The Queen of the United States

So in a recent poll taken, the results showed about half the United States as being "fine" with a gay president. Somehow I think those statistics are a bit skewed. Although it did remind me of a little tidbit I heard once...

A gay president? We've already had one, ladies!

15th President of the United States, James Buchanan, is the only president in history to remain a bachelor... OR WAS HE???

*cue dramatic music and thunder clap*

Her Royal Highness Buchanan was engaged to Ann Coleman, daughter of a wealthy iron manufacturer. But the poor lass died "of hysteria" while the two were still engaged. Buchanan sent a letter of sorrow to the girl's Father which basically stated that he'd never love again.

OR WOULD HE????

For 15 years prior to his presidency, Mme. Buchanan, lived with his very close friend and fellow bachelor William Rufus King, an Alabama Senator. Buchanan and King's nieces destroyed their uncles' correspondence, leaving some questions as to what relationship the two men had, but the length and intimacy of surviving letters illustrate "the affection of a special friendship" and Buchanan wrote of his "communion" with his housemate.

"Communion." Is that what they called snogging then?

In May 1844, during one of the interruptions in Buchanan and King's relationship that resulted from King's appointment as minister to France, Buchanan wrote about his social life: "I am now 'solitary and alone', having no companion in the house with me. I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone, and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick, provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection."

Buchanan and King's close relationship prompted Andrew Jackson to refer to King as "Miss Nancy" and "Aunt Fancy," while Aaron V. Brown spoke of the two as "Buchanan and his wife."

Miss Nancy and Aunt Fancy! And I've just figured out what I want my nieces and nephews to call me and my partner should I happen to find the poor bastard.

Ready for a gay president? The question is are we ready for the next one?

You go, Miss Nancy!

Happy Birthday Tim Burton

On this day, August 25th, fifty-one years ago, a mad genius was born in the quiet, Eisenhower-reflected suburbs of Burbank, California.

Timothy William Burton had entered the world.

Little did his parents, Bill (a former minor-league ballplayer turned Parks and Rec employee) and Jean (who ran a cat-oriented gift store), know that their detached, horror film-obsessed child would go on to be one of the most original, quirky, and successful film directors of his time.

Since my childhood I have been continually entranced by Burton's films all the way back to his first full-length motion picture Pee-Wee's Big Adventure (which also marked the first union of Burton and Academy Award-nominated composer Danny Elfman, of whom I am also an avid admirer).

Tim Burton's dark, fairy tale-esque films never fail to bring me joy and inspiration. All of them. Batman, Beetle Juice, Edward Scissorhands, Batman Returns, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Mars Attacks!, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, etc. And his short films such as Frankenweenie and Vincent. Over the years I have grown unconditionally biased when it comes to this man and his work. He can do no wrong in my eyes.

So Happy Birthday, Tim Burton! Thank you for your amazing work which continually brings me great joy.

Can't wait to see Alice in Wonderland! March 5, 2010. Day of reckoning.

Below is Tim Burton's first short film, a stop motion animated piece entitled Vincent. The short is narrated by the late and great Vincent Price, of whom Burton is a lifelong fan.

Lost in Translation

I am not a fan of the word "faggot" used as slang for a homosexual male. I think it is an offensive, negatively weighted, and all-around ugly word. Friends have "lovingly" or "jokingly" used this term in reference to me or someone else, and each time I have to issue a verbal slap on the wrist.

However! This sign, shared with me by my dear friend Jo, was in a fish and chip shop in Porthcawl, South Wales.

It made me laugh hysterically.

Apparently, faggots are a traditional dish in the UK, especially the Midlands of England. It is a kind of meatball. It is made from meat off-cuts and offal, especially pork. A faggot is traditionally made from pig heart, liver and fatty belly meat or bacon minced together, with herbs added for flavoring and sometimes breadcrumbs. The mixture is shaped in the hand into balls, wrapped round with caul fat (the omentum membrane from the pig's abdomen), and baked.

The end result would be something like what you see below, served with mashed potatoes, peas, and gravy.



*Of course, the image search for this dish also brought up a lot of photos of a teary black-eyed Perez Hilton.

Who Is That: Zelda Rubinstein

Name: Zelda Rubinstein
Occupation: Actress
Genre: Film/Television
Born: May 28, 1933
Died: January 27, 2010


"This house... is clean."

One of the most unique entertainers in Hollywood, Rubinstein has become an iconic staple in the sci-fi / horror genre. With her light, airy voice and 4'3" stature she has earned memorable roles in films such as the Poltergeist trilogy and had a recurring role on the hit television series "Picket Fences".

