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Charles Napier
October 5, 2011
Charles Napier, whose square jaw, sturdy
frame and hard-edged voice made him one
of the busiest and most adaptable character
actors in Hollywood, died Oct. 5 at a hospital
in Bakersfield, Calif.
The 75-year-old Mr. Napier appeared in
hundreds of television and film roles,
starting in movies by porn director Russ
Meyer and becoming a fixture in the work of
Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme.
Both Meyer and Demme considered Mr.
Napier one of their favorite actors.
He was a duplicitous intelligence officer in
“Rambo: First Blood Part 2” and played
ludicrously grim-faced military men in
“Austin Powers: International Man of
Mystery” and its sequel.
The film critic Roger Ebert once summarized
the menacing charisma of Mr. Napier by
describing him as “a character actor with a
smile like Jaws.”
Mr. Napier was also skillful at playing oafish
and deliriously self-obsessed comic roles: a
musical space hippie in a 1969 “Star Trek”
episode, a dim and short-tempered country
singer in “The Blues Brothers” and the voice
of TV-station owner Duke Phillips in the
animated pop-culture sendup “The Critic”. In
“The Silence of the Lambs”, Mr. Napier was a
guard whose face is removed and used as a
mask by Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony
Hopkins). He was a fair-minded judge in
Demme’s AIDS melodrama “Philadelphia”.
October 5, 2011
Charles Napier, whose square jaw, sturdy
frame and hard-edged voice made him one
of the busiest and most adaptable character
actors in Hollywood, died Oct. 5 at a hospital
in Bakersfield, Calif.
The 75-year-old Mr. Napier appeared in
hundreds of television and film roles,
starting in movies by porn director Russ
Meyer and becoming a fixture in the work of
Oscar-winning director Jonathan Demme.
Both Meyer and Demme considered Mr.
Napier one of their favorite actors.
He was a duplicitous intelligence officer in
“Rambo: First Blood Part 2” and played
ludicrously grim-faced military men in
“Austin Powers: International Man of
Mystery” and its sequel.
The film critic Roger Ebert once summarized
the menacing charisma of Mr. Napier by
describing him as “a character actor with a
smile like Jaws.”
Mr. Napier was also skillful at playing oafish
and deliriously self-obsessed comic roles: a
musical space hippie in a 1969 “Star Trek”
episode, a dim and short-tempered country
singer in “The Blues Brothers” and the voice
of TV-station owner Duke Phillips in the
animated pop-culture sendup “The Critic”. In
“The Silence of the Lambs”, Mr. Napier was a
guard whose face is removed and used as a
mask by Hannibal Lecter (played by Anthony
Hopkins). He was a fair-minded judge in
Demme’s AIDS melodrama “Philadelphia”.
Doris Belack
October 4, 2011
American character actress of stage, film and
television.
Belack has been misidentified as the first "Mrs. Fish"
to Abe Vigoda's character on Barney Miller. She was
actually only a one episode replacement for actress
Florence Stanley, who played "Mrs. Fish" ("Bernice
Fish"). Before that, Belack was seen mainly in soap
operas; she was the original Anna Wolek Craig on
One Life to Live. She also appeared in Another
World, The Edge of Night and The Doctors. Doris
played the memorable part of the formidable soap
opera producer in the comedy hit film Tootsie which
also starred Dustin Hoffman.
October 4, 2011
American character actress of stage, film and
television.
Belack has been misidentified as the first "Mrs. Fish"
to Abe Vigoda's character on Barney Miller. She was
actually only a one episode replacement for actress
Florence Stanley, who played "Mrs. Fish" ("Bernice
Fish"). Before that, Belack was seen mainly in soap
operas; she was the original Anna Wolek Craig on
One Life to Live. She also appeared in Another
World, The Edge of Night and The Doctors. Doris
played the memorable part of the formidable soap
opera producer in the comedy hit film Tootsie which
also starred Dustin Hoffman.
Steve Jobs
October 5, 2011
Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said.
Jobs was 56.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," read a statement by
Apple's board of directors. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless
innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who
were touched by his extraordinary gifts."
The highlights of Jobs's career trajectory are well-known: a prodigy who dropped out of Reed College in
Oregon and, at 21, started Apple with Wozniak in his parents' garage. He was a multimillionaire by 25,
appeared on the cover of Time magazine at 26, and was ousted at Apple at age 30, in 1984.
In the years that followed, he went into other businesses, founding NeXT computers and, in 1986,
buying the computer graphics arm of Lucasfilm, Ltd., which became Pixar Animation Studios.
He was described as an exacting and sometimes fearsome leader, ordering up and rejecting multiple
versions of new products until the final version was just right. He said the design and aesthetics of a
device were as important as the hardware and software inside.
In 1996, Apple, which had struggled without Jobs, brought him back by buying NeXT. He became CEO
in 1997 and put the company on a remarkable upward path.
By 2001 the commercial music industry was on its knees because digital recordings, copied and shared
online for free, made it unnecessary for millions of people to buy compact discs.
