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- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
- Soundtrack
This boyish-looking New York-born actor of film and (especially) TV was born in 1928 and signed by Columbia at the onset of his teen career. Also known as Donald Dubbins, he started off playing earnest young cadet types in the war films From Here to Eternity (1953) (as a young bugler) and The Caine Mutiny (1954). It was superstar James Cagney who took a distinct liking to the rookie actor and prominently displayed him in two of his subsequent films. In These Wilder Years (1956), Dubbins played Cagney's long-lost adopted son and, in the western Tribute to a Bad Man (1956), he forms an unlikely romantic triangle with cattle boss Cagney and senorita Irene Papas. He also was at the mercy of Jack Webb's title character as a private in the Dragnet-styled military film The D.I. (1957). He subsequently played a frequent suspect on several episodes of the Dragnet 1967 (1967) series. Finishing up the 1950s, he was a part of the cast in the Jules Verne sci-fi picture From the Earth to the Moon (1958).
Although Dubbins never became a box office name, he certainly was a reliable asset on TV and was seen in a host of character roles over the years, not to mention a good number of smaller parts in such films as The Prize (1963) and The Learning Tree (1969). A character player adept at both good guys and bad guys, he retired completely in the late 1980s after filming episodes of Dynasty (1981), Highway to Heaven (1984) and Knots Landing (1979). He succumbed to cancer less than a decade later in 1991 at the age of 63.- Isabel Cooley was born on 20 July 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. She was an actress, known for Cleopatra (1963), Real Genius (1985) and Parenthood (1989). She was married to Addison S Collins Jr.. She died on 3 January 2000 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA.
- John Shearin was born on 27 September 1944 in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Hunter (1984), Eating Raoul (1982) and American Gothic (1995). He was married to Jennifer Wilson. He died on 9 April 2017 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Tiani Warden was born on 9 September 1967 in Santa Monica, California, USA. She was an actress, known for The Rage (1997), The Chain (1996) and Rough Riders (1997). She was married to Rodney Alan Crivac, Gary Busey and Jerry S. Sadler. She died on 4 November 2019 in Greenville, Texas, USA.
- Doris Dudley was born on 7 July 1917 in New York City, New York, USA. She was an actress, known for The Moon and Sixpence (1942), The Secret Fury (1950) and A Woman Rebels (1936). She died on 14 August 1985 in Greenville, Texas, USA.
- Annie Oakley (born Phoebe Ann Mosey) was an American professional sharpshooter from Ohio. She starred for several years in Buffalo Bill's Wild West show. Her stage acts were filmed for one of Thomas Edison's earliest Kinetoscopes in 1894. Later in life, Oakley trained other women in marksmanship. She was an advocate for female self-defense.
Oakley was born in a rural area of Darke County, Ohio, not far from the the state's border with Indiana, in 1860. Her family's residence was located 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the settlement of Woodland (later renamed to Willowdell). Oakley's father was the farmer Jacob Mosey (1799-1866), a veteran of the War of 1812 (1812-1815). Oakley's mother was Susan Wise (1830-1908), who was 31 years younger than her husband. Both parents were Quakers from Pennsylvania, and they were both of English descent. Oakley was the 6th of 9 children born to this couple.
In the winter of 1865, Jacob Mosey was caught in a blizzard. Hypothermia turned him into an invalid. He died months later, having never recovered from the ordeal. In 1867, Oakley learned how to trap animals in order to supplement her family's income. In 1868, Oakley learned how to handle firearms and how to hunt animals with them. She sold the hunted game to restaurants and hotels.
In March 1870, Oakley was placed in the Darke County Infirmary. Nancy Edington, the superintendent's wife, trained Oakley in sewing and decorating. Months later, Oakley was hired as a servant by a local family. The family promised her a meager salary (0.50 dollars per week) and help in financing her education. They reneged on both promises.