Having attended both the Universities of Pittsburgh and California, Rubinstein started her film career late in life after living in Europe for many years. Her first role was in "The Flintstone Comedy Show" in 1980, followed by a role in the comedy Under the Rainbow starring Chevy Chase and Carrie Fisher.

In 1982 she was catapulted into stardom when she was cast as the eccentric medium Tangina Barrons in the classic horror film Poltergeist, written by Steven Spielberg and directed by Tobe Hooper. That year she was given a Saturn Award (the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Films) as Best Supporting Actress for the role. According to Rubinstein, "Tobe was the nominal director, but this was a Steven Spielberg film."

Over the next two and a half decades, she would secure memorable roles in films including Poltergiest II and III, Sixteen Candles, Teen Witch, Southland Tales, Little Witches, The Wild Card, Cages, and Behind the Mask: The Rise of Leslie Vernon. She also filmed a cameo scene for the film Casper, but the scene did not make the final cut.

Another surge to her career came in 1992 when she was cast as regular character Ginny Weedon on the Emmy and Golden Globe winning series "Picket Fences". Having done a wealth of television work as well, Rubinstein has made guest appearances on shows including "Tales From the Crypt", "Shelley Duvall's Faerie Tale Theatre", "Mr. Belvedere", "Martin", "The Pretender", "Hey Arnold!", "Caroline in the City", and "Darkwing Duck".

She later provided the voice behind the Skittles commercials ("Taste the rainbow") and as the narrator of the ABC series "The Scariest Places on Earth".

A longtime advocate for gay rights and AIDS awareness, Rubinstein has a relatively strong gay following. She stated that she lost work for a year as the result of her involvement in a 1984 ad campaign in which she played a mother figure in the ads, which predated Elizabeth Taylor's and Madonna's AIDS involvement by at least a year. You can Click Here to watch the short interview at Advocate.com.

On December 29th, 2009, it was announced that Zelda Rubinstein had been officially taken off of life support after being hospitalized for a month due to organ failure. News spread quickly that Rubinstein was on death's doorstep, however a few days later a friend of hers stated "She’s okay. Vitals are good. She’s apparently doing better. Internet sources exaggerated the story."

Unfortunately, just under a month later, Rubinstein died on January 27, 2010, of "natural causes" at Barlow Respiratory Hospital in Los Angeles, said Eric Stevens, her agent.

The exceedingly talented, educated, and proudly outspoken actress will be long remembered and sincerely missed.

Who Is That: Alan Rickman

Name: Alan Rickman
Occupation: Actor
Genre: Film
Born: February 21, 1946

This tremendously talented actor has not only continually won critical acclaim for decades (including BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy, and SAG Awards), but also continually wins over audiences the world over with his unique style and outstanding versatility in films ranging from Die Hard to Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Rickman is set to star in the final Potter films as well as in Tim Burton's highly anticipated take on Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland!

With a background in Shakespeare studies at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, as well as a dresser for the likes of Sir Nigel Hawthorne and Sir Ralph Richardson, Rickman soon launched his own acting career with rave reviews and prizes right out of the gate. He appeared in the stage production of Les Liaisons Dangereuses in London as well as in New York where he received Drama Desk and Tony Award nominations.

A few years later he was cast in his first major film role as Hans Gruber in the smash hit film Die Hard. Shortly thereafter he was cast in another box office smash as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves for which he won the BAFTA Award.

His career since has spanned the entire gambit of film genres with movies and characters all over the map! The major highlights of his career include Sense and Sensibility, Rasputin (for which he won the Emmy and Golden Globe), Dogma, Galaxy Quest, The Search for John Gissing, Love Actually, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and of course as Severus Snape in the groundbreaking success of a saga known as the Harry Potter films.

Rickman returned to the stage in 2002 in the play Private Lives for which he once again was nominated for Drama Desk and Tony Awards. He was chosen by Empire magazine as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" (#34) in 1995, ranked number 59 in Empire's "Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list in October 1997, and was voted number 19 in Empire's "Greatest Living Movie Stars Over the Age of 50".

He became Vice-Chairman of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) in 2003.

Rickman's dedication and joy toward his work are ever-present, and we the audience continue to reap the benefits with his wonderful performances.

"I do take my work seriously and the way to do that is not to take yourself too seriously." Please do continue to work, Mr. Rickman. Your work is our ongoing pleasure.

Below is a clip from Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd in which Rickman and Johnny Depp perform Stephen Sondheim's beautiful piece "Pretty Women".

