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1-21 of 21
- Actor
- Producer
- Director
Born in Philadelphia to a Jewish family, Michael Callan sang and danced as a teenager and by the age of fifteen was dancing in local night clubs.
He started life out as Martin Harris Calinieff on November 22, 1935. A dark-haired charmer, he was taking voice and dance lessons by age 11, with the intentions of becoming the next Gene Kelly.
He had the dark, smirking, surly good looks and confident swagger which fit in with the James Dean 50s rebel-like era. He began his professional career as a comic and dancer in Philly night clubs while billing himself as "Mickey Calin". Eventually, he entertained at such hot spots as the Copacabana and in Las Vegas showrooms.
His move to New York was a wise choice. Given a dancing part in his first Broadway show, "The Boyfriend" (1954), starring Julie Andrews, he followed it with another musical, "Catch a Star" (1955). This, in turn, led to his biggest break of all, the role of "Riff" in the original New York production of "West Side Story" (1957). While the show made virtual theater stars out of its leads Carol Lawrence and Larry Kert, Michael, on the other hand, attracted the interest of Columbia Pictures.
His film career began engagingly enough -- not as a singer or dancer, but as a dramatic leading man. Columbia placed him in two fairly strong films in the hopes of promoting and developing his obvious teen-idol promise. The first film was a western soap opera in support of Gary Cooper and Rita Hayworth. In They Came to Cordura (1959), Michael co-starred in this film alongside another male dreamboat, Tab Hunter. His second film was a "B"-level starring role in The Flying Fontaines (1959), in which he played a circus Romeo whose caddish cavortings under the "big top" accelerate the melodramatic story line. This role pretty much set the tone for what, more or less, would become his screen image -- a notorious womanizer and charming, though sometimes, spineless opportunist. His lovely co-star in the movie, Evy Norlund, was a formerly-crowned Miss Denmark (1958). This movie was her only one, since she abruptly gave up her young aspirations when she married singer James Darren and raise a big family.
One of Michael's biggest disappointments, during this time, was losing the role of "Riff" in the film version of West Side Story (1961), due to contractual restrictions with Columbia. Russ Tamblyn received the honors and the glory. However, he did continue to rack up callow, trouble-making co-leads in youth-oriented films, paired up with Hollywood's loveliest of newcomers, including Tuesday Weld in Because They're Young (1960), Dolores Dorn in 13 West Street (1962) and Deborah Walley in both Gidget Goes Hawaiian (1961) and Bon Voyage! (1962). In The Interns (1962), he continued to perpetuate his slick image as a roving medical resident who juggles gorgeous Anne Helm and Katharine Bard for his own selfish purposes. In the sequel of sorts, The New Interns (1964), he made his customary moves on Barbara Eden (I Dream of Jeannie (1965)) and Dawn Wells ("Mary Ann" on Gilligan's Island (1964)).
Although he managed to show off his dancing skills in Pepe (1960) and in the previously mentioned "Gidget" film, Michael never capitalized on it. The era of the movie musicals was in a backslide at the time and he focused completely on acting. He was among the international cast of the war epic, The Victors (1963), and was the best-looking marooned member in the British-made Jules Verne fantasy-adventure, Mysterious Island (1961). Interestingly, his last films of real note were in comedies -- opposite Jane Fonda, in the freewheeling cult western, Cat Ballou (1965), and a scene-stealing Lionel Jeffries in the British satire, You Must Be Joking! (1965). Perhaps his characters were too unsympathetic for their own good; for whatever reason, Michael never managed to hit the cinematic "bad boy" stardom he seemed geared up for.
In the late 60s, he found a venue better-suited for his talents -- TV sitcoms. His skirt-chasing characters seemed to have more appeal when played lightly for laughs. His best chance came in the form of Occasional Wife (1966). An ideal showcase, Michael played the lead role of "Peter Christopher", an up-and-coming executive of a company that strongly pushes the husband/father image. Perennial playboy Callan decides to take on an "occasional wife" (Patricia Harty) for appearances' sake while trying to conceal his wily ways from the workplace. The show fit Callan like a glove and he and Harty displayed great chemistry, so much so that they married in real-life two years after the series' run. Perhaps the true-life romance ruined the show's illusion, as the series limped away after only one season. Patricia, the second of Michael's three wives, divorced him in 1970.
Surprisingly, Michael never starred in another sitcom that got off the ground. He ventured on finding guest appearances on such sitcoms as That Girl (1966), Hazel (1961) and The Mary Tyler Moore Show (1970) and became a favorite player in the extremely popular Love, American Style (1969) sketches, playing (what else?) guys with girl troubles. His TV career eventually took the Fantasy Island (1977), The Love Boat (1977) and Murder, She Wrote (1984) route and, in an effort to jump-start things, both produced and starred in his own film, Double Exposure (1982), but to little notice. He also returned, occasionally, to the stage in both legit plays and musicals to keep his name alive, including "Absurd Person Singular" and "The Music Man".