From 1870 to 1872, Oakley was mentally and physically abused by her employers. She was treated as an unpaid slave instead of a servant. She eventually run away. In her autobiography, she nicknamed these employers as "the wolves". She never mentioned their real names. Modern biographers are uncertain whether her employers were the Studabaker family or the Boose family.
In 1872, Oakley moved in with the Edington family, who she knew from the Infirmary. In 1875, Oakley moved into her mother's house for the first time in 5 years. She used her hunting skills to become her family's main breadwinner. Her earnings allowed her to soon pay off the mortgage on her mother's farm.
In November 1875, professional sharpshooter Frank E. Butler (1847-1926), placed a 100 dollars bet (per side). He claimed that he could beat any sharpshooter in Ohio. Oakley took on the challenge, and a match was arranged between the two sharpshooters. Oakley won the match, and impressed Butler. Soon after the match, Butler started courting Oakley. They were married on June 20, 1882, after Butler received a divorce from his first wife. They remained married for 44 years.
Oakley started professionally performing as a sharpshooter in the late 1870s or early 1880s. She took the stage name "Oakley", reputedly naming herself after the neighborhood of Oakley, Cincinnati. She and Butler had settled in the neighborhood during the early years of her relationship.
In 1885, Oakley and Butler were hired as performers by "Buffalo Bill's Wild West", a circus-like attraction that toured annually. The owner was the showman Buffalo Bill (1846-1917), who was a veteran of both the American Civil War and the American Indian Wars. Early in her career in the show, Oakley developed a professional rivalry with one of her co-workers, the sharpshooter Lillian Smith (1871-1930). Smith was younger than Oakley, and was trying to upstage her.
In the late 1880s, Oakley and Buffalo Bill's Wild West toured Europe. Oakley performed her act for (among others) Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom (1819-1901, reigned 1837-1901), Marie Francois Sadi Carnot, President of France (1837-1894, term 1887-1894). Umberto I, King of Italy (1844-1900, reigned 1878-1900), and Wilhelm II, German Emperor (1859-1941, reigned 1888-1918). Oakley won favorable reviews by the European press.
In 1894, Oakley starred in Thomas Edison's Kinetoscope film "The Little Sure Shot of the Wild West, an exhibition of rifle shooting at glass balls, etc". It was a filming of her act, making Oakley one of the earliest performers to be filmed. In 1898, Oakley volunteered for service in the Spanish-American War (1898). Her offer was turned down by the government of President William McKinley (1843-1901, term 1897-1901), likely because of her gender.
In 1901, Oakley was seriously injured in a train accident. She was temporarily paralyzed, and endured five spinal operations in order to regain her mobility. She resigned from Buffalo Bill's Wild West during her recovery. In 1902, Oakley acted professionally in the Western-themed stage play "The Western Girl".
In 1904, Oakley filed 55 libel lawsuits against various newspapers. Most of them were owned by newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst (1863-1951). The newspapers had published a false news story than Oakley was a cocaine addict and a habitual thief. They had confused Oakley with a burlesque performer who used "Annie Oakley" as an alias. By 1910, Oakley had won 54 of the 55 lawsuits.
In 1912, Oakley and Butler settled for a few years in Cambridge, Maryland. In 1917, they moved to North Carolina. Oakley continued performing into the 1920s. In 1922, Oakley was injured in a car accident, forced to wear a a steel brace on her right leg. She made a comeback performance in 1923, and set new shooting records in 1924.
In 1925, Oakley's health declined and she was forced to retire from performing. She died in November 1926, at the age of 66. The reported cause of death was pernicious anemia, caused by a deficiency of vitamin B12. Her body was cremated, and her ashes were buried at Brock Cemetery, located in the vicinity of Greenville, Ohio.