The Players Club

I recently received a generous invitation to spend an evening at the legendary Players Club which is located in Manhattan's Gramercy Park.

This place is phenomenal and overflowing with film and theater related history. Founded in 1888 by Shakespearean actor Edwin Booth and author Mark Twain (among others), the Players Club housed the formation of Actors' Equity and boasts such famous members as Frank Sinatra, Peter O'Toole, John and Lionel Barrymore, Al Hirschfeld, and Helen Hayes (to name just a very, very few in a lineup of film and theater royalty).

I was invited by the ever-generous and talented actor Robert Davi and was given the "Five Cent Tour" by Lee Pfeiffer, also an incredibly generous and intelligent man who was a delight to get to know.

Being in this place and being in such fantastic company was definitely a highlight of my time living in New York thus far. It served as a great reigniting of my passions and goals, the reason I moved to this great city to begin with.

I sincerely hope that one day I may be so fortunate as to include myself in the list of members of this truly phenomenal place whose purpose is "The promotion of social intercourse between members of the dramatic profession and the kindred professions of literature, painting, architecture, sculpture and music, law and medicine, and the patrons of the arts."

I would truly consider myself privileged to one day be inducted into this prestigious club, especially considering the fact that Orson Welles was denied. (That tidbit did tickle me).

Many thanks to Robert and Lee, as well as the other entertaining and intelligent individuals I met, for a truly enjoyable evening. I'll be looking forward to the next one.

Who Is That: Jill Sobule

Name: Jill Sobule
Occupation: Singer/Songwriter
Genre: Alternative
Born: January 16, 1965

"She's gonna sing! You're gonna listen!"

There are not enough adjectives to accurately describe Jill Sobule: Talented, intelligent, witty, educated, pretty, ambitious, quirky, opinionated, personable, relatable, vulnerable, hilarious, empowered. Her outstanding career and staggering output as a singer/songwriter spanning the last two decades has blurred the boundaries of musical genre and has made successful forays into film, television, and live theater.

Sobule is definitely a force to be reckoned with.

She began playing guitar in junior high and went on to release her first album entitled Things Here Are Different for MCA in 1990. The fates of success, however, would not smile on her until several years after the release of this album, when Atlantic Records released her MTV staple and national Top 20 hit, "I Kissed A Girl", which was featured on her self-titled album, Jill Sobule.

"That song was a double-edged sword for me," said Sobule. "It was perceived as a novelty hit, but on the other hand it was the first song with an overtly gay topic to be aired on Top 40 radio. I am quite proud of that." The album also yielded another hit song, "Supermodel", included in the Clueless soundtrack.

Since then, she has made four more critically acclaimed albums, Happy Town, Pink Pearl, Underdog Victorious, and 2009's California Years, which Jill released on her own record label, Pinko Records, after collecting over $85,000 from fans who funded the project.

Sobule is a prolific collaborator, writing and performing both with other musicians and with artists from non-musical disciplines, including blogger Ariana Huffington, television producer Sue Rose, and comedienne Julia Sweeney.

She has also served as songwriter/composer for the hit Nickelodeon network show "Unfabulous" during that show's three-season run. She composed the music for the off-Broadway show Prozak and the Platypus and co-starred in the Eric Schaeffer film Mind the Gap.

Sobule toured twice with the late Warren Zevon, whose penchant for sardonic storytelling she shares. She, like Zevon, despite a deep well of great works, is best known for a single fluke hit (Zevon's being "Werewolves of London", a personal favorite of mine).

And speaking of personal favorites, if you haven't already, I recommend listening to the following Sobule gems: "Resistance Song", "Margaret", "A Good Life", "San Francisco", "Houdini's Box", "Mexican Wrestler", and "Manhattan in January". These songs are, of course, only a small sample of the vast talent and originality that this amazing woman brings to this world on a regular basis.

I sincerely hope this self-proclaimed "hopeful cynic" continues to grace us with her unique brand of magic and all around awesomeness.

I also hope she continues sharing photos of her neighbors' gay cat. That delights me.

Below is some fun footage of Jill singing the wonderfully tongue-in-cheek song "Manhattan in January". The song was written in a matter of days in response to Al Gore's depiction of the current and potential state of global climate disaster.

Who Is That: Edward Asner

Name: Edward Asner
Occupation: Actor
Genre: Television / Voice Over
Born: November 15, 1929

Ed Asner is a longstanding favorite of mine. This fantastic character actor, and former President of the Screen Actors Guild, won over the hearts of millions with his Emmy Award winning portrayal of Lou Grant on "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and is currently winning over audiences of all ages with his vocal talents as the lead in the Disney/Pixar smash hit Up.

