Category: RIP

It was reported yesterday that actress Sharon Acker died on March 16, 2023.  Ms. Acker was 87.

Sharon Acker appeared in both television and feature film roles in a career that lasted over 35 years.  She is best known for her role as Lee Marvin’s double-crossing wife in Point Blank. Although Ms. Acker appeared in a few other feature films she was in great demand for television roles and appeared in most of the major hits for decades.

Some of Sharon Acker’s television appearances include: On Camera; Anne of Green Gables; Lucky Jim; Macbeth; Encounter (8 episodes); Quest (3 episodes); The Serial (5 episodes); Wojeck (2 episodes); The Wild, Wild West; Festival (8 episodes); Star Trek; Get Smart; It Takes a Thief (3 episodes); Lancer; A Clear and Present Danger; The Bold Ones (4 episodes); Alias Smith and Jones; Gunsmoke; Cade’s County; The FBI: Love American Style; Mission Impossible (2 episodes); Mod Squad; McMillan & Wife; Hec Ramsey (2 episodes); Marcus Welby (2 episodes); The New Perry Mason (15 episodes); Harry O; Cannon (3 episodes); Barnaby Jones (3 episodes); Executive Suite (18 episodes); The Streets of San Francisco (2 episodes); The Love Boat; The Rockford Files (2 episodes); Police Story; The Incredible Hulk; Quincy (3 episodes); Texas (62 episodes); Matt Houston; Trapper John MD; Simon & Simon (2 episodes); Knight Rider; Murder She Wrote; Days of Our Lives (7 episodes); Rin-Tin-Tin K9 Cop (3 episodes) and The Young and the Restless (4 episodes).

I probably first saw Sharon Acker in The Wild, Wild West.  She would go on to appear in many of the shows I tuned in to weekly to see.  What an amazing career she had.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Sharon Acker’s family, friends and fans.

Lance Reddick died today from natural causes.  He was 60.

In high school Lance Reddick’s focus was on music.  After graduation he attended the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music where he earned a Bachelor of Music degree.  Mr. Riddick later attended the Yale School of Drama where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree.

Lance Reddick appeared on television and in feature films throughout his career.

Some of Lance Reddick’s television appearances include: New York Undercover; The Nanny; The West Wing; Falcone (3 episodes); Oz (12 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (6 episodes); Law & Order: Criminal Intent; Law & Order (3 episodes); CSI: Miami (3 episodes); The Wire (60 episodes); Lost (4 episodes); It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; Fringe (90 episodes); The Blacklist (2 episodes); Intelligence (5 episodes); Quantum Break (4 episodes); American Horror Story (4 episodes); Duck Tales (voice – 5 episodes); Castlevania (voice – 10 episodes); Corporate (18 episodes); Bosch (68 episodes); Young Sheldon and Resident Evil (8 episodes).

Some of Lance Reddick’s feature film appearances include: Great Expectations; The Siege; Don’t Say a Word; Jonah Hex; White House Down; Oldboy; John Wick; John Wick: Chapter 2; John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum; Angel Has Fallen; One Night in Miami; Godzilla vs Kong and John Wick: Chapter 4.

I first saw Lance Reddick in Lost.  He had a unique look and stage presence.  Then I started seeing him more and more in both television and feature films.  Whenever Lance Reddick’s name appeared in the credits, I knew I was in for a treat.  My favorite Lance Reddick role was as Charon in the John Wick films.  Lance Reddick was a special type of actor who could appear in action films, dramas, comedies as well as provide voice work for animated projects.  What a career he had.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lance Reddick’s family, friends and fans.

Tom Sizemore died yesterday the result of a brain aneurysm. suffered on February 18, 2023.  Mr. Sizemore remained in a coma and never regained consciousness.  He was 61.

Tom Sizemore acted in feature films and television throughout his career.  His first major role was in Sylvester Stallone’s Lock Up.  That same year Mr. Sizemore also had smaller parts in Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July and Penn & Teller Get Mugged.  Over the course of his career Tom Sizemore accumulated well over 200 acting credits.  Although Mr. Sizemore had little trouble getting roles in major features and high profile projects, he sometimes struggled in his personal life.

