I’m saddened by the recent passing of talented folks from Hollywood’s Golden Age:

TONY CURTIS - A Hollywood legend! Tony Curtis appeared in big-budget films, and was an Oscar-nominee for his work on The Defiant Ones. He starred in Operation Petticoat, Some Like It Hot, Spartacus, The Great Race, Sex and the Single Girl, Rosemary’s Baby, and The Boston Strangler. He originally cut his teeth in 1950’s gems - Winchester ‘73, Sweet Smell of Success, and Trapeze. His movie idol was Cary Grant, and co-starred with such screen icons as Burt Lancaster, Kirk Douglas, Jack Lemmon, Natalie Wood, James Stewart, Marilyn Monroe, Henry Fonda, Jerry Lewis, Lauren Bacall, Peter Falk, Mia Farrow, and Sidney Poitier. Tony Curtis was 85.

EDDIE FISHER - Most notably known for his high profile marriages to Debbie Reynolds and Elizabeth Taylor. However, Fisher was the total package: singer, actor, personality. He had his own television show in the 1950’s, and appeared with Taylor in Butterfield 8 in 1960. She won an Oscar for her performance. Eddie Fisher was 82.

GLORIA STUART - A career spanning seven decades,  Stuart is remembered for her role as Claude Rains’ girl in The Invisible Man in 1933, and her performance as the elder Rose Dawson Calvert in the Best Picture of 1997 – The Titanic (her younger counterpart was played by Kate Winslet). Other movies include Gold Diggers of 1935, Roman Scandals, Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm, and My Favorite Year. Gloria Stuart was 100.

ARTHUR PENN - A top-notch director of fine work on stage and screen. His critical acclaim on Broadway with Two for the Seesaw, Wait until Dark, and The Miracle Worker led to controversial assignments in Hollywood. In fact, he was reunited with Anne Bancroft and Patty Duke in telling Helen Keller’s story on screen. He also helped changed the way motion pictures were presented in 1967 when he directed the adult-themed Bonnie and Clyde. Other sensational films he directed include Little Big Man and The Missouri Breaks. Arthur Penn died the day after his 88th birthday. 

ART GILMORE - One of the fine voiceover stars of movie trailers, Gilmore promoted such  important films as It’s A Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Rear Window, and Vertigo. On television, Gilmore was the announcer for Red Skelton on CBS and NBC. He also lent his voice  (or appeared) on Highway Patrol, Dragnet, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, and The Waltons. He got his start in radio on the Amos ’n Andy program. Gilmore served as a National President of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists from 1961-1963; and was a co-founder of the Pacific Pioneer Broadcasters (I proudly belong to both). Art Gilmore was 98.

JOE MANTELL - Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for the 1955 Oscar-winning film – Marty. He also appeared in The Birds,  and Chinatown. He was memorable in several episodes of The Twilight Zone. Joe Mantell was 94.

GRACE BOYD - Widow of William Boyd, the actor who played Hopalong Cassidy in movies and television. She was an actress in the 1930’s and 1940’s, most notably in Two Mugs from Brooklyn with William Bendix (an actor featured in Forgotten Hollywood Forgotten History). She retired from acting after they were married. She devoted her life to his memory after he passed away in 1972, appearing at Western conventions and Hopalong Cassidy tributes. Grace Boyd was 97.

Some of these folks may not be familiar to the average film-goer. But, they’re pioneers in their craft, and all should be remembered for the body of their work.