Ocotber 29 Birthday Wishes

Akim Tamiroff [1899 - 1972]
Ed Kemmer [1921 - 2004]

Howdy Manco!!

Akim Tamiroff was a Russian born Armenian actor, who began his acting classes in Moscow. He first appeared in film in 1932 an worked in bit arts and often uncredited, until 1936, when he was cast as Gen. Yang, in the film, The General Died At Dawn. This led to his being cast in The Northwest Mounted Police, The Texas Rangers Ride Again and in 1943, For Whom The Bell Tolls. Tamiroff appeared in over 100 films during his career. Because of his Russian accent, whenever they needed a "foreigner" with a thick accent, they called on Tamiroff. During the late 50's and early 60's, he appeared on the t.v. series, The Rifleman, Wagon Train and Johnny Ringo. His last role was in Orson Well's 1992 film, Don Quixote as Sancho Panza.

Ed Kemmer was a WW II fighter pilot, who was shot down over Germany, captured and was a P.O.W. in the same P.O.W. camp that inspired the film, The Great Escape with Steve McQueen and James Garner. After the war, Kemmer began his acting career in the 1954 t.v. series, Waterfront. He was immediately cast in the 1950-1955 t.v. series, Space Patrol as Commander Buzz Corry. During the remainder of the 50's and into the late 60's, Kemmer appeared on many of the western series, like Tombstone Territory, Sheriff Of Cochise, Colt .45, and The Virginian . In the mid 60's, Kemmer decided that a steady role on the daytime soap operas was better than occassional appearances on other series, so he began appearing as a regular on The Edge Of Night, Another World, Somerset and finally on As The World Turns. Kemmer did his last acting in 1983.

Ed

Ed, that Orson Welles Don Quixote from 1992 through me for a loop, considering Welles died in 1985. But he started that project in 1955, and worked on it on and off for 30 years. The film was finished by Jesus Franco. But another Welles film Akim Tamiroff was in was the noir classic Touch of Evil.

Also Today:

Geraldine Brooks (1925-1977) started in theater, then became a contract player at Warner Bros. for only 2 years, appearing in Cry Wolf, Possessed, Embraceable You, and the Younger Brothers. She asked to be released from her contract, and be came a freelancer. She made appearances on the TV shows The Fugitve, Perry Mason, Dr. Kildare, Have Gun Will Travel, Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Daniel Boone. She died of cancer at 51.

One more: Ben Foster, who played Russell Crowe's sinister henchman Charlie Prince in the remake of 3:10 to Yuma.

While Ed Kemmer was in the PPOW camp a group of English prisoners decided to put on a play and invited Kemmer to play the role of an American in it. That was when he got bit by the acting bug and started him on his way.