December 15 Birthday Wishes

Gordon Douglas [1907 - 1993]
Jeff Chandler [1918 - 1961]

Howdy Manco!!

Gordon Douglas was a bit part and uncredited actor from 1930-1935, when he decided to move behind the camera for Warner Bros studio. He directed films from 1935-1977, including some of the Little Rascals episodes, The Doolins Of Oklahoma, The Great Missouri Raid, The Iron Mistress, Ft Dobbs, Yellowstone Kelly, Gold Of The Seven Saints, and Up Periscope, along with directing episodes of Maverick. His last film was Viva Kneivel in 1977.

Jeff Chandler made his film debut in 1945, but it was the 1950 film, Broken Arrow that gave him his big break, for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance in the role of Cochise. He would go on to appear in many westerns like Battle At Apache Pass, War Arrow, Pillars In The Sky, The Plunderers and The Jayhawkers. Some of his leading ladies include, Joan Crawford, Jane Russell, Rhonda Fleming and June Allyson. At 6 feet 4 inches tall, tan and prematurely grey, he was a natural for westerns. Chandler died after surgery for a herniated disc from blood poisoning in June 1961, at the age of 42.

Ed

Jeff Chandler's real name was Ira Glossel. He died at 42 from blood poisoning from a botched surgery. His family got a huge malpractice settlement because of the doctors incompetence.

Also today:

Kasey Rogers (1925-2006) appeared in movies like Samson and Delilah, ans Strangers on a Train (she played Farley Granger's estranged wife, who is murdered by Robert Walker). In the 1950s she appeared in episodes of The Lone Ranger, Perry Mason, Maverick, and Wanted: Dead or Alive. In 1964, she had a starring role on Peyton Place, and in 1966 she replaced Irene Vernon as Larry Tate's wife on Bewitched. She was also a pioneer in the sport of women's motocross racing. She had battled throat cancer for many years, and had a heart attack and a stroke, passing away at the age of 80.

Tim Conway (1933-) is one of the funniest men who ever lived! He was a regular on The Steve Allen Show in 1961, then played the bumbling Ensign Parker on McHale's Navy from 1962-1966. He starred in a short-lived Western comedy called Rango in 1967, and The Tim Conway Show in 1970, but his next big thing would come as a regular on The Carol Burnett Show from 1975-1978 (he had appeared on the show sporadically before then). He also appeared in several Disney movies in the '70s, like The Apple Dumpling Gang, The Shaggy DA, and The World's Greatest Athlete. In the '80s, he made a series of video shorts as the diminutive Dorf. As of late, he's supplied the voice of Barnacle Boy on the cartoon Spongebob Squarepants.