Oakley was survived by her husband Frank Butler, who died 18 days after Oakley's death. Butler had reportedly refused to eat anything after his wife's death. They had no children. Oakley did not leave much of an inheritance to her relatives, as she had donated most of her personal fortune to charities. Her incomplete autobiography was inherited by actor Fred Stone (1873-1959). Oakley's name remains associated with the legends of the "Wild West", and there have been several adaptations of her life in fiction. - Actor
- Stunts
Dave Mirra was born on 4 April 1974 in Syracuse, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for George Lopez (2002), Las Vegas (2003) and Nitro Circus (2009). He was married to Lauren Blackwell. He died on 4 February 2016 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.- Actor
- Director
Hugh began acting in public in the third grade. When he was 8 years old, he told his father that he wanted to go to Hollywood and be an actor, but his father discouraged it. He graduated Lee Senior High School and Central Carolina Community College, earning his Associate Degree in Communication. He also served in the US Air Force as a military policeman. Until 1995, his acting venues had been limited to stage, with leads in such productions as "A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum" (Marcus Lycus), "South Pacific" (Luther Billis), and "Night Must Fall" (Inspector Belsize). In 1995 he began a recurring role on a local television kid's show. In 1997 he got the male lead in the VisualQuest production of a prospective television pilot entitled "Letters From The Shoebox". However, the project never got off the ground. Hugh continued his stage performances with "Driving Miss Daisy" (Hoke), "The Wizard of Oz" (Professor Marvel/Oz) and "To Kill A Mockingbird" (Reverend Sykes)- the former of which he won the local civic theater's version of the Oscar. In 2001, he had a major supporting role in the Dave Christiano film, Late One Night (2001). This union with Christiano won him the role of Jon Gates, a principal character on the light Christian drama 7th Street Theater (2007), which aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), as well as the NRB Network, Cornerstone Television and I-Life. In 2006, he had a guest role on the Christian sitcom, Pastor Greg (2005) and in 2008, showed up in two major films with religious themes; Me & You, Us, Forever (2008) (Paul) released by Five & Two Pictures, and the modern version of the John Bunyan classic Pilgrim's Progress (2008) (Evangelist), produced by DRC Productions and directed by Danny Carrales ("Final Exit" "The Gathering" "Escape From Hell").- John Dickson Carr was born on 30 November 1906 in Uniontown, Pennsylvania, USA. He was a writer, known for The Man with a Cloak (1951), Dangerous Crossing (1953) and The Burning Court (1962). He was married to Clarice Cleaves. He died on 27 February 1977 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Robert C. Bruce was born on 6 October 1914 in White Salmon, Washington, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for This Is the Life (1952), Having a Wonderful Time with Angels in Dirty Places (1938) and Bravo, Mr. Strauss (1943). He was married to Catharine Burnap. He died on 24 August 2003 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Director
- Producer
In 36 years she directed 72 productions including sermon films, promotional films, multi-image presentations, and feature-length films. In 1950, Katherine Stenholm was directing a stage play of "Cyrano" when she was approached by Dr. Bob Jones Sr., founder of Bob Jones University, Greenville, SC, to take on the task of starting a Cinema Department for the school. She was surprised as his request since she had no experience in film, but continued on to gain an in-depth education in filmmaking, both in graduate study at USC and through contacts made within the industry. Peter Mole, founder of Mole-Richardson Co., provided all the lighting needs for the new studio built on the campus, called "Unusual Films." After directing a number of short ministry films for evangelist Dr. Bob Jones Sr., Katherine Stenholm swung into the feature length production of "Wine of Morning." This film is based upon a novel written by Dr. Bob Jr., a reinvention of the story of Barabbas, the murderer chosen to be released in place of Jesus, right before the crucifixion. In 1955, "Wine of Morning" won the National Evangelical Film Foundation awards for best film, best director, best actor, and best producer of the year. This was also selected by the University Film Producers Association (now University Film and Video Association) to represent the United States