Some of Tom Sizemore’s feature film appearances include: Lock Up; Penn & Teller Get Mugged; Born on the Fourth of July; Blue Steel; Point Break; Harley Davidson & the Marlboro Man; Passenger 57; True Romance; Striking Distance; Wyatt Earp; Natural Born Killers; Strange Days; Devil in a Blue Dress; Heat; The Relic; Saving Private Ryan; Enemy of the State; Bringing Out the Dead; Get Carter (voice only); Pearl Harbor; Black Hawk Down; Dreamcatcher and Reach Me.

Some of Tom Sizemore’s television appearances include: China Beach (6 episodes); Witness to the Mob; Witness Protection; Sins of the Father; Justice League (2 episodes);  Robbery Homicide Division (13 episodes); Dr. Vegas (6 episodes); Superstorm (3 episodes); CSI Miami; Crash (5 episodes); Southland; Entourage;  It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia;  Hawaii Five-0 (5 episodes); The Red Road (7 episodes); Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2 episodes); Lucifer; Shooter (6 episodes); Twin Peaks (6 episodes) and Cobra Kai.

I first became aware of Tom Sizemore is in Lock Up with Sylvester Stallone.  It was also Mr. Sizemore’s first major film role.  He would “appear” with Sly Stallone in two other films: Get Carter and Reach Me.  I put appear in quotes since Tom Sizemore was a voice on the phone in Get Carter.  Although you didn’t see him, his distinctive voice added gravitas to the role.  My favorite Tom Sizemore role was Sergeant Horvath in Saving Private Ryan, but he was also so good in so many other parts.  For a period of time it seemed Tom Sizemore was part of every big movie I was excited to see.  And he always made them better.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Tom Sizemore’s family, friends and fans.

Barbara Bosson died on February 18, 2023, at the age of 83.

After her high school graduation Barbara Bosson moved to New York and worked a variety of jobs (secretary, production assistant, Playboy bunny) as she pursued an acting career.

Barbara Bosson’s first acting credit is as a nurse in the Steve McQueen classic, Bullet.  Barbara Bosson would go on to act on television and feature films for the rest of her career.  She was nominated for 5 consecutive (1981 – 1985) Prime Time Emmy Awards for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Hill Street Blues.  In 1996, she was nominated for a sixth Prime Time Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her work in Murder One.

Some of Barbara Bosson’s television appearances include: The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (5 episodes); Mannix; Longstreet; Emergency; Alias Smith & Jones; Ironside; McMillan & Wife (2 episodes); Richie Brockelman, Private Eye (5 episodes); Calendar Girl Murders; Hill Street Blues (103 episodes); LA Law (2 episodes); The New Mike Hammer; Hotel; Murder She Wrote; Hooperman (42 episodes); Cop Rock (11 episodes); Star Trek: Deep Space Nine; NYPD Blue; Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (2 episodes); Murder One (41 episodes) and Murder One: Diary of a Serial Killer (6 episodes).

Some of Barbara Bosson’s feature film appearances include: Bullet; Capricorn One and The Last Starfighter.

It’s hard for me to say where I first saw Barbara Bosson.  Early in her career she appeared on several shows that I regularly watched.  I can say for sure that my favorite Barbara Bosson role was on Hill Street Blues.  I wasn’t alone.  She was nominated 5 years in a row for a Prime Time Emmy for her performance in that role.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Barbara Bosson’s family, friends and fans.

Jansen Panettiere died yesterday at the age of 28.  No cause of death was announced.

Jansen Panettiere followed his older sister into an acting career.  In addition to television and feature film roles, Mr. Panettiere also did voice work.

Some of Jansen Panettiere’s television appearances include: Third Watch; Blue’s Clues (voice – 4 episodes); Tiger Cruise; The X’s (voice – 15 episodes); Everybody Hates Chris; Major Crimes and The Walking Dead.

Some of Jansen Panettiere’s feature film appearances include: Racing Stripes (voice); Robots (voice); Ice Age: The Meltdown (voice); The Babysitters and The Forger.

The majority of Jansen Panettiere’s resume includes projects not geared to my demographic.  I did hear his voice work in Blue’s Clues (watched with my grandson) and his acting in The Walking Dead.

