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1-50 of 68
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Geoffrey began his extensive stage career at the Unity Theatre in Liverpool. He then appeared in several West End productions, such as Say Goodnight to Grandma and Run for Your Wife. He appeared in numerous TV shows, including Coronation Street (1960) and Keeping Up Appearances (1990), where he played the slob Onslow. When not acting, Geoffrey enjoyed sailing, cricket, and music. He died on the Isle of Wight- An immaculate gent of sober appearance and cultivated presence, Bate was seemingly destined to play spymasters and senior civil servants. Lean, pale-eyed and of deceptively mild intonation, he was capable of unnervingly icy composure, never more effectively displayed than as the chameleon-like Soviet mole Kim Philby in ITV's telemovie Philby, Burgess and Maclean (1977). In similar vein, Bate played the enigmatic, debonair American-born spook, Bret Renssalaer, in Len Deighton's Game, Set, and Match (1988). Most famously, he added an authentic touch to the affable, officious Home Office security undersecretary, Sir Oliver Lacon -- "Whitehall's Head Prefect" - in John le Carré's Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (1979), and its sequel, Smiley's People (1982).
Anthony Bate began working life behind the bar of a hotel owned by his family on the Isle of Wight. After completing his national service with the Royal Navy Volunteers in 1947, he started dabbling in amateur dramatics and then took the next step to formal training at London's Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating a gold medal winner. After the obligatory sojourn in repertory theatre, he made his West End debut in a 1960 dramatisation of the famous 1925 Scopes Trial, "Inherit the Wind", at St. Martin's Theatre. Over the next three decades, he drew many excellent notices for such classical roles as Don Pedro in "Much Ado About Nothing", for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
In occasional films from 1957, Bate popped up as straight man in minor comedies, like Dentist in the Chair (1960). However, in due course, he found his niche to be on the small screen, where he was increasingly sought-after by producers for a wide variety of characters of, either, furtive, stern, starchy, supercilious or sinister disposition. Besides crime and espionage, Bate was a ubiquitous protagonist in screen adaptations from the classics: the obsessive Inspector Javert on the trail of Frank Finlay's Jean Valjeon, in a 1967 version of Victor Hugo's oft-filmed masterpiece; as the intrepid Dr. Livesey of Treasure Island (1977); and as the Knight's Templar, Sir Brian de Bois Guilbert, chief nemesis of Ivanhoe (1970). Another of his outright villains was treacherous London gangster Eddie Edwards, taking advantage of his boss's (Ray McAnally) incarceration to usurp his criminal empire. In Intimate Strangers (1974), Bate was given a rare starring role, as a middle-aged family man, re-evaluating his life after a heart attack. This introspective and nuanced performance was, arguably, one of his best. The cool, unflappable Mr. Bate also portrayed such historical personae as Joseph Stalin, Field Marshal Gerd von Rundstedt and Eduard Shevardnadze -- all with equal vigour and conviction. One of the unsung heroes of British television, Anthony Bate passed away in June 2012 at the age of 84. - Michael Sheard was born on 18 June 1938 in Aberdeen, Grampian, Scotland, UK. He was an actor, known for Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980), The Outsider (1983) and Mind Your Language (1977). He was married to Rosalind Allaway. He died on 31 August 2005 in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Valerie Gaunt was an English actress who had a brief acting career in the 1950s. She is primarily remembered for portraying an unnamed Vampire Woman in an horror film produced by Hammer Film Productions. Her role was the studio's first vampire character with visible fangs.
Little is known about Gaunt's background. She was trained as an actress in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA), a drama school located in London. She graduated in 1951, and worked primarily in repertory theatre. In 1956, she had a guest-star role in the police procedural television series "Dixon of Dock Green" (1955 -1976). The series focused on an old-fashioned "bobby" (policeman) who investigated petty crime cases in the East End of London.
The film director Terence Fisher (1904 - 1980) noticed Gaunt while watching television, and offered her a role in an upcoming horror film. Gaunt made her film debut in Fisher's "The Curse of Frankenstein" (1957), the first horror film in color produced by Hammer Film productions. The film was a loose adaptation of the novel "Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus" (1818) by Mary Shelley, re-imagined as a "morally ambiguous chamber piece".
Gaunt portrayed Justine, a maid who works for Baron Victor Frankenstein (played by Peter Cushing) and secretly serves as his mistress. When a pregnant Justine attempts to blackmail Victor into marrying her, Victor orchestrates her murder. He is later executed for her murder, with his former mentor refusing to testify on his behalf. Unlike other versions of the Frankenstein story, Victor does not abandon his monster. He is instead trying to use it as a weapon against his enemies.
The film was a box office hit, earning about 8 million dollars at the worldwide box office. Hammer Film decided to produce more gothic horror films, and Gaunt was asked to appear on the next one. She was cast as the Vampire Woman in "Dracula" (1958), a loose adaptation of the novel by Bram Stoker. Her character was loosely based on the three Brides of Dracula from the original novel. Gaunt portrayed the first female vampire depicted by Hammer Film, which later specialized in vampire films. This film was also a box office hit.