at the International Film Festival in Cannes, France for a meeting of the International Congress of Motion Picture and Television Schools in 1958. Katherine Stenholm was one of the keynote speakers at the Cannes Festival and later gave a keynote address at the International Congress of Motion Picture and Television Schools held in Paris soon after. In addition to her teaching responsibilities, she continued to run the Unusual Films' studios until 1986. Film students gained a distinct advantage under her guidance as she held high standards of filmmaking. All students were required to read "American Cinematographer" cover to cover every month, and countless other texts. All students were required to write / direct / edit a 16mm short film their sophomore year (added in late 1970s). All students were required to put in a set amount of hours working at the film studio, in various positions, to complement their classroom time. Those who passed these rigors, while maintaining passing grades in all their other university courses, were then eligible to assist in the production of the feature films Katherine Stenholm directed. In addition, she required that EACH senior level student write / produce / direct / edit a 16mm film for their senior thesis, in order to graduate-all the while continuing to assist in the studio's productions. In 1986, while filming in Russia for her then-upcoming film, "The Printing," she suffered a minor stroke in Moscow. It was difficult to get through the red tape to get her a flight from Moscow to Helsinki because she and her team were with a tour group that was set to fly out from Leningrad to Helsinki. Once the task was accomplished and she returned home to the States, Tim Rogers was named as the director of Unusual Films and he directed "The Printing" in her place. During her illness, many students rallied to aid her in household chores and anything else needed. Though she retired from directing when her health recovered, she returned to teach the directing class until the 1999/2000 school year.- Michelle Sasser was born on 9 October 1966 in Havre de Grace, Maryland, USA. She was an actress, known for Blue Velvet (1986). She died on 24 September 2004 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Actor
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Outstanding lead trumpeter who received financial help from his friend Glenn Miller to start up his first band in 1940. Miller also furnished Spivak's publicity tag line: "The Man who plays the sweetest Trumpet in the World". Charlie had already had a very prolific career as a band sideman, having started as a teenager with Paul Specht's orchestra, later working with Tommy Dorsey, Bob Crosby and Charley Teagarden, among others. It took him several months to adjust to his new role as a bandleader, confronting a break-up and re-forming of the outfit prior to his first big gig at the at the Glen Island Casino. Star comedian Sid Caesar was featured as a saxophonist in this orchestra and the arrangements were by ex-bandleader Sonny Burke. Nelson Riddle played trombone and Charlie show-cased himself on trumpet using his specially designed mute.
Over the next few years, Spivak was booked into some of the top spots including the Hollywood Palladium, Frank Dailey's Meadowbrook and the Café Rouge of the Hotel Pennsylvania. In late 1941, the great (but sadly short-lived) drummer Davey Tough joined the band and June Hutton fronted a vocal quartet known as the Stardusters. With the addition of trumpeter Les Elgart and ex-Lunceford saxophonist Willie Smith, the Spivak Orchestra developed into one of the smoothest and most popular outfits in the country, even being featured with Betty Grable in the movie Pin Up Girl (1944). The band's first recordings (for Okeh) were arranged by Nelson Riddle.
In the 1950's, Spivak and his wife, former Gene Krupa vocalist Irene Daye, settled in Florida. He continued to front a big band until the early 60's when he reduced to a 7-piece dance combo which enjoyed frequent engagements in Las Vegas. His very last musical tenure was in Greenville, South Carolina.- Rodman Law was born on 21 January 1885 in Lynn, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for At the Risk of His Life (1912), The Daredevil Mountaineer (1913) and Saved by Airship (1913). He was married to Florence K. Kimball. He died on 14 October 1919 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Calep Emphrey Jr. was born on 1 May 1949 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA. He was an actor, known for Heart and Souls (1993). He was married to Bernadine Hinton. He died on 25 April 2017 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA.
