While researching her autobiography, Helen Mirren discovered that she was born to perform.
"I think it has to be genetic. One of my Russian ancestors started the first theatre in Russia, a serf theatre on his estate in the 18th century. It was one of the very first formal theatres.
"But my mother was a huge drama queen, so it could have come from her side of the family also." [Link]
Dustin Madala had always heard he was related to Rosemary Clooney, and by implication to her nephew George. Dustin managed to talk his way onto the set of Clooney's new movie, Leatherheads, and had a word with the actor. Seven words, actually.
Madala introduced himself to Clooney and said, “Rumor has it I’m related to you.”
According to Madala, Clooney replied “Oh, really?” and that was the extent of their conversation. [Link]
I was surprised to read that Jack Elam was named director of the Kosciusko County Historical Society’s Old Jail Museum, because I thought he was dead.
What was the middle name of wild-eyed actor Jack Elam's older sister?
Ancestry.com has released a database of California Voter Registrations, 1900-1968. The Ancestry blog has the scoop on how some celebs picked their political parties.
Lucille Ball is registered as a Communist in 1936 and 1938, and was later asked to testify before Congress during McCarthy’s Communist witch hunts.
In 1944, Ozzy and Harriett Nelson are both registered as Republicans. Harriett was employed as an “actress;” Ozzy as an “orchestra leader.” [Link]Note: A few of the 30 million names in the database are of people who never appeared on television.
Mary Fraser pointed me toward this obituary for actress Lois Nettleton.
What was her maternal grandmother's maiden name and when did she die?
Actress Suzanne Pleshette died last week at age 70.
What were the full names of her four grandparents?
Character actor Allan Melvin died Thursday in Los Angeles. In keeping with a recurring theme of these challenges, he made eight appearances on The Andy Griffith Show in eight different roles.
Where were his paternal grandparents married?
Actor James Robertson Justice was very proud of being Scottish, "habitually donning a kilt, adopting a Gaelic name, and beating Sean Connery for the job of rector of Edinburgh University." Too bad he wasn't Scottish.
[R]esearch for a new biography on Justice has revealed the actor was a "huge liar" whose real birthplace was distinctly un-Scottish: a London borough.
Writer James Hogg examined Justice's birth certificate and was astounded to discover his subject was born at 39 Baring Road, Lewisham.
He also discovered his name at birth was James Norval Harold Justice. Hogg believes he may have dropped his original middle names and adopted a new one to justify his habit in later life of wearing the Robertson tartan. [Link]
I'm 97.3% sure I've figured out this one.
The character of Floyd Lawson on The Andy Griffith Show was first played (in just one episode) by actor Walter Baldwin.
Who were his parents?
There are still some outstanding questions from the last challenge, but let's move on. Actress Jean Arthur, born this day in 1900, married her first husband in 1928. The marriage lasted all of one day.
Who was this husband, and when did his eldest sister die?
Extra credit: Who were his eldest sister's husbands?
Actress Carol Bruce died last week in California. She played "Mama Carlson" on one of my personal favorites, WKRP in Cincinnati.
Can anyone find her in the 1920 and 1930 censuses, and perhaps find the full names of her parents?
This challenge may be difficult, so I'll give you a head start.
I Love Lucy premiered on this date in 1951. Kathryn Card, the actress who played Lucy's mother, was born Oct. 4, 1892 (supposedly in Butte, Montana), and died Mar. 1, 1964, in Costa Mesa, California. Her entry in the California Death Index says she was born in Missouri, perhaps because someone coded Montana as "MO" rather than "MT". Her mother's maiden name was McCurdy, but what Kathryn's maiden name was is not clear.
Searching for women named "Kathryn" born about 1892 in Montana turns up a Kathryn C. Sullivan living at the Neil House Hotel in Columbus, Ohio, in 1930. She was married (age at first marriage, 18), but living without her husband. Her father was born in New York, her mother in Massachusetts. Her profession, oddly enough, was "Actress-Theatrical."
Was this Kathryn Card? What else can you find out about Kathryn's life before Hollywood?
This open-ended challenge aims to fill out the online biography of actor Dooley Wilson.
Find whatever genealogical info you can on Wilson.
Have you guessed yet that I'm a fan of The Andy Griffith Show? This challenge concerns the actor who played the habitually drunk Otis Campbell.
What were the names of his sisters' husbands?
Frances Bavier is best known for her role as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show.
When did her mother die and in what city was she buried?
What was the maiden name of the wife of the doctor who attended the death of actor Don Knotts's father?
Myrtle Gonzalez was born on this date in 1891. She was one of the first Hispanic actresses in Hollywood, and died in the influenza pandemic of 1918.
When did her child die?
Robert De Niro says he wants to investigate his Irish ancestry.
What were the full names of his Irish-American great-grandparents?
Extra credit if you can trace his Irish heritage one more generation through either of these great-grandparents.
Russell Crowe's great-grandfather was an auctioneer in Kelowna, B.C., "known for breaking plates and reciting poetry."
"[Mr. Crowe] wasn't the greatest auctioneer in the world; he liked to talk too much instead of sell," [Bill] Whitehead recalled. "He used to tell stories about how you could pick up a heavy dinner plate and pound a nail into a wall without hurting it. He'd ask for a 10-cent bid on something and somebody would offer a nickel and he'd get mad and throw the cup on the floor."
Instead of turning off potential buyers, Mr. Whitehead said the trick got customers' attention and turned into a regular feature. He added that Fred Crowe used to frequently recite verses while selling items, a favourite being about blue willow pattern of china. [Link]