Gaunt decided to end her film career just as it was starting. In 1958, she married the stock broker Gerald Alfred Reddington and permanently retired from acting. She was only 26-years-old at the time. Gaunt lived the rest of her life away from the spotlight. In 2016, she died in the Isle of Wight at the age of 84. Despite her brief career, she remains familiar to fans of classic British horror films. Both of her film appearances enjoy enduring popularity, ensuring a measure of fame for Gaunt. - Reginald died at his home in Ryde, Isle of Wight aged 74, where he had lived since the late eighties. While there he did a great deal of work for local charities, especially Haylands Farm, a project for young people with learning difficulties, and the local branch of MENCAP. He is survived by his wife, former actress Rosemary Murray, twin daughters, Rebecca and Alison, sons Adam and Alexander, and son John and daughter Kate from his first marriage.
- Actress
- Camera and Electrical Department
Pamela Green was a wonderful woman who began as an artist, spending seven years studying art and painting, including the last four years at St. Martin's School of Art in London. During the late 1950s, when the magazine "Kamera" created by Pamela and George Harrison Marks became hugely successful, Pamela would be busy finding and training other models to appear in the magazine. Later in her career, she would advise other models and actresses about using make-up, lighting, and costumes. She would often work behind the scenes with her life partner Doug Webb on British films and TV. One of the original dam busters, Webb worked as a stills photographer. You can see his work firsthand in The Killing of Sister George (1968), Krull (1983), Perfect Friday (1970), and The Promise (1979), among several other films.
Indeed, when Pamela was auditioned for the role of Millie in Michael Powell's film Peeping Tom (1960) in 1959, she did so at her own studio, which meant Powell had a firsthand experience of the type of sets and costumes Pamela had created for many of her most famous shoots with Harrison. Powell was so enamored of her Rita Landre persona that he later incorporated several of Pamela's images and designs into the fabric of his film. Much of what you see in the film during Pamela's scenes are her own creations and were used in "Kamera" magazines and calendars. And that magazine is now very much a collectors' item along with the early postcards.
Pamela would reissue these postcards during the 1990s, and they were again hugely successful. From her home in the Isle of Wight, Pamela attended various shows, and met and greeted fans. She hoped publish a book of Doug Webb's brilliant photography. Funnily enough, Doug only began shooting his wonderful nudes of Pamela when he noticed her trying to shoot her own photos using a camera that she had specially mounted with a mirror so that she could shoot nude photographs by herself. This sums up the wonderful ingenuity, the drive, and the creativity of this beautiful woman. Late in life, the same natural beauty she was when she first shed her clothes in that cold Art Studio back in 1949, you can only marvel at her brilliant career.
On May 7, 2010, Pamela died after a battle with leukemia. She had many friends and fans across the globe and was celebrated on Yahoo with a fan club as well as her own Web site. She will be much missed by us all.- Princess Alexandrina Victoria was born on May 24, 1819 to the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Victoria as she was called was the granddaughter of King George III. When she was less than a year old her father died leaving her mother broke and at the mercy of her brother Leopold, the King of Belgium. Victoria lead a sheltered life in Kensington Palace while growing up. She was not allowed to see anybody besides her mother, half-sister and brother, and the comptroller of the household and reputed lover of the Duchess of Kent, Sir John Conroy. When she was 17 she met for the first time her cousins Albert and Ernest (sons of her mother's brother Ernest) The meeting went well but nothing happened. Several months later Victoria's Uncle King William IV died and she became Queen at the age of 18. Three years later she and Albert met again and this time they fell in love. They got married on Feburary 10, 1840 and In November of that year they welcomed their first child named Victoria. In 1841 they had Albert Edward, who would be Prince of Wales and then Edward VII. Followed by Alice (b. 1843),Alfred (b. 1844), Helena (b. 1846), Louise (b. 1848) Arthur (b. 1850) and Leopold (b. 1853) and Beatrice (b. 1857.) In 1860, though something happened that brought Victoria's world to a stand-still. Her beloved husband died on December 14 after a short illness with Thyphoid. This did not hinder any plans though. Their oldest daughter had been married to the Prussian Prince Fritz for several years by then, but their daughter Alice and son Bertie were almost to be married at the time of their father's death. A few months later Alice married Prince Louis of Hess and several months after that Bertie married Prince Alexandra of Denmark. For the rest of her life Victoria missed Albert and insisted in a funereal like atmosphere in her household. The only thing that could lift her spirits where her 40 grandchildren. On that fateful December 14 of 1878 Victoria lost her daughter, Alice, and mourned her. After several months though she recovered enough to concoct an idea. She would have her son in law Louis marry her daughter Beatrice so that her several grandchildren could be near her. This did not happen though. On January 22, 1901 Victoria died in Osbourn House in the arms of her grandson Kaiser William II. Her children and grandchildren stretched all over the globe, reigning as sovereigns or consorts. From the UK, Germany, Romania, Russia, Greece, and Spain her children and grandchildren would change the face of the world.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Bella Emberg was born on 16 September 1937 in Brighton, East Sussex, England, UK. She was an actress, known for History of the World: Part I (1981), Doctor Who (2005) and Pompidou (2015). She died on 12 January 2018 in Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Director
