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1-17 of 17
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Popular African-American vocalist and entertainer Barbara McNair dazzled audiences with her singing prowess and exceptional beauty for well over four decades until her death on February 4, 2007 of throat cancer in Los Angeles. The Chicago-born entertainer and one-time secretary was raised in Racine, Wisconsin, one of five children born to Horace and Claudia Taylor McNair. She sang in her church choir and was encouraged by her parents to pursue voice. Following music studies at the Racine Conservatory of Music and the American Conservatory of Music in her hometown Chicago, she moved to Los Angeles and attended USC before relocating once again to New York to pursue her dream.
Barbara worked her way up from typist to singer of small supper clubs to headlining large showrooms as one of America's more visible singers of the late 50s and 60s. A jazz stylist influenced by the great Sarah Vaughan at first, she gently eased into popular music. Her first big break came with a week-long gig on Arthur Godfrey's talent show, which led to bookings at The Purple Onion, The Persian Room and L.A.'s Cocoanut Grove. She began receiving invites on the TV variety circuit ('Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town," "The Dean Martin Show" and "The Tonight Show") and made it to Broadway with the musicals "The Body Beautiful" (1958) and "No Strings" (1962), replacing original star Diahann Carroll in the latter. At different times she recorded on the Coral, Signature and Motown labels resulting in such modest hits as "You're Gonna Love My Baby" and "Bobby."
In the late 60s Barbara made a choice to scout out acting roles, hoping to parlay her singing success into a movie career. The singer showed initial promise as a sexy lead alongside Raymond St. Jacques in the gritty crime drama If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968) in which she made news with her celebrated nude sequences. She also wore a nun's habit alongside Mary Tyler Moore in Elvis Presley's last feature film Change of Habit (1969), and appeared opposite Sidney Poitier as Virgil Tibbs' wife in both They Call Me Mister Tibbs! (1970) and The Organization (1971). A warm, inviting presence, she pioneered her own syndicated musical TV show The Barbara McNair Show (1969), a rarity at the time for a black entertainer, and guested on all the popular TV programs of the day including "Mission: Impossible," "Hogan's Heroes" and "I Spy."
The early 1970s were a difficult time for Barbara when offers suddenly stopped coming in and her husband/manager, who had mob affiliations, was shot and killed in 1976. Barbara went on to appear in such stage musicals as "The Pajama Game" and "Sophisticated Ladies", and was also seen in a recurring role for a time on General Hospital (1963) in later years. She was also spotted in a couple of obscure films in the 80s and 90s. Barbara's love of performing continued even in lesser venues -- cabaret clubs, cruise ships, special events and even retirement centers in Florida -- still sporting her stunning looks and vocal sparkle. In 2006 she opened for Bob Newhart in Philadelphia and New Jersey. Married four times in all, Barbara died at age 72 and was survived by husband, Charles Blecka.- Music Department
- Actor
Colin Romoff was born on 15 October 1924 in Bronx, New York, USA. He was an actor, known for The World of Henry Orient (1964), The Little Drummer Boy (1968) and The Andy Williams Show (1962). He was married to Peggy Lou Connelly, Sally Crane and Judy Tyler. He died on 4 February 2007 in New York City, New York, USA.- Rod Colbin was born on 23 December 1923 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA. He was an actor, known for John Hus (1977), Torchlight (1984) and Remington Steele (1982). He was married to Annemarie. He died on 4 February 2007 in Denver, Colorado, USA.
- Director
- Producer
- Actor
Phil Lucas (Choctaw) worked in film and television for over thirty years, producing over eighty works. He received an Emmy for his documentary series "The Native Americans" and the Taos Mountain Award for lifetime achievement from the Taos Talking Picture Festival in 199. Among the subjects that he covered were health and well-being in Native communities, Native rights, and Native arts. He began his teaching career at the United Indians of All Tribes Foundation in Seattle, and taught filmmaking workshops for young Native people at IAIA. He was the founder of the American Indian Film Festival at Bellevue Community College in Washington State, where he taught media communications and technology until his death in 2007.- Ed Becker was born on 10 July 1921 in San Francisco, California, USA. He was married to Becker, Barbara. He died on 4 February 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
- Rossella D'Aquino was born on 4 June 1940 in Rome, Italy. She was an actress, known for Face to Face (1967), Wanted Johnny Texas (1967) and Ragazzi del Juke-Box (1959). She died on 4 February 2007 in Rome, Italy.
- Shivamogga Venkatesh was an actor, known for Accident (1985), Mysore Mallige (1992) and Midida Shruthi (1992). He died on 4 February 2007 in Shimoga, Karnataka, India.
- Gwyn Richards was born in 1936. He was a writer, known for All Change at Evercreech Junction (1986), Day Out (1977) and The Little Train to Lynton (1987). He was married to Helen. He died on 4 February 2007.
- Kurt Hald Jensen was born on 3 August 1931 in Roskilde, Denmark. He died on 4 February 2007 in Birkerød, Denmark.
- Jim Wright was an actor, known for The Old Music (1985) and Nothing But a Man (1964). He died on 4 February 2007 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.
- Sound Department
Hans Gralke was born on 9 April 1944 in Hamburg, Germany. He is known for Die Gang (1997), Brennende Betten (1988) and Tatort (1970). He died on 4 February 2007.- Writer
- Soundtrack
Ilya Kormiltsev was born on 26 September 1959 in Sverdlovsk, RSFSR, USSR [now Yekaterinburg, Russia]. He was a writer, known for Brother (1997), Hipsters (2008) and Rayonnye sorevnovaniya po domino (1989). He died on 4 February 2007 in London, England, UK.- Bauer was born on 21 November 1925 in São Paulo, Brazil. He died on 4 February 2007.
- Rex Ramer was born on 1 August 1911 in Southampton, Hampshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Mrs Mulligan's Private Hotel (1948), The Nitwits on Parade (1949) and The Colgate Comedy Hour (1950). He died on 4 February 2007 in Los Lunas, New Mexico, USA.
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Gheorghe Pîrlea was born on 6 May 1944 in Varancau, Moldova. He was an actor, known for Hotel de lux (1992), Iyunskiy rubezh (1982) and Agent sekretnoy sluzhby (1979). He died on 4 February 2007.- Composer
- Music Department
- Director
Manzoor Ashraf was born in 1942 in Lahore, Punjab, British India [now Pakistan]. Manzoor was a composer and director, known for Knight of Cups (2015), Budha Gujjar (2002) and Josh-E-Inteqaam (1968). Manzoor died on 4 February 2007 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.- Jules Olitski was born on 27 March 1922 in Snovsk, Russia. He was married to Joan Olitski, Andrea Olitski and Gladys Katz. He died on 4 February 2007 in New York City, New York, USA.