Cast of Characters

Burt Ward, TV’s Robin Boy Wonder, receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. AFP via Getty Images, posted at the standard.co.uk

RIP Maggie Smith, 89, acting royalty, master of the acid tongue, at home on stage and the big and small screen. Born in London, she began her career on the stage. Her screen career spans 1956-the present, one work to appear posthumously. There are 86 titles under her name at IMDB, including 52 episodes of Downton Abbey. She was nominated for six Oscars, winning two: Best Actress in a Supporting Role, California Suite (1979), Best Actress in a Leading Role, The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie (1970). She played Professor McGonagall in the Harry Potter series. Other notable film roles: The V.I.P.s (1963), The Pumpkin Eater (1964), Oh! What a Lovely War (1969), Travels with My Aunt (1972), Death on the Nile (1978), Clash of the Titans (1981), Hook (1991), Sister Act (1992), The Secret Garden (1993), Tea with Mussolini (1999), Gosford Park (2001), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011). She received nine Emmy nominations, winning three for Downton Abbey and for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie, My House in Umbria. Nominated for three Tony’s, she won Best Actress for Lettice and Lovage (1990). She was married to actor Robert Stephens of Jesus of Nazareth fame for eight years, a union that produced two children, actors Toby Stephens and Chris Larkin. She was wed to screenwriter/librettist Beverley Cross from 1975 until his death in 1997. Here’s a quote attributed to her: “I’ve won two Oscars and I still don’t begin to understand film acting.” An awesome run. Thank you, Dame Smith. Photo from GI/Pinterest:

Headline from nypost.com: “Woman caught smuggling more than 700 pounds of bologna at Texas border.” A politician running low?

From NYP: “Bibi’s rage: Israeli PM slams UN General Assembly as ‘swamp of antisemitic bile’ in fiery speech, dozens of diplomats walk out.” Thank you, Sir.

Will this surprise anyone? From NYP: “Google is biased in favor of Democrats ahead of 2024 election.”

Headline from foxnews.com: “Liberal journalist ripped for complaining about flight attendant wishing her a ‘blessed’ night: ‘Grow up’.” An acquaintance says it to me, a non-believer, just about every day. I thank her.

Last night while scanning with the remote I stumbled upon the first episode, The Deputy, of Lawman, starring John Russell and Peter Brown. The series ran four seasons from 1958-’62, 156 episodes. What makes the debut special is the three brother/villains: Jack Elam, Lee Van Cleef and teen idol Edd Byrnes, who had a long run, 161 episodes, as Kookie on 77 Sunset Strip. There are 86 other titles under his name at IMDb. Alas. everyone mentioned is deceased. Photos from GI:

Silly me, I didn’t want to spend the entire day indoors, so I decided to take the Anti-Inflation Book Shop to the nearby viaduct, which — lo and behold — had been swept clean. There were several browsers despite the steady mist but only one buyer. My thanks to the gentleman who purchased Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Life on CD.

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