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1-15 of 15
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Delightfully daffy and quite an apple dumpling of a darling, this cheerfully wizened character actress was born Ruth Thane Shoecraft on September 13, 1895, in Michigan but raised in Ohio where her father served as a county sheriff. Ruth's parents, both musicians, encouraged her to perform. Graduating from the Wooster University in Ohio, she later studied drama at the Toledo Dramatic Academy.
Ruth would also attend the American Academy of Dramatic Art (AADA) with strong designs on a New York career but instead married a Florida widower, Patrick McDevitt, a contractor, and decided to focus on domestic life. With the passing of her husband, however, in 1934, the now broaching 40-year-old lady decided to give it a go again and began dabbling in community theater plays
Reigniting her long dormant desires, Ruth eventually found herself in New York and it wasn't long before she became a viable 30's and 40's presence on Broadway and radio in both comedic and dramatic fare. Making her debut in late 1937 with a short-lived production of "Straw Hat" (as Ruth Thane McDevitt -- she shortened it later on), Ruth went on to appear in several other plays that had brief lives such as "Young Couple Wanted" (1940), "Goodbye in the Night" (1940), "Mr. Big" (1941) and "Meet a Body" (1944). She earned excellent notices when she replaced star Josephine Hull in the Broadway comedies "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1942) and "The Solid Gold Cadillac" (1954). Years later, she and Hull would also co-star as anomalous sisters Martha and Abby Brewster, respectively, in a 1949 TV production of "Harvey" for the "Ford Theatre Hour." As for radio, she provided the voice of Jane Channing on the popular radio soap "This Life Is Mine." during the war years.
A flair for eccentric comedy opened a huge door for Ruth in the TV and film worlds during the 50s as one of those faces you couldn't put a name to but instinctively knew. Although she made her film debut in the little seen Paul Douglas sports drama The Guy Who Came Back (1951), most of Ruth's on-camera performances were on the small screen with such attention-getting roles as Mom Peepers, the mother of meek Wally Cox in the comedy series Mister Peepers (1952) series. She graced several of the popular anthology series as well ("Lux Video Theatre," "Philco Television Playhouse," "Kraft Theatre," "Studio One in Hollywood").
In the 1960's, Ruth appeared on Broadway in "The Best Man" and earned particularly fine reviews for what would be her last New York show, "Absence of a Cello." She also showed up on several sitcoms while lightening up many a drama. Her program guest list includes "Decoy," "Naked City," "Dr. Kildare," the daytime soaper "The Doctors." "Route 66," "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour," "The Andy Griffith Show," "The Ghost & Mrs. Muir," "I Dream of Jeannie," "Mayberry R.F.D.," "My World and Welcome to It," "Ironside," "Love, American Style" and "Bewitched." She also milked laughs as a gun totin', sharp-shootin' granny in the comedy Pistols 'n' Petticoats (1966) starring Ann Sheridan. Sadly, the series was abruptly canceled after only one season due to the star's death from cancer.
Ruth decorated a number of fluffy film comedies as a befuddled, warble-voiced elderly in such lightweight fare as The Parent Trap (1961), The Shakiest Gun in the West (1968), Angel in My Pocket (1969) and Mame (1974), and would continue to perform right up until her death. In her twilight years, she provided comedy relief as eccentric advice columnist and crossword puzzle enthusiast Emily Cowles in the cult supernatural thriller series Kolchak: The Night Stalker (1974) starring Darren McGavin. Her final guest appearances included "The Streets of San Francisco" and "Phyllis."
Ruth died of natural causes at age 80 on May 27, 1976, in Los Angeles.- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Dana Farwell Smith is an American stuntman and actor. He graduated from Coldwater High School in Coldwater, Michigan. He later attended a Saturday morning stunts program which would change his life and shape his career.