- Westin Keeler was born on 27 May 1990 in the USA. Westin was an actor, known for Step by Step (1991). Westin died on 20 May 2015 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Producer
- Actor
Donald Zanzie was born on 10 June 1957 in St. Louis, Missouri. He was a producer and actor, known for A Thousand Deaths (2014), The Parasite (2015) and Mark Twain's Bad Boy Without Grief (2013). He died on 22 January 2023 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Composer
- Music Department
- Soundtrack
Warren Barker was born on 16 April 1923 in Oakland, California, USA. He was a composer, known for Hello, Dolly! (1969), Everglades! (1961) and Ripcord (1961). He was married to Mary. He died on 3 August 2006 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Additional Crew
Monty Stratton was born on 21 May 1912 in Celeste, Texas, USA. Monty is known for The Stratton Story (1949). Monty died on 29 September 1982 in Greenville, Texas, USA.- Cheyenne Little was born on 14 May 1994 in Greenville, Texas, USA. She died on 14 April 2021 in Greenville, Texas, USA.
- Bo Griffin was born on 14 August 1957 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA. She died on 16 February 2010 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Jonathan Hayes was born on 2 March 1948 in Spokane, Washington, USA. He was an actor, known for Night Vision (1997), Last Fair Deal (2002) and Howlers (2019). He was married to Jeanie Francis-Hayes. He died on 15 December 2021 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Soundtrack
Blues singer and guitarist T-Model Ford was born as James Lewis Carter Ford in 1924 in the small rural town of Forest, Mississippi. By age eleven T-Model was plowing a field behind a mule on his family's farm. Ford got a job at a local saw mill in his early teens. T-Model eventually secured an even better job as a truck driver for a bigger lumber company. Moreover, Ford was sentenced to a chain gang for ten years for murder. Luckily, he was released after serving only two years of his sentence. In addition, T-Model also worked at a logging camp. He recorded four fabulously lowdown rough and dirty albums for the label Fat Possum Records: "Pee-Wee Get My Gun," "You Better Keep Still," "She Ain't None of Your'n," and "Bad Man." With his savage moan of a ragged voice and gritty guitar playing style, Ford brought a gloriously raw and blunt ferocity to Mississippi Delta blues music that was both passionate and powerful in equal measure. T-Model appeared as himself in the charming comedy short feature "Lohues Gets the Blues" and the excellent documentary "You See Me Laughin'." In 2008 Ford released the albums "Jack Daniel Time" and "Don't Get Out Talkin' It." T-Model lived in Greenville, Mississippi with his girlfriend Stella. He died on July 16, 2013 in Greenville.- Joe Jackson was born on 16 July 1889 in Pickens County, South Carolina, USA. He was married to Katherine Wynn. He died on 5 December 1951 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Cinematographer
- Director
- Additional Crew
Dan Guravich was born on 22 February 1918 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. He was a cinematographer and director, known for In the Path of History: The S.S. Manhattan (1970), Through the Northwest Passage (1970) and Last Train Across Canada (1990). He died on 30 December 1997 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA.- Russ Cassell was born on 21 July 1954 in Simpsonville, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Sugar Cain (1996) and With Love & Respect: A Reunion of the Lombardi Green Bay Packers (2001). He died on 11 October 2014 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- George Brooks Jr. was born on 10 August 1963 in Woodbury, New Jersey, USA. George died on 18 September 2021 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Three-time All-Star George Scott, "The Boomer", was a stand-out first baseman in the American League from 1967-78 for the Boston Red Sox, the Milwaukee Brewers (to whom he was traded in 1971), and again with the Red Sox (who re-acquired The Boomer in 1977). In addition to his eight Gold Gloves for being the outstanding fielding first-sacker in the junior circuit, he also won the A.L. home-run and runs batted-in titles in 1975 (sharing the former title with Reggie Jackson, who also hit 36 "taters" as Scott called circuit-clouts).
The "Boomer" was discovered playing baseball in his hometown of Greenville, Mississippi by former Negro Leaguer Ed Scott, who had been hired by the Red Sox (the last team to integrate) to find African prospects. Ed Scott was impressed by his fielding skills, which he retained throughout his career. He was, arguably, the top fielding first baseman of the 1970s, setting the record for most Gold Gloves at his position when he won his eighth in 1976. (The record was later broken by Keith Hernandez.)