His credit list is incredibly vast with a career spanning over 50 years! This is just a small list of some of his more well known credits.

Before landing his star-making role as Lou Grant in 1970, Asner appeared in guest spots on some of the top television shows of the 1960s including "Gunsmoke", "Mission: Impossible", "Alfred Hitchcock Presents", "The Outer Limits", "Outlaws", and "The Untouchables".

Asner won multiple Emmy and Golden Globe awards for his portrayal of Lou Grant, not just on "Mary Tyler Moore", but also in his own spin-off series "Lou Grant" which ran from 1977-1982. This makes him the only actor to win an Emmy in both Sitcom and Drama categories for the same role.

He also won a Golden Globe and Emmy for his work on the television film "Rich Man, Poor Man", and won the Emmy for his supporting role in "Roots". He has since had guest spots on such hit television series as "Mad About You", "Arli$$", "The X-Files", "The Closer", "Dharma and Greg", "The Practice", "Touched By an Angel", "ER", and "Curb Your Enthusiasm" among many, many others. He is currently appearing on a semi-regular segment of "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" entitled "Does This Impress Ed Asner?"

Asner has also appeared in the films JFK, The Bachelor, and Elf, as well as Broadway productions of The Threepenny Opera, Face of a Hero, and Born Yesterday. He is set to appear in the upcoming films Trim (with Bruce Dern) and Stride (with Danny Glover).

The bulk of Asner's work since portraying Lou Grant has taken place in the recording studios, providing voices for some of the most successful animated series of the past three decades including voicing Hudson in Disney's "Gargoyles", J. Jonah Jameson in "Spider-Man", Master Vrook in "Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic", Roland Daggett in "Batman: The Animated Series", and Hoggish Greedly in "Captain Planet and the Planeteers".

He has also done guest voice work for series such as "The Simpsons", "Recess", "Animaniacs", "Hercules", "Superman", "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command", "King of the Hill", and much more!

An avid comic book fan, Asner is a member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a free speech organization that's dedicated to protecting comic book creators and retailers from prosecutions based on content. He is also listed as an adviser to the Rosenberg Foundation, an organization founded by the children of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg which provides benefits for the children of political activists, and as a board member for the wildlife conservation organization Defenders of Wildlife.

He was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Screen Actors Guild and has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Model and television personality Jules Asner is his former daughter-in-law and 42nd Mayor of San Francisco Gavin Newsom is his nephew.

The man has had (and continues to have) one amazing career and a very full life. He is, to put it far too simply, an amazing human being.

Below is a brief interview, along with footage and photos from his various films and television shows. Don't miss Edward Asner's memorable voice work in Up!

R.I.P. Wayne Allwine

Disney fans (and cartoon fans in general) received some sad news last week. A man whom most people would never recognize in a crowd and whose name rings no bell in their memory, yet he was an international entertainment star, has passed away. This man is Disney Legend Wayne Allwine. The talented and charismatic artist who had been bringing the immortal and beloved character of Mickey Mouse to life for the past 32 years.

He was the third person to voice the most famous mouse in history, in line following Walt Disney and Jimmy MacDonald. He was 62 years old. He was multi-talented, kind, humble, and had a great zeal and appreciation for life.

______________________________________________________________________

Name: Wayne Allwine
Occupation: Voice Over / Sound Editor
Genre: Animation / Film
Born: February 7, 1947
Died: May 18, 2009

Longing to work for Disney since childhood, Allwine got his start with the entertainment empire in the mail room of the studio in Burbank shortly before Walt's death in 1966. After working for extended periods in the mail room as well as a brief stint in wardrobe, Allwine left the company only to be called back two months later to "learn Jimmy MacDonald's job".

At that time, Jimmy MacDonald was the head of sound effects at Disney and one of the most innovative foley artists in the business. Allwine learned the artform from MacDonald and went on to have a successful sound editing career in the decade to follow, including winning an Emmy for it in 1985. MacDonald was also the current voice of Mickey Mouse, but due to his advancing years and naturally baritone voice he was unable to sustain the falsetto for the duration of recording sessions.

Allwine took over voicing Mickey Mouse in 1977 for "The New Mickey Mouse Club" and made his theatrical debut as Mickey in the holiday featurette Mickey's Christmas Carol in 1983. He went on to star as Mickey in films such as The Prince and the Pauper, Mickey, Donald, Goofy: The Three Musketeers, and Who Framed Roger Rabbit?, as well as the TV series "Mickey Mouse Works", "House of Mouse", and "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse".