Gilbert Taylor was born on 21 April 1914 in Bushey Heath, Hertfordshire, England, UK. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977), Flash Gordon (1980) and The Omen (1976). He was married to Dee Vaughan and Eileen Donnelly. He died on 23 August 2013 in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Actor
- Writer
- Director
Coming from a theatrical family, Jack Douglas' entry into show business was as a producer, however, not as a performer. His father was a theatrical producer, and Jack followed in his footsteps at an early age--he produced his first show at 15. Douglas showed no interest in the performing end of the business until one night when one of his actors took ill and, there being no replacement, Douglas put on the character's costume and did it himself. He enjoyed it so much that he soon gave up producing comedies and began performing in them. It wasn't long before he became one of the more recognizable character actors in British films, especially in the "Carry On" series, where he played a variation on his most famous character, a nervous, terrified and perpetually fidgety little man.- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
- Actor
Robert Paynter was born on 12 March 1928 in South London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer and actor, known for Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Superman III (1983) and Superman II (1980). He was married to Marjorie Mona Paynter. He died on 20 October 2010 in Isle of Wight, England, UK.- John Tate was born on 5 January 1915 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He was an actor, known for On the Beach (1959), Pacific Adventure (1946) and Great Expectations (1967). He was married to Margaret Anne Barton and Neva Carr-Glynn. He died on 19 March 1979 in Freshwater Bay, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Jo Warne was born on 2 January 1938 in Hammersmith, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Spring & Autumn (1972), EastEnders (1985) and Little Dorrit (1987). She died on 13 January 2017 in Sandown, Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Mary Webster was born in 1935 in Evesham, Worcestershire, England, UK. She was an actress, known for BBC Sunday-Night Theatre (1950), The Moonstone (1959) and The Secret Agent (1967). She was married to William Slater. She died on 3 October 2014 in Totland, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Yvonne Horner was born on 25 March 1943 in Seaview, Isle of Wight, England, UK. She was an actress, known for One Million Years B.C. (1966), Prehistoric Women (1967) and Baby Love (1969). She was married to Dennis Maher and John Horner. She died on 4 November 1998 in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Actor
- Writer
Shaw Taylor was born on 26 October 1924 in Hackney, London, England, UK. He was an actor and writer, known for More Than Robbery (1958), The Medusa Touch (1978) and The Silver Sword (1957). He was married to Ianette (Jane) Rose McKay. He died on 17 March 2015 in Totland, Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Henry De Vere Stacpoole was born on 9 April 1863 in Kingstown, Ireland. Henry De Vere was a writer, known for The Blue Lagoon (1980), The Truth About Spring (1965) and Return to the Blue Lagoon (1991). Henry De Vere was married to Florence Robson and Margaret Robson. Henry De Vere died on 12 April 1951 in Shanklin, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Kenneth Kendall was born on 7 August 1924 in British India [now India]. He was an actor, known for They Came from Beyond Space (1967), Dead of Night (1972) and The Dark Side of the Sun (1983). He was married to Mark Fear. He died on 14 December 2012 in Cowes, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Stunts
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Frank Maher was born on 18 June 1929 in London, England, UK. He was an actor and assistant director, known for Department S (1969), My Partner the Ghost (1969) and The Avengers (1961). He was married to Marion Hurlstone-jones, Anne Maher and Dilys Laye. He died on 13 July 2007 in Newport, Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Director
- Producer
- Writer
William Slater was born on 27 February 1932 in the UK. He was a director and producer, known for The Regiment (1972), Vendetta (1966) and Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962). He was married to Mary Webster. He died on 28 April 2006 in Totland, Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Sarah Vernon was born on 25 November 1956 in Lambeth, London, England, UK. She was an actress, known for Paradise Postponed (1986) and The Bill (1984). She was married to Roy Heather. She died on 13 January 2021 in Isle of Wight.
- Cinematographer
- Camera and Electrical Department
Kenneth Higgins was born on 26 December 1919 in London, England, UK. He was a cinematographer, known for Georgy Girl (1966), Darling (1965) and Dick Turpin (1979). He died on 22 January 2008 in Isle of Wight, England, UK.- Nigel Bulloch was born in January 1944 in Market Harborough, Leicestershire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for A French Mistress (1960). He died on 21 January 2020 in Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Geoffrey Reed was born on 14 November 1921 in Chester, Cheshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Avengers (1961), Z Cars (1962) and The File of the Golden Goose (1969). He was married to Joan Francis. He died on 5 September 2008 in Bembridge, Isle of Wight, England, UK.
- Raymond Allen was born on 15 March 1940 in Ryde, Isle of Wight, England, UK. He was a writer, known for Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em (1973), Fast Forward (1984) and Comedy Playhouse (1961). He was married to Nancy Williams. He died on 2 October 2022 in Isle of Wight, England, UK.