Unfortunately, after 1978, The Boomer's career was cut short by a case of "Dunlop disease", as he called it: "My belly done lopped over my belt." The spare tire The Boomer carried around after rejoining the Red Sox began to limit his mobility, and after his batting declined during the 1979 season, he was dealt to the Kansas City Royals. He finished his career that year with the New York Yankees, the Red Sox's hated intradivision rivals.
George Scott finished his 14-season career eight hits shy of 2,000, with 251 home-runs and 1,051 runs batted in.
The Boomer will always be remembered in the Red Sox Nation for being a key part of the 1967 American League championship winning team, the fondly remembered "Impossible Dream" pennant. (The term used first during the team's improbable pennant run by Boston Globe night editor Peter Stilla, Sr. after a trip with his wife to the Boston roadshow production of "Man of La Mancha (1972)." which featured the eponymous song.) The Boomer also was part of the 1978 team that set many slugging records and let a 14-game, mid-summer lead over the Yankees slip away, before tying them the last day of the season. The Red Sox went down to the Bronx Bombers in a one-game playoff, when Bucky Dent and Reggie Jackson hit home-runs offsetting that of Carl Yastrzemski, who along with The Boomer, was the last member of the '67 team on BoSox.
The Boomer was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 2006. He was bitter that the Red Sox never hired him as a coach. He died in his hometown of Greenville on July 28, 2013, at the age of 69. - Larry Frank was born on 29 April 1929. He died on 5 January 2010 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Clayton "Peg Leg" Bates was born and raised in Fountain Inn, South Carolina, in the early 1900s. His parents were sharecroppers. When he was a young child, he would dance for nickels in front of local street audiences. In 1919, Clayton took a job in a farm factory to help his family survive, yet it only lasted a few days when fate struck. He lost his left leg to a cotton gin accident at age 12. Clayton subsequently taught himself to tap dance with a makeshift wooden peg leg from which he took his nickname.
From the 1920s to the 1940s, Peg Leg entertained audiences with his unique brand of tap dancing, traveling all around the US on the Vaudeville circuit. By this time, he had established himself as a world-famous tap dancer, even performing for Queen Elizabeth II. He was landing roles in movies and on TV, especially The Ed Sullivan Show (1948), which was hosted by Ed Sullivan. He was one of the most popular and regular guests of that legendary show, making over 20 fabulous appearances.
In 1951, it was time to settle down and have the world come to him, so Peg Leg and his wife Alice purchased property in the world-renowned Catskill Mountains of New York, where the so-called Borscht Belt of Jewish resorts was located. They established the Peg Leg Bates Country Club, and this made him the first Black resort owner in the US, during a time when racial segregation was still in force. Countless famous musicians, dancers, and performers came to the resort to entertain throughout the 40 years of its operation, which included Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis Jr., Sidney Poitier, Mel Tormé Nat 'King' Cole, Duke Ellington, Billie Holiday, and Louis Armstrong. In its heyday, it was the summer hot spot, and the performance hall was always a packed house.
In 1987, Peg Leg suffered the loss of his beloved Alice. Shortly thereafter, he gave up the business and was in the care of Melody, his only daughter and her husband.
Peg Leg met filmmaker Tasciotti in 1997, and, along with Gregory Hines, they had been planning out his biography during what was to be the last days of his life, as well as Hines, who died in 2003. Peg Leg traveled to perform at a fund-raiser in 1998 in his hometown of Fountain Inn, South Carolina, and then collapsed on his way to church the next day, December 8, at age 91.
A section of US Route 209 in New York is named in honor of Peg Leg Bates--from Spring Glen to Kingston, the first state capitol. Tasciotti went on to renovate Peg Leg's original house on the former resort property and establish the site on the National Historic Registry.