Jobs took advantage with the iPod -- essentially a pocket-sized computer hard drive with elegantly
simple controls and a set of white earbuds so that one could listen to the hours of music one saved on
it. He set up the iTunes online music store, and persuaded major recording labels to sell songs for 99
cents each. No longer did people have to go out and buy a CD if they liked one song from it. They
bought a digital file and stored it in their iPod.
October 5, 2011
Steve Jobs, the mastermind behind Apple's iPhone, iPad, iPod, iMac and iTunes, has died, Apple said.
Jobs was 56.
"We are deeply saddened to announce that Steve Jobs passed away today," read a statement by
Apple's board of directors. "Steve's brilliance, passion and energy were the source of countless
innovations that enrich and improve all of our lives. The world is immeasurably better because of Steve.
His greatest love was for his wife, Laurene, and his family. Our hearts go out to them and to all who
were touched by his extraordinary gifts."
The highlights of Jobs's career trajectory are well-known: a prodigy who dropped out of Reed College in
Oregon and, at 21, started Apple with Wozniak in his parents' garage. He was a multimillionaire by 25,
appeared on the cover of Time magazine at 26, and was ousted at Apple at age 30, in 1984.
In the years that followed, he went into other businesses, founding NeXT computers and, in 1986,
buying the computer graphics arm of Lucasfilm, Ltd., which became Pixar Animation Studios.
He was described as an exacting and sometimes fearsome leader, ordering up and rejecting multiple
versions of new products until the final version was just right. He said the design and aesthetics of a
device were as important as the hardware and software inside.
In 1996, Apple, which had struggled without Jobs, brought him back by buying NeXT. He became CEO
in 1997 and put the company on a remarkable upward path.
By 2001 the commercial music industry was on its knees because digital recordings, copied and shared
online for free, made it unnecessary for millions of people to buy compact discs.
Jobs took advantage with the iPod -- essentially a pocket-sized computer hard drive with elegantly
simple controls and a set of white earbuds so that one could listen to the hours of music one saved on
it. He set up the iTunes online music store, and persuaded major recording labels to sell songs for 99
cents each. No longer did people have to go out and buy a CD if they liked one song from it. They
bought a digital file and stored it in their iPod.
David Hess
October 7, 2011
David Alexander Hess, a songwriter who penned
hits for Elvis Presley and an actor in several
horror films, died Friday, Oct. 7 of a heart attack
at his home in Tiburon, Calif., the New York
Times reports. He was 69 years old.
Best known for starring in Wes Craven's first
movie, 'The Last House on the Left,' which was
one of the pioneering films in the slasher genre.
After that, he got several more roles playing
villains in horror flicks, appearing in 'House on
the Edge of the Park' and Craven's 1982
'Swamp Thing.'
October 7, 2011
David Alexander Hess, a songwriter who penned
hits for Elvis Presley and an actor in several
horror films, died Friday, Oct. 7 of a heart attack
at his home in Tiburon, Calif., the New York
Times reports. He was 69 years old.
Best known for starring in Wes Craven's first
movie, 'The Last House on the Left,' which was
one of the pioneering films in the slasher genre.
After that, he got several more roles playing
villains in horror flicks, appearing in 'House on
the Edge of the Park' and Craven's 1982
'Swamp Thing.'
DELTA FILMS
October 2011
Wyatt Knight
October 25, 2011
Wyatt Knight, 56, an actor best known for
portraying Tommy Turner in the three
"Porky's" films, committed suicide Oct. 25
in Maui, said Eileen O'Farrell, a family
spokeswoman.
An autopsy determined that Knight died of
a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the
Associated Press reported.
In 2003, Knight underwent a bone-marrow
transplant for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
and the resulting radiation therapy left him
in physical and emotional pain, according
to a statement from the family.
October 25, 2011
Wyatt Knight, 56, an actor best known for
portraying Tommy Turner in the three
"Porky's" films, committed suicide Oct. 25
in Maui, said Eileen O'Farrell, a family
spokeswoman.
An autopsy determined that Knight died of
a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the
Associated Press reported.
In 2003, Knight underwent a bone-marrow
transplant for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
and the resulting radiation therapy left him
in physical and emotional pain, according
to a statement from the family.
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Don Lapre
October 2, 2011
Donald D. "Don" Lapre was an American TV
pitchman. He became a multi-level marketing and
infomercial salesman. His work involved product
packages such as "The Greatest Vitamin in the
World" and "Making Money Secrets".
Lapre was criticized as selling questionable business
plans that often did not work for his clients. In June
2011, Lapre was charged with 41 counts of
conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and promotional
money laundering related to his Internet businesses.
He was arrested on June 24, 2011, for failing to
appear in court to face these charges. On October 2,
2011, Lapre died of an apparent suicide while
awaiting trial in federal custody.
October 2, 2011
Donald D. "Don" Lapre was an American TV
pitchman. He became a multi-level marketing and
infomercial salesman. His work involved product
packages such as "The Greatest Vitamin in the
World" and "Making Money Secrets".
Lapre was criticized as selling questionable business
plans that often did not work for his clients. In June
2011, Lapre was charged with 41 counts of
conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, and promotional
money laundering related to his Internet businesses.