It’s sad whenever someone dies at such a young age.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Jansen Panettiere’s family, friends and fans.

It was announced today that Oliver Wood, cinematographer on many Hollywood hits died on February 13, 2023.  The cause of death was cancer.  He was 80.

Mr. Wood’s career began in 1969 on the low budget feature Popdown.  In 1970, he served as Director of Photography on The Honeymoon Killers.  Oliver Wood caught Hollywood’s attention after he served as director of photography for 53 episodes of Miami Vice.  For the rest of his career Mr. Wood worked on major Hollywood films.

Some films featuring Oliver Wood include: Die Hard 2; The Adventures of Ford Fairlane; Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey; Rudy; Mr. Holland’s Opus; 2 Days in the Valley; Face/Off; Mighty Joe Young; The Bourne Identity; The Bourne Supremacy; Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby; The Bourne Ultimatum; Step Brothers; Safe House; Two Guns; Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues; Child 44; Jack Reacher: Never Go Back; The Equalizer 2 and Morbius.

Oliver Wood had an amazing career.  His ability to work in features of all genres is impressive.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Wood’s family, fans and friends.

George Miller, best known as the director of The Man from Snowy River, died today the result of a heart attack.  He was 79.

Mr. Miller was born in Edinburgh, Scotland but spent most of his career as an Australian film director.  He worked in both television and feature films.  His career began in 1970 director episodes of different Australian television series.  George T. Miller helmed The Man from Snowy River and the success of that film brought him to Hollywood.  There he directed The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter,  In the Nick of Time and Zeus and Roxanne.

George T. Miller often joked that he and George Miller, another Australian film director best known for the Mad Max franchise were often confused.

My favorite George T. Miller film is The Man from Snowy River.  I’ll even admit that at first I thought that he was also the director of Mad Max and The Road Warrior.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Mr. Miller’s family, fans and friends.

Stella Stevens, the model, actress, singer and business woman died today, the result of a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Ms. Stevens was 84.

Stella Stevens’ birth name was Estelle Eggleston.  When she was 16, Estelle married Noble Stephens. They had one child and divorced three years later.  While at Memphis State University, Ms. Stephens became interested in modeling and acting.  She appeared in local productions getting good reviews.

Estelle Stephens took the name Stella Stevens for her professional name.  In 1959, Ms. Stevens made her film debut in Say One for Me.  In 1960, Ms. Stevens was a member of The Skip-Jacks, a singing group best known for television theme songs.  That same year, Stella Stevens won the Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year.  In January 1960, Stella Stevens was the Playboy Playmate of the Month.  (She would appear two more times in feature photo shoots for Playboy.)  Stella Stevens career took off.  She would alternate between feature films and television roles for the rest of her career.

Some of the television shows featuring Stella Stevens include: Alfred Hitchcock Presents; Hawaiian Eye; Bonanza; The Courtship of Eddie’s Father; Ben Casey (4 episodes); Hec Ramsey; Banacek; Police Story; Wonder Woman; Hart to Hart; Flamingo Road (38 episodes); Matt Houston; The Love Boat (3 episodes); Newhart (2 episodes); Fantasy Island (2 episodes); Hotel; Highway to Heaven; Night Court; Murder She Wrote; Magnum PI; Santa Barbara (66 episodes); In the Heat of the Night; The Commish; Highlander; Nash Bridges and General Hospital (7 episodes).

Some of the movies featuring Stella Stevens include: Say One for Me; Lil’ Abner; Girls! Girls! Girls!; The Nutty Professor; The Silencers; The Ballad of Cable Hogue; The Poseidon Adventure and Chained Heat.

I’m not sure where I first saw Stella Stevens.  It may have been one of her many television guest appearances back in the 1960s.  Then again, it may have been with Elvis Presley in Girls! Girls! Girls! or Jerry Lewis in The Nutty Professor.  My favorite Stella Stevens performance was in The Poseidon Adventure.  In it she played a feisty ex-prostitute married to Ernest Borgnine’s police officer character.  She more than held her own in a cast consisting of Borgnine, Gene Hackman, Shelly Winters, Red Buttons and Roddy McDowell.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Stella Steven’s family, friends and fans.