He also provided Mickey's voice for nearly every entry in the popular "Kingdom Hearts" series of video games. Allwine had already finished recording for the Nintendo DS game "Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days" before his passing. He had voiced the character longer than either of his predecessors.

He was married since 1991 to Russi Taylor, the Emmy Award nominated voice over actress who has been voicing Minnie Mouse for the last 23 years. The pair were named Disney Legends in 2008. Allwine died in Los Angeles of complications from diabetes with Russi at his side.

Below is a very interesting excerpt from an interview with Allwine and Taylor conducted by film historian and Disney enthusiast Leonard Maltin.

Who Is That: Karl Urban

Name: Karl Urban
Occupation: Actor
Genre: Film
Born: June 7, 1972

This New Zealand born actor and dreamboat's career started in the early 1990s with guest spots as Julius Caesar on the television show "Xena: Warrior Princess". He has steadily made his way into the spotlight (and late night fantasies) with pivotal roles in films such as Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and this Summer's smash hit Star Trek.

Urban started his pursuit of acting near his home in Auckland, New Zealand, where he began to receive various theater and television roles, including roles with the Auckland Theater Company, and the shows "Xena" and "Hercules: The Legendary Journeys". He was nominated for the New Zealand Film and Television award in 2000 for the film The Price of Milk.

In 2002 Karl did a collection of cerulean gowns... Okay, no he didn't. But in 2002, he did get his big Hollywood break when he appeared with Gabriel Byrne and Julianna Margulies in the horror film Ghost Ship.

Almost every year since then he has appeared in a major motion picture event.

Peter Jackson cast him in the role of Eomer in two of the Lord of the Rings epics. He starred alongside Vin Diesel and Judi Dench in the film The Chronicles of Riddick. He was out to take the life of Matt Damon's Jason Bourne in The Bourne Supremacy. Starred with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in Doom. Won the New Zealand Film and Television award in 2006 for Out of the Blue.

And of course, Urban brilliantly revived the role of Dr. Leonard McCoy (a character so artfully created by the great DeForest Kelley) in this year's smash hit from J.J. Abrams: Star Trek. He is also starring in the anticapted film Black Water Transit due out later this year.

Below is an interview conducted by Australian super geek Nate Burr. Enjoy this fantasmagorical display of Karl Urban's nerdalicious sexiness as he reveals the true Trekkie he really is. Delicious.

Who Is That: Toni Collette

Name: Toni Collette
Occupation: Actress
Genre: Film/Stage/Television
Born: November 1, 1972


This stunningly talented and unique actress received rave reviews practically right out of the gate in her career. The Australian-born beauty is a BAFTA, Golden Globe, Emmy, Tony, and Oscar nominee! She has won a slew of Australian and Film Critics awards as well as a SAG award. She most recently starred in a television series for Showtime entitled "The United States of Tara".

Starting out at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts in Australia, Collette dropped out of the school after 18 months to accept a role in the 1992 film Spotswood alongside Anthony Hopkins and Russell Crowe. Her first film role earned her a nomination as Best Supporting Actress from the Australian Film Institute. Shortly thereafter, Collette made her professional stage debut with the Sydney Theater Company as Sonya in the Chekhov play Uncle Vanya. For this performance, she was awarded a Critic's Circle award for Best Newcomer. She went on to appear in another play under the directorship of Geoffrey Rush.

In 1994, Collette gained 40 pounds in seven weeks for her role as the title character in Muriel's Wedding, for which she was awarded the Australian Film Institute's Best Actress award. Upon transitioning to Hollywood, she continued to win praise for her significant roles in the films Emma, Clockwatchers, The Boys, Velvet Goldmine, and 8 1/2 Women.

Her breakthrough into major stardom came with her memorable, Academy Award nominated performance as Lynn Sear in the M. Night Shyamalan film The Sixth Sense. Collette continued to wow audiences and critics alike with her performances in successful and acclaimed films including Shaft, Changing Lanes, About a Boy, Dirty Deeds, The Hours, In Her Shoes, and The Black Balloon.

In two of my personal favorite films of hers, Collette can be seen giving a hilarious and sincere performance beside Nia Vardalos in the comedy Connie and Carla, and as the cheerful but frustrated mother and wife to Greg Kinnear in the award-winning film Little Miss Sunshine.

In 2000, she was nominated for a Tony award for Best Actress in a Musical for her outstanding performance as Queenie in the Michael John LaChiusa musical The Wild Party. She also is the lead singer of a band called Toni Collette & the Finish who released their first album in 2006 entitled "Beautiful Awkward Pictures".