Peg Leg is remembered by those who knew him as a great humanitarian and a kind, compassionate man. There are two definitive documentaries of his life, Hudson West Productions' The Dancing Man (1992) (featuring host Gregory Hines) and Silver Spring Studios' "The Legacy of Peg Leg Bates." There is one children's book about him, "Knockin' on Wood" by Lynne Barasch, which was published in 2006.
An annual award is given in his name to outstanding achievement in dance. The first was awarded to James 'Buster' Brown. Today, Peg Leg remains an entertainment giant in tap dancing and inspires many with his memorable style. - Colin Winkelmann was born on 26 February 1976 in Columbus, Ohio, USA. He died on 9 August 2005 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
- Composer
- Soundtrack
James "Son" Thomas, born 1926 in Eden, Mississippi , was an American Delta blues musician, gravedigger and sculptor. As a child, lacking proper toys, he used to make small Ford tractors of clay to play with, earning James Thomas the nickname "Thirty-seven Ford" in 1937, with became simply "Ford" and later dreaming of a music career, was turned into "Sonny Ford". It was his uncle Joe Cooper who taught him about molding clay, a hobby James Thomas turned into artistry. Filmmaker William R. Ferris made several documentaries with James "Son Thomas" which made him known to the blues crowd. In the 1970s, blues artist Eddie Cusic performed with Thomas at regular engagements, and together they recorded "Once I Had a Car". In later performances, he was accompanied by the Swiss harmonica player Walter Liniger, and his son Pat. James "Son" Thomas was recorded by several small record labels and is probably best known for his album "Gateway to the Delta", recorded by Rust College in Holly Springs, Mississippi. In 1985, his sculptures was featured in the Corcoran Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where he was introduced to Nancy Reagan, then the First Lady. James "Son" Thomas died at the age of 66 in Greenville, Mississippi, from emphysema and a stroke on June 26, 1993. He is buried in Leland and memorialized by a headstone placed in 1996 by the Mt. Zion Memorial Fund and paid for by rock musician John Fogerty.- Thomas Meyer was born on 9 July 1929 in Greenville, Illinois, USA. He was married to Barbara Meyer. He died on 12 August 1996 in Greenville, Illinois, USA.
- Emery Bopp was born on 13 May 1924 in Corry, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an actor, known for Sheffey (1977), Flame in the Wind (1971) and Captive Faith (1991). He died on 1 February 2007 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Actor
- Writer
Bob Jones Jr. was born on 19 October 1911 in Montgomery, Alabama, USA. He was an actor and writer, known for Wine of Morning (1955), Red Runs the River (1963) and Flame in the Wind (1971). He was married to Fannie May Jones. He died on 12 November 1997 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- ABM Flexx 90 was born on 9 April 1997 in Spartanburg County, South Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for ABM Flexx 90: Sitting in My Room (2020), ABM Flexx: Hit 'Em Up (2020) and ABM Flexx 90: Ali Freestyle (2020). He died on 1 May 2022 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Linwood Mooring was born on 20 October 1949 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Fish Hook (2009), The 27 Club (2008) and Port City P.D. (2009). He died on 15 January 2016 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.- Hodding Carter was born on 3 February 1907 in Hammond, Louisiana, USA. Hodding was a writer, known for TV Reader's Digest (1955). Hodding died on 7 April 1972 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA.
- Producer
- Writer
- Executive
Lee Chavis is a screenwriter and novelist, born and raised in Suffolk, Virginia. He moved to Washington, D.C. in the early 1980s and spent nearly thirty years there as a management consultant. In 2003, he returned to the Suffolk area and became a freelance writer and public school teacher. During his formative years, Chavis was an accomplished concert violinist and was awarded the William S. Newman Violin Scholarship to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he majored in music but later went on to graduate with degrees in political science and honors in philosophy.
