Honor Roll

RIP Brian Dennehy, 81, who had a fantastic career, at home on the big and small screen and the stage. There are 183 titles under his name at IMDb. Although he was never nominated for an Oscar, he earned five Emmy nods, won a Golden Globe, and also a Grammy as part of an ensemble that voiced Shakespeare’s sonnets. His greatest achievements came on Broadway. In 1999 he won a Tony for a revival of Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman, and in 2003 one for a revival of Eugene O’Neill’s Long Day’s Journey into Night, roles most actors would die for. Here’s a quote attributed to him: “It took a long time for me to have any impact in the business because I didn’t look like an actor, I didn’t sound like an actor.” And what an impact it was. Well done, sir.

Movies!, channel 5–2 on over the air antennas in NYC, continues to come through for cinephiles. Last night it ran yet another film I’d never seen, Murder by Contract (1958), part of its Thursday Night Noir series. A low budget production, it manages an effective eeriness, helped immensely by Perry Botkin’s guitar score. During his career he worked with many greats: Bing Crosby, Al Jolson, Eddie Cantor, Paul Whiteman and Johnny Green to name a few. He also did music for The Beverly Hillbillies. He passed away in 1973 at 66. Here’s a pic:

Back to the movie. It stars Vince Edwards as a cold-blooded killer eventually sent to California to rub out a witness in a mob trial. Born in Brownsville to Italian immigrants, Edwards is most remembered as the star of 153 episodes of Ben Casey. He has 87 other titles under his name at IMDb. To my surprise, he directed more than a score of episodes of series, and wrote and directed the TV movie Maneater (1973). He passed away at 67 in 1996. Here he is in his iconic role:

The assassin is handled by characters played by Herschel Bernardi and Phillip Pine, the latter an ubiquitous presence on television from the early ‘50’s through the ‘80’s. He has 179 titles under his name, including multiple appearances on popular prime time fare. He also wrote four screenplays, three of which he directed. He passed away at 86 in 2006. Boomers will recognize him:

Bernardi was in the midst of a great career when he was felled by a heart attack at 63 in 1986. He was equally at home on the big and small screen and the stage, in serious or popular fare. He received an Emmy nomination for his role as the police detective friend of Peter Gunn, two Golden Globe nods and Tony nods in 1969 for Zorba and 1982 for a revival of Fiddler on the Roof. He was also the voice of Charley the Starkist Tuna and provided the Ho-Ho-Ho of the Jolly Green Giant. Here he is:

The lovely Kathie Browne, in her first film role after several TV appearances, is billed as “A Secretary/ Party Girl.” Given the year, the creators may have been reluctant to dub her a hooker. Her career spanned 1955–1980. She made appearances on many popular shows and will likely be remembered most for her turn in the original Star Trek, The Wink of an Eye, season three, episode eleven. She passed away at 72 in 2003. Here she is as Deela, a role near and dear to every Trekkie’s heart:

The target was played by Caprice Torriel, her only credit, although she certainly seemed a competent enough actress. Perhaps she was a successful pianist. The character played the instrument several times during the narrative, which of course may have been done by a double. I found no other info on her. Here she is:

The film was directed by Irving Lerner, who wore many hats during a career that spanned 1937-’77. He has 20 titles under his name as director, eleven as producer, nine as editor and five as actor. He was at the helm of 14 episodes of Ben Casey. He passed away in 1976 at 67. Murder by Contract was written by Ben Simcoe. He has only four screen credits, which includes six episodes of Lux Video Theatre, an anthology series of the 1950’s. I googled his name and found no bio info, but a novel, The Evil That Men Do, bears that name and fits the time frame, published in 1961.

RIP WWE ring announcer Howard Finkel, 69, an employee since 1975 and a member of its Hall of Fame. As far as I know, he didn’t participate in the shenanigans, but I do remember Terrible Terry Funk grazing the side of Finkel’s head with his foot in what seemed an inspired and funny bit of instant improv that Finkel did not appreciate. Thank you, sir.

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