With a background in motocross and karate he headed to Los Angeles to try his luck at a career in film and television. He changed his name to Dane Farwell as there was already an actor with a similar name. After some background work in television and films, he landed his first big break on The Flash (1990) as a stunt double.- Dorris Bowdon was discovered by a scout from 20th Century Fox, after she had just won the Miss Memphis 1937 title. She went west to Hollywood, along with two other ingénues, Linda Darnell and Mary Healy, who to this day has remained her closest friend. A friend in the publicity department arranged for her to meet with Nunnally Johnson, who was just finishing up The Grapes of Wrath (1940). He became smitten with the beauty, who was 18 years his junior, and they soon married. He was happy for the first time, after two other attempts, and it was the first and only time for Dorris. They remained married until his death in 1977 and had three children. A generation was skipped before producing another actor, her only grandson, Jack Johnson, who at nine-years-old, starred in the movie, Lost in Space (1998). Dorris continues to have a long list of fans who have remained loyal throughout the years. Amazing, considering she gave up her career when her first child was born in 1943.
- Peter Millard was born in Coldwater, Ontario, Canada. He is an actor known for, among other things, Fellow Travelers, Darkest Miriam, A Not So Royal Christmas, Designated Survivor, Perfectly Normal, and 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould.
His mother was the daughter of a Methodist Minister and tough enough to be a teacher in a one room Schoolhouse. His father was a second generation Pharmacist, a Notary Public, a Justice of the Peace, an Insurance agent, a drummer, a cellist and a pianist. His father also built a 160 seat movie theatre - which is where Millard was introduced to the cinema.
Despite that, he has spent the majority of his career on the stage. He apprenticed and spent a period of 13 years as a member of the acting company of Toronto Workshop Productions - founded by its Artistic Director, George Luscombe. He has worked in theatres across Canada and has been privileged to have been a member of the acting ensemble of the Shaw Festival in Niagara-On-The-Lake for 35 Seasons. He's been nominated twice for a Dora Award and won once for Performance by an actor as 'WEEGEE The Famous' in the stage musical-Noir, Little Mercy's First Murder, by Morwin Brebner - Music by Paul Sportelli and Jay Turvey.
At the same time, over the years, he has managed to be a series regular, guest, as well as a growing presence on film. - Actor
- Writer
Character actor in films, often portraying strident types, he is best remembered cast as "The Thin Man" (actually, "Wynant") of the hit 1934 MGM film. He Ellis was active on Broadway as an actor, producer and playwright from 1905-32 (see "Other Works"). He died in Beverly Hills, CA at age 81 in 1952.- Actor
- Producer
Dan "The Beast" Severn is a legend in amateur and professional wrestling and Martial Arts. Born in Coldwater, Michigan, on June 9, 1959, he excelled in wrestling in both high school and college. A winner of over 500 amateur victories and numerous titles, he was an alternate on the USA Olympic Wrestling team. Severn turned to professional Wrestling and captured the National Wrestling Alliance World Heavyweight Title; a title which he held for 10 years. In the early 1990s, he entered the world of Mixed Martial Arts. He excelled, winning numerous world championships. Severn defeated such greats as Ken Shamrock, Conan Silvera, David Abbott, Oleg Taktarov, Anthony Macias, and Bart Vale. His mixed martial arts record is 77-11-7. He is a noted barnstormer and has been defeating opponents on a monthly basis for the past three years.- Camera and Electrical Department
- Additional Crew
- Actor
Born 1965 in Coldwater, Michigan, Kevin grew up in New Haven, Indiana. After an Epiphany during the viewing of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" at the age of 11, Kevin dedicated all his passions to directing/shooting of films and later, videos. Having won multiple film festivals during his years at New Haven High School (graduating in 1984) Kevin moved on to the Bachelor of Fine Arts program at Columbia College in Chicago where he was fortunate to be classmates with the likes of Januz Kaminski, ASC (2-time Oscar winning Cinematographer), Mauro Fiore, ASC (Oscar winning Cinematographer of "Avatar") and Jeff Jur, ASC. Kevin's very first paid position was as a grip/PA to DP Alan Thatcher on the low budget horror film "Savage Beliefs" on which Januz Kaminski was the "A" camera 1st assistant. While at Columbia, Kevin worked with Kaminski on several student projects as well as "slave labor" for the various productions that came to Chicago in the mid-80s. In 1987, after Kaminski & Fiore left Chicago for the AFI, Kevin returned to Fort Wayne, Indiana and took a position as a film/video cinematographer with the top local production house. He spent the next decade moving up to bigger and better production companies,and continuing to freelance in the Chicago market. He picked up his first Emmy award for Cinematography in 1993. The following years he was nominated for seven additional Emmy Awards, and began to freelance his talents as a DP to a larger market area. In 1997, relocated to Grand Haven, Michigan to accept the Senior Director/Cinematographer position of the top production house in Western Michigan.