Toni Collette is a true artist who is constantly trying to stretch and grow beyond what she and others might expect of her. I hope that I and audiences the world over will continue to be captivated by the work of Toni Collette for a long time to come!

Below is a clip from the 2001 Tony Awards in which Collette, Mandy Patinkin, and the legendary Eartha Kitt perform pieces from the Broadway musical The Wild Party.

R.I.P. Dom DeLuise

Name: Dom DeLuise
Occupation: Actor/Comedian
Genre: Film/Television
Born: August 1, 1933
Died: May 4, 2009

If nothing else can be said about this phenomenally talented comedic actor, it's that he definitely lived out his life to the fullest extent. He was an actor, comedian, producer, chef, husband, father, author, singer, and director. He was also a Golden Globe and Daytime Emmy Award nominee, and has a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

He rubbed elbows and continually brought tears of laughter to the likes of Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, Mel Brooks, Gene Wilder, and his longtime friend Burt Reynolds.

Graduating from Manhattan's High School of Performing Arts, DeLuise started his career as a regular performer on the short-lived television show "Tinker's Workshop" in 1954.

DeLuise worked regularly in films and television shows throughout the 1960s, most notably on "The Dean Martin Show" in which he made famous his character Dominick the Great, a failed Italian magician. His career thrived throughout the 1960s and 1970s as he appeared on "The Entertainers", "The Flip Wilson Show", and "The Carol Burnett Show". He was also a frequent guest host of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson". DeLuise twice had his own short-lived TV series and, in the early 1990s, was the host of "Candid Camera".

Aside from his steady television appearances, which continued through the end of his career, DeLuise began landing roles in a myriad of successful films in the 1970s including Who Is Harry Kellerman and Why Is He Saying Those Terrible Things About Me?, Sextette (Mae West's final film), The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, and The Muppet Movie.

His team-up with Mel Brooks (beginning with the film The Twelve Chairs in 1970) was a match made in Heaven. DeLuise's film career was catapulted to a whole new level in 1974 when he was cast in Brooks' classic film Blazing Saddles. Brooks would go on to cast DeLuise in the films Silent Movie, History of the World, Part I, Spaceballs, and Robin Hood: Men in Tights.

He was also directed by Brooks' late wife, the great Anne Bancroft, for the fantastic (and in my opinion vastly underrated) film Fatso in 1980.

The 1980s brought another great surge to his career with his popular performances in the films The Cannonball Run, Cannonball Run II, Smokey and the Bandit II, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, Johnny Dangerously, Loose Cannons, and (one of my all-time favorites) Haunted Honeymoon.

DeLuise was also highly beloved among audiences young and old for his voice-over work in some of the most memorable animated films of that time including An American Tail, The Secret of NIMH, All Dogs Go to Heaven, Oliver & Company, and An American Tail: Fievel Goes West.

Dom DeLuise died in his sleep at the age of 75 in Santa Monica, California, after being hospitalized for respiratory problems due to high blood pressure and diabetes. He battled a weight problem for most of his life, sometimes weighing 325 pounds or more. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carol Arthur, their three children, and three grandchildren.

Frequent costar Gene Wilder said of Dom: "He was the funniest man, in person, that I've ever known."

And Mel Brooks was quoted to say: "Dom DeLuise was a big man in every way. He was big in size and created big laughter and joy. He will be missed in a very big way."

I have long been a fan of Dom's superb comedic timing and overall charm. Below is one of my dearest and most longstanding memories of him from the film Haunted Honeymoon in which he performs the song "Ballin' the Jack" with the late comedienne Gilda Radner.

Who Is That: Madeline Kahn

Name: Madeline Kahn
Occupation: Actress
Genre: Film/Stage
Born: September 29, 1942
Died: December 3, 1999


An absolutely astounding, Tony Award winning, Emmy Award winning, and Academy Award nominated, comedic actress of stage and screen who made famous the song "I'm Tired" from Mel Brooks' classic film Blazing Saddles and who brought deadpan to a whole new level with her portrayal of Mrs. White in one of my all-time favorite films Clue. To this day, I hear people quoting the "flames on the sides of my face" line which she so brilliantly delivered.

Born in Boston and primarily raised in New York, Kahn graduated from Martin Van Buren High School in Queens and went on to obtain a degree in Speech Therapy from Hofstra University. According to Kahn, "I was going to get my doctorate but acting got in the way. Pity, I always thought I'd like to do something dignified."

