series. Wraith received a Civilian Citation Award from the Metro Intelligence for whom she did the ultimate makeup job of her career, resulting in the arrest of two Toronto businessmen for conspiracy to murder charges. Born in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan into a military family of Irish/Ojibway descent, she moved to Toronto, Ontario and joined the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation network in 1975. Self employed, since 1993, Geralyn, brings years of experience to the makeup field. Her skills encompass makeup design, continuity, teaching, budgeting, interpersonal skills, lace hair pieces and wig knowledge. Please note that in Canada a "Key" credit means the same as a Makeup Dept. Head credit.- Doreen Mary English was born on 8 March 1915 in Norfolk, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Please Believe Me (1950). She was married to Henry John Heinz II, John Mackenzie Robertson and Dale Maher. She died on 30 March 2018 in Lasswade, Scotland, UK.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Soundtrack
Christophe Salengro was born on 9 August 1953 in Lens, Pas-de-Calais, France. He was an actor and assistant director, known for The City of Lost Children (1995), The Truth About Charlie (2002) and Le défi (2002). He died on 30 March 2018 in Paris, France.- Anna Hulmanova was an actress, known for Blue Moon (2002), Frankenstein (2004) and Guvernantka (2012). She died on 30 March 2018 in Zilina, Slovakia.
- Daisy Craig Kadibill was born in 1923 in Australia. She died on 30 March 2018 in South Hedland, Western Australia, Australia.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Michael Tree was born on 19 February 1934 in Newark, New Jersey, USA. He was an actor, known for Music of the Heart (1999), Bipolar (2006) and Camera Three (1955). He was married to Jani Kreck and Marlene Kleinman. He died on 30 March 2018 in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA.- Kebay Khusainov was born on 27 March 1945 in Alma-Ata, Kazakh SSR, USSR [now Almaty, Kazakhstan]. He was an actor, known for Tam, gde tsvetut edelveysy (1966). He died on 30 March 2018 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
- Anna Chennault was born on 23 June 1923 in Beijing, China. She was married to Claire Chennault. She died on 30 March 2018 in Washington, USA.
- Sonja Westerbergh was born on 20 July 1932 in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She was an actress, known for Damen i svart (1958), Moln över Hellesta (1956) and Hällebäcks gård (1961). She was married to Axel Scholander. She died on 30 March 2018 in Örnsköldsvik, Västernorrlands län, Sweden.
- Sara Eldritch was born on 3 April 1984 in Westminster, Colorado, USA. She was an actress, known for I Believe (2017) and Shovel (2018). She died on 30 March 2018 in Fremont County, Colorado, USA.
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Production Manager
Dominik Zen was born on 10 September 1946 in Imotski, Croatia, Yugoslavia. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Ecce Homo (1992), Tudjinac (1991) and Oko (1978). He died on 30 March 2018 in Zagreb, Croatia.- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Andrzej Reiter was born on 6 June 1942 in Miechów, Malopolskie, Poland. He was an assistant director, known for The Tin Drum (1979), Pierscien i róza (1987) and Czule miejsca (1981). He died on 30 March 2018.- Additional Crew
Ivor Forbes Guest was born on 20 April 1920 in Chislehurst, Kent, England, UK. Ivor Forbes is known for The Magic of Dance (1979). Ivor Forbes was married to Ann Hutchinson. Ivor Forbes died on 30 March 2018 in London, England, UK.- Amanda Eldritch was born on 3 April 1984 in Westminster, Colorado, USA. She was an actress, known for I Believe (2017) and Shovel (2018). She died on 30 March 2018 in Fremont County, Colorado, USA.
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Sabahudin Kurt was born on 18 July 1935 in Sarajevo, Drina Banovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia. He was an actor, known for Karadjoz (1969), Pepeljuga 66 (1966) and Sest svecanih pozivnica (1961). He was married to Ismeta. He died on 30 March 2018 in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.