After a brief stint at the Campbell University School of Law, Chavis worked as a legal researcher in Washington, D.C. and in 1983 published a manual titled "The Consumer and the Credit Transaction." Later, Chavis decided to try his hand at writing fiction and by chance came across Sherry Gottlieb, a bestselling novelist whose credits include "Love Bite" that was turned into the 1995 TV movie Deadly Love (1995) starring Susan Dey. Gottlieb took Chavis under her wing almost immediately, and after several years of editing, instruction, and guidance on the art of fiction writing and three-act structure, Chavis completed his first novel in 2009 titled "A Dance in Paradise," a tragicomedy about a first-year law student who grapples with the untimely death of his grandfather. A few months later, Chavis wrote, directed and produced the book's movie trailer while living in New Jersey and which is now featured on YouTube. After this rewarding experience, it soon became apparent to Chavis that his passion for storytelling had led him not only to writing a novel but also to branching out into the study of filmmaking and screenwriting.
In 2013, he wrote The Last Immortal with Karim Lounes, a science fiction thriller about a warlock who seeks revenge against a scientist for a ritual that goes awry. Soon afterward, they wrote and produced an actors' video titled "The Last Immortal: An Inside Look" now featured on YouTube. In 2016, Chavis partnered with Latin American Studies scholar Conchita Franco Serri to write The War Necklace, a 19th-century period drama about a Venezuelan tycoon who sets sail for Spain to seek a favorable business deal only to discover that the king has conned him into returning valuable pearls while plotting to take over his empire. In 2018, Chavis completed Endless Passion, a crime thriller about a movie mogul whose past comes back to haunt him by those threatening to expose him as a drug lord.
His latest project, The Stillness of Dark, set in circa 1918, revolves around an Amish woman and her fiancé who returns home from the war emotionally shattered and with actions that will lead to disastrous consequences.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Greg Leevy was born on 24 April 1953 in South Carolina, USA. He was an actor, known for Deadly Hero (1975), A House Divided: Denmark Vessey's Rebellion (1982) and In the Heat of the Night (1988). He died on 6 January 2009 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Writer
- Actor
Marshall Frady was born on 11 January 1940 in Augusta, Georgia, USA. He was a writer and actor, known for George Wallace (1997), Frontline (1983) and To Save Our Schools, to Save Our Children (1984). He was married to Barbara Gandolfo-Frady. He died on 9 March 2004 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Monroe Hackney was born on 26 August 1925 in Celeste, Texas, USA. He was married to Martha Jo Claborn. He died on 17 July 1997 in Greenville, Texas, USA.
- YN Rusha was an actor, known for YN Rusha: Might Be (2019) and YN Rusha feat. Jynx: For the Hustlers (2020). He died on 29 July 2021 in Greenville, Mississippi, USA.
- Additional Crew
John Dreisbach was born on 23 December 1921 in Findlay, Ohio, USA. He is known for Beyond the Night (1983). He was married to Bettie Dreisbach. He died on 23 November 2009 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Composer
- Actor
- Music Department
Dwight Gustafson was born on 20 April 1930 in Seattle, Washington, USA. He was a composer and actor, known for Sheffey (1977), Beyond the Night (1983) and Red Runs the River (1963). He was married to Gwendolyn Adams. He died on 28 January 2014 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Bob Jones Sr. was born on 30 October 1883 in Shipperville, Alabama, USA. He was married to Mary Gaston Stollenwerck and Bernice Sheffield. He died on 16 January 1968 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Soundtrack
Billy Myles was born on 29 August 1924 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA. He died on 9 October 2005 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.- Jerry Huff was born in 1938 in Buchanan, Virginia, USA. He was an actor, known for Gettysburg: Three Days of Destiny (2004). He died on 29 December 2021 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.
- Additional Crew
Bettie Dreisbach was born on 16 June 1923 in Nitro, West Virginia, USA. Bettie is known for Beyond the Night (1983). Bettie was married to John Dreisbach. Bettie died on 8 November 2000 in Greenville, South Carolina, USA.- Sheldon Jones was born on 2 February 1922 in Tecumseh, Nebraska, USA. He died on 18 April 1991 in Greenville, North Carolina, USA.