She also studied operatic singing which lead to her roles in the operetta Candide as well as the musicals Two by Two (starring Danny Kaye and with music by Richard Rodgers) and Leonard Sillman's New Faces of 1968, among others.

Her film career launched with a bang in 1972 when she was cast in the Peter Bogdanovich comedy What's Up Doc? alongside Barbra Streisand. The following year she was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Academy Award for her second film Paper Moon.

In 1974 she was released from her role in the musical film Mame to do the Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles, in which she portrayed the character Lili Von Shtupp and garnered another Academy Award nomination. This would be the first of four films in which she was directed by Brooks. The others would be Young Frankenstein, High Anxiety, and History of the World, Part I.

Kahn also did some well-loved voice over work for the Don Bluth classic An American Tail and later for the Disney/Pixar film A Bug's Life.

The first time I personally became aware of the greatness of Madeline Kahn was in the 1985 film Clue in which she portrayed Mrs. White. That movie, along with its brilliant ensemble cast, was one of my biggest inspirations and has remained at the top of my list ever since.

Kahn won a Tony Award for her portrayal of Gorgeous Teitelbaum in the Wendy Wasserstein play The Sisters Rosensweig in 1993. She also won a Daytime Emmy Award for her work in the ABC television movie Wanted: The Perfect Guy. She also appeared in the films The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes' Smarter Brother, The Muppet Movie, Mixed Nuts, City Heat, Betsy's Wedding, and Nixon.

Madeline hosted "Saturday Night Live" three times and also appeared on several memorable episodes of both "Sesame Street" and "The Muppet Show".

She also had a recurring role on the sitcom "Cosby", as Pauline the eccentric neighbor, and won some of the best reviews of her career for her turn as Alice Gold in the film Judy Berlin, which would be her last.

In December of 1999, just two months after marrying her longtime companion John Hansbury, Madeline lost her battle against ovarian cancer. She passed away at the age of 57.

I remember living in Chicago when the news of Kahn's untimely death reached me. At that time, Judy Berlin, was playing in a movie theater down the street. I looked at the poster as I walked past and immediately felt my eyes begin to well.

I was and am, to say the very least, a big fan of hers. To this day I miss her dearly.

Mel Brooks said of her: "She is one of the most talented people that ever lived. I mean, either in stand-up comedy, or acting, or whatever you want, you can't beat Madeline Kahn."


Below is a wonderful moment from the televised celebration of Irving Berlin's 100th Birthday in 1988. Kahn sings the song "You'd Be Surprised". She always did and always will bring me great joy.

Who Is That: Sam Rockwell

Name: Sam Rockwell
Occupation: Actor
Genre: Film
Born: November 5, 1968

Rockwell is one of the most versatile and unique actors working today. His original, unabashed, and quirky approach to every character he has played on the screen has won him both major critical and audience acclaim. His talents have won him both Montreal and Berlin Film Festival Awards as well as multiple other award nominations.

Growing up and training as an actor in both San Francisco and New York, he began his film career in 1989 with the movie Clownhouse. He won roles regularly from then on, including a small part in the 1990 hit film Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. But it wasn't until about ten years later that he gained major notice by playing a very wide range of characters in the films A Midsummer Night's Dream (as the lovable Francis Flute), The Green Mile (as the psychotically evil "Wild Bill" Wharton), and Galaxy Quest (as the completely buffoonish actor Guy Fleegman).

Rockwell's career skyrocketed as he went on to appear in the successful films Charlie's Angels, Matchstick Men, Heist, Confessions of a Dangerous Mind, Piccadilly Jim, Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Frost/Nixon, among many others.

He has also appeared in multiple episodes of the TV shows "Law & Order", "NYPD Blue", and the short-lived "Prince Street".

His career continues to soar ever higher as he is appearing in many highly anticipated movies due out this year and next, including Iron Man 2, Betty Anne Waters, and providing a lead voiceover for the Disney film G-Force.

Sam Rockwell has a style and charisma all his own. Combine that with his tremendous talent and versatility, and we'll continue to see a lot of him for years to come.

p.s. I also happen to think he's sexy as hell. He can have his way with me whenever and if ever he chooses. Hotness displayed full force below from the film Lawn Dogs:

Humminuh, humminuh...

R.I.P. Bea Arthur

Somehow I never thought I'd see that phrase in print. "R.I.P. Bea Arthur". It didn't make sense to me when I saw it. I've only cried over a handful of celebrities' deaths and those were the ones that were gone before their time. The ones where we didn't see it coming.