The father of two daughters (from his first marriage), he has been glimpsed only here and there, since the mid-90s. Recent movie credits include Stuck on You (2003) and The Still Life (2006). He has also been spotted, occasionally, at various signings and conventions. While perhaps not climbing the height of heights expected, Michael reached an enviable plateau and merits strong attention for his fine contributions to 60s and 70s film and TV.- Roberto Bisacco was born on 1 March 1939 in Turin, Piedmont, Italy. He was an actor, known for Romeo and Juliet (1968), Ritratto di signora (1975) and The Age of the Medici (1972). He died on 10 October 2022 in Italy.
- Herbert Tennigkeit was born on 28 February 1937 in Gröszpelken, East Prussia, Germany [now Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for Sonderdezernat K1 (1972), Hamburg Transit (1970) and Tatort (1970). He died on 10 October 2022 in Hamburg, Germany.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Anita Kerr was born on 13 October 1927 in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. She was a composer, known for Limbo (1972), The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour (1967) and I'm Going to Tell You a Secret (2005). She was married to Al Kerr and Alex Grob. She died on 10 October 2022 in Geneva, Switzerland.- Cinematographer
- Additional Crew
Glen Denny was born on 8 February 1939 in Modesto, California, USA. He was a cinematographer, known for The World About Us (1967), Reel Rock (2016) and El Capitan (1978). He was married to Margaret. He died on 10 October 2022 in California, USA.- Actor
- Additional Crew
Antonio Requena was born in 1933 in Granada, Granada, Andalucía, Spain. He was an actor, known for Clase media (1987), Palabras cruzadas (1974) and El elegido (1985). He died on 10 October 2022.- Donna Lucas was born on 7 November 1955. Donna was a producer, known for Video Watchdog Digital (2015). Donna was married to Tim Lucas. Donna died on 10 October 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Actor
Kenny Clayton was born on 9 May 1936 in Clapton, London, England, UK. He was a composer and actor, known for Savage Hunt (1980), The Ragman's Daughter (1972) and The Pied Piper (1972). He was married to Sarah Kingham, Norma Frogatt and Vicky Lind. He died on 10 October 2022.- Leon Schidlowsky was a composer, known for Un país llamado Chile (1961) and Testimonio (1969). Leon was married to Susanne. Leon died on 10 October 2022 in Tel Aviv, Israel.
- William Godbolt was an actor, known for K-PAX (2001). He died on 10 October 2022 in the USA.
- Pete Krawchuk was born on 5 May 1931 in Waterbury, Connecticut, USA. He was married to Annie. He died on 10 October 2022 in Watertown, Connecticut, USA.
- Transportation Department
- Editorial Department
- Camera and Electrical Department
Tony Bifano was born on 16 June 1970 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Tony is known for Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001), American Psycho (2000) and The Devil All the Time (2020). Tony was married to Nancy. Tony died on 10 October 2022 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.- Fekrou Kidane died on 10 October 2022 in Paris, France.
- Ole Boje was born on 12 October 1932 in Århus, Denmark. He was a writer, known for Når enden er go' (1964), Five Men and Rosa (1964) and The Office Party (1976). He died on 10 October 2022.
- Mary Marik was born on 27 January 1930 in Cahokia, Illinois, USA. She was married to Anthony Marik. She died on 10 October 2022 in Stevenson Ranch, California, USA.
- Sterling Johnson was born on 14 May 1934 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was married to Barbara Jackson. He died on 10 October 2022 in Queens, New York City, New York, USA.
- Director
- Actor
- Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Alejandro Santiago Ciena was a director and actor, known for Bryant Myers: Se fuerte (2020), De La Ghetto & Myke Towers: Tokyo (2020) and Marc Anthony - Old San Juan: Salute to Puerto Rico (Live) (2012). He died on 10 October 2022 in San Juan, Puerto Rico.- Sabina Mielczarek-Taborska was born on 30 June 1927. She was an actress, known for The Quack (1982), Nafta (1961) and Lalka (1978). She died on 10 October 2022.
- 'Kavingnar' Subbu Arumugam was a writer, known for Annai Abirami (1971). 'Kavingnar' Subbu was married to Mahalakshmi. 'Kavingnar' Subbu died on 10 October 2022 in Chennai, India.
- Music Department
Rogelio Martínez Furé was born on 28 August 1937 in Matanzas, Cuba. He is known for A Cuban Fight Against Demons (1972), Karussell (1977) and Obá Ilú (1985). He died on 10 October 2022 in Havana, Cuba.- Producer
- Writer
- Director
Jan T. Jensen was born on 5 May 1965 in Denmark. He was a producer and writer, known for Sølvtråd (2013), Where's the Money, Peter (2002) and Craig (2008). He died on 10 October 2022 in Hvidovre, Denmark.