After numerous awards for national 35mm &16mm spots and corporate films, in 1999 Kevin welcomed his first son Nathan and returned to northern Indiana to once again freelance his talents as a Director of Photography. In 2005, he met with Writer/Director Gary Wood ("Saving Star Wars") and after fast becoming friends he accepted Wood's offer to DP his next feature film, Open Mic'rs (2006). Many more feature film projects followed, both with Director Wood and other filmmakers.- Art Department
- Producer
- Director
Xander Davis was born on 18 August 1984 in Coldwater, Ohio, USA. He is a producer and director, known for VAST (2017), Transformers: War for Cybertron (2010) and Darksiders II (2012).- Jaime Anstead was born on 5 September 1977 in Coldwater, Michigan, USA. She is an actress, known for Redemption (2002), Death Train (2003) and The Ritual (2009). She was previously married to Bentley Mitchum.
- Ty McConnell was born on 13 January 1940 in Coldwater, Michigan, USA. He is an actor, known for Ryan's Hope (1975).
- Hawley Harvey Crippen was born on 11 September 1862 in Coldwater, Michigan, USA. He died on 23 November 1910 in HMP Pentonville, London, England, UK.
- Frederick Truesdell was born on 20 May 1870 in Coldwater, Michigan, USA. He was an actor, known for Alias Jimmy Valentine (1915), My Own United States (1918) and Camille (1915). He was married to Jeanne Margaret Fournier and Ethel Dovey. He died on 9 May 1929 in Quincy, Michigan, USA.
- Edith Ellis was born in Coldwater, Michigan, to Edward C Ellis, playwright and actor, and Ruth McCarty Ellis, an actress. She claimed she was born to the stage, her first part was at age 6, and by 10 she was a star. Two plays were written for her before she was 12 years old. Several times she was head of her own stock companies, traveling or stationary, and wrote, produced, directed, and acted in many plays. Her first writing attempt was out of necessity, when she and her brother, Edward, were stranded on the road by the unexpected disbanding of their stock company. The play was successful enough to pay their way home. Edith married Frank A. Baker, and they leased the Park Theatre and the Criterion Theatre in Brooklyn, where she directed plays for many years. They later moved to the Berkely Lyceum in New York where she directed her own play, The Point of View, which never made it to Broadway. She also wrote uncredited scenarios for silent films for Samuel Goldwyn. Their daughter, Ellis Baker, became an actress. Later, Edith married C. Becher Furness, a Canadian. She finally made it to Broadway by age 34 with her play, "Mary Jane's Pa" (1908) which ran for a then-very respectable 120 performances. She continued her career there as a playwright/director through 7 more productions through mid-1925 (see "Other works"). While none of these later efforts were particularly wildly successful, her 1925 play, "White Collars" enjoyed two film adaptations by MGM in 1929 and 1938. Her earliest film adaptations were sold to Vitagraph and Myron Selznick.
Ellis had her fascinating quirks. As her theatrical career wound down in the mid-1930s, she took up an avid interest in (using modern terminology) channeling the dead. She claimed to transcribe works by none other than George Washington (whom she claimed demanded she transcribe his definitive autobiography in a receptive transcendent state) and common citizens such as a New England farm boy named Wilfred Brandon, supposedly killed in the Revolutionary War. These oddly entertaining works attracted enough attention to warrant several printings ("Incarnation: a Plea from the Masters," first edition 1936, 1951 reprint + UK/European editions). She was plagued with vision problems by her 60s and died at what is generally believed to be age 84, although her birth date is in dispute. - Art Department
Timothy Green was born on 4 May 1982 in Coldwater, Michigan, USA. He is known for Adventures Into Digital Comics (2006).- Scott Brayton was born on 20 February 1959 in Coldwater, Michigan, United States. He died on 17 May 1996 in Indianapolis, Indiana, USA.