He was arrested on June 24, 2011, for failing to
appear in court to face these charges. On October 2,
2011, Lapre died of an apparent suicide while
awaiting trial in federal custody.
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Paul Kent
October 7, 2011
Character actor, Paul Kent, who starred in film,
television and theater for over five decades. Kent is
perhaps best known for playing Lieutenant
Commander Beach in Star Trek II: The Wrath of
Khan.
One of Kent's acting appearances in the 1970s was a
small part in the television miniseries Helter Skelter.
The part was notable because Kent later played a
different character in the 2004 reimagining of that
film, directed by John Gray. Gray later bought Kent
back to play a spirit in an episode of his TV series,
Ghost Whisperer ("Mended Hearts"). In addition,
Kent often played different characters in multiple
episodes of a series, including his appearances in
Lou Grant, T. J. Hooker and Falcon Crest.
October 7, 2011
Character actor, Paul Kent, who starred in film,
television and theater for over five decades. Kent is
perhaps best known for playing Lieutenant
Commander Beach in Star Trek II: The Wrath of
Khan.
One of Kent's acting appearances in the 1970s was a
small part in the television miniseries Helter Skelter.
The part was notable because Kent later played a
different character in the 2004 reimagining of that
film, directed by John Gray. Gray later bought Kent
back to play a spirit in an episode of his TV series,
Ghost Whisperer ("Mended Hearts"). In addition,
Kent often played different characters in multiple
episodes of a series, including his appearances in
Lou Grant, T. J. Hooker and Falcon Crest.
Alan Fudge
October 10, 2011
An American actor known for being part of the
cast of four television programs: Man from
Atlantis, Eischied, Paper Dolls, and Bodies of
Evidence, along with a recurring role (eighteen
appearances over eight years, as of 2005) on 7th
Heaven.
Fudge was born in Wichita, Kansas. He has
scores of credits, including appearances on many
of the top-rated shows in the US, such as
Banacek, Kojak, Marcus Welby, M.D., Little House
on the Prairie, The Streets of San Francisco,
Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, Starsky and Hutch,
Charlie's Angels, Wonder Woman, Lou Grant,
Knots Landing, Magnum, P.I., Cagney & Lacey,
The A-Team, St. Elsewhere, Highway to Heaven,
Dallas, MacGyver, Dynasty, Matlock, Falcon Crest,
L.A. Law, The Wonder Years, Northern Exposure,
Murder, She Wrote, Home Improvement, Beverly
Hills, 90210, Baywatch, and Dawson's Creek.
Well-known movies Fudge has appeared in
include Airport 1975, Capricorn One, The Natural,
and Edward Scissorhands.
October 10, 2011
An American actor known for being part of the
cast of four television programs: Man from
Atlantis, Eischied, Paper Dolls, and Bodies of
Evidence, along with a recurring role (eighteen
appearances over eight years, as of 2005) on 7th
Heaven.
Fudge was born in Wichita, Kansas. He has
scores of credits, including appearances on many
of the top-rated shows in the US, such as
Banacek, Kojak, Marcus Welby, M.D., Little House
on the Prairie, The Streets of San Francisco,
Hawaii Five-O, M*A*S*H, Starsky and Hutch,
Charlie's Angels, Wonder Woman, Lou Grant,
Knots Landing, Magnum, P.I., Cagney & Lacey,
The A-Team, St. Elsewhere, Highway to Heaven,
Dallas, MacGyver, Dynasty, Matlock, Falcon Crest,
L.A. Law, The Wonder Years, Northern Exposure,
Murder, She Wrote, Home Improvement, Beverly
Hills, 90210, Baywatch, and Dawson's Creek.
Well-known movies Fudge has appeared in
include Airport 1975, Capricorn One, The Natural,
and Edward Scissorhands.
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Patricia Breslin
October 12, 2011
Patricia Rose Breslin was an American actress
known for her guest roles in various
television series in the 1950s and 1960s.
Breslin co-starred with Jackie Cooper as his
wife in the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice.
In 1954, she guest-starred with Peter Mark
Richman in an episode of NBC's legal drama,
Justice, as a woman threatened by hoodlums.
In 1955, Breslin guest starred in the CBS
anthology series Appointment with
Adventure. In 1960, she played the newlywed
wife of William Shatner's character in The
Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time" and also
in the 1963 Twilight Zone episode, "No Time
Like the Past", in which she played Abigail
Sloan. She was a regular on Peyton Place in
the mid 1960's
October 12, 2011
Patricia Rose Breslin was an American actress
known for her guest roles in various
television series in the 1950s and 1960s.
Breslin co-starred with Jackie Cooper as his
wife in the NBC sitcom, The People's Choice.
In 1954, she guest-starred with Peter Mark
Richman in an episode of NBC's legal drama,
Justice, as a woman threatened by hoodlums.
In 1955, Breslin guest starred in the CBS
anthology series Appointment with
Adventure. In 1960, she played the newlywed
wife of William Shatner's character in The
Twilight Zone episode "Nick of Time" and also
in the 1963 Twilight Zone episode, "No Time
Like the Past", in which she played Abigail
Sloan. She was a regular on Peyton Place in
the mid 1960's
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