Heath Ledger dead from an overdose at 28. John Candy dead in his trailer after suffering a heart attack at 43. Madeline Kahn dead at the age of 57 after a very secretive battle with ovarian cancer.

I was just as shocked and just as saddened by the news of Bea, who died of an undisclosed type of cancer. I think that, even though she was 86, Bea had such a vibrancy, wit, and strength about her that she seemed like she had another 86 years to dish out.

Well, she may be gone, but I was never wrong when comfortably thinking of her as immortal. She will obviously live forever through her amazing work, her successful television shows, and a legacy of independence, education, and originality.

____________________________________________________________________

Name: Bea Arthur
Occupation: Entertainer
Genre: Stage/Film/Television
Born: May 13, 1922
Died: April 25, 2009

This Emmy and Tony Award winning actress and comedienne had a successful and well respected career spanning seven decades and all three major entertainment mediums.

Starting her stage career in New York in the late 1940s, Bea was part of the original cast in many great stage musicals including The Three Penny Opera, Fiddler on the Roof, and her Tony Award winning portrayal of Vera Charles to Angela Lansbury's Mame. She was nominated for another Tony nearly 40 years later for her amazing and widely loved show Bea Arthur: Just Between Friends. In 1981 she appeared in the Woody Allen play The Floating Light Bulb.

She is without argument best remembered for her pioneering roles in the iconic television shows "Maude" (as the title character which she landed after a guest appearance on "All In the Family") and "The Golden Girls" as the beloved and razor tongued Dorothy Zbornak. Bea won Emmy awards for both. She more recently appeared on highly popular episodes of "Futurama", "Curb Your Enthusiasm", and "Malcolm in the Middle".

Her handful of film credits include the film version of Mame (in which Lansbury was replaced by Lucille Ball), Mel Brooks' History of the World Part I, and For Better or Worse directed by Jason Alexander.

She was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 2008.

Below is a little televised gem she performed alongside Rock Hudson. The song is called "Everybody Today is Turning On" and is from the musical I Love My Wife.

Bea never missed the chance to sing.

Who Is That: Richard Griffiths

Name: Richard Griffiths
Occupation: Actor
Genre: Stage/Film
Born: July 31, 1947

Best known by current audiences as the film incarnation of the mean spirited Uncle Vernon Dursley in the Harry Potter film series.

The celebrated British actor has appeared in a wide array of both box office hits and critically acclaimed films including Chariots of Fire, Gandhi, Withnail and I, King Ralph, The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear, Guarding Tess, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and Venus. Most recently, Griffiths worked in the Disney film Bedtime Stories with Adam Sandler and will be making an appearance in the upcoming Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

My personal favorite screen appearance of Griffiths' was in Tim Burton's successful and popular realization of the classic tale Sleepy Hollow.

His stage credits are numerous, but most notable is his recent win of the Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Laurence Olivier Awards all for his work in The History Boys (a role he revived for the film version). He most recently appeared on the West End and Broadway stages alongside Daniel Radcliffe and Kate Mulgrew in a revival of the Peter Shaffer play Equus.

Below is a brief interview with Griffiths at the premier of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. No hiding Richard's rather off-beat but very educated sense of humor. He continually delights me.

Fantasmagorical!

I am a sentimental old gay nerd.

There are a lot of times in my day to day life where nothing succeeds at making me feel happy and energetic like a song or piece of music from my childhood. Typically these songs would be Disney or a Broadway musical.

But today brought a completely unanticipated longing for some Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. A lot of people are under the impression that this is a Disney film but in fact it was released by United Artists in 1968 with the tagline "The most fantasmagorical musical entertainment in the history of everything!"

I intend to incorporate fantasmagorical into my lexicon as often as possible henceforth.

I loved this movie as a kid, although ironically enough my favorite characters were the Child Catcher (played with pinpointed creepiness by Robert Helpmann) and Baron Bomburst (German actor Gert Fröbe) who is on a continual mission to kill his Baroness.

The music and songs are fantastic (as written by Disney legends Richard and Robert Sherman), and on a day as beautiful as today happens to be, the following piece of music has been my anthem all day:

	Paul Mauriat - Chitty Chitty Bang Bang
	Found at bee mp3 search engine

Who Is That: Charlotte Greenwood

"Who is that???"

I've gotten this response from people more times than I can even fathom counting when I talk about an actor, singer, performer, director, writer, or other individual of whom I am a fan.

As pretty much everyone who knows me is aware, I'm a fan of entertainment history, classic film actors, and of current yet relatively unknown (but still talented and hardworking) actors and actresses of both screen and stage. I have an inborn love and fascination with history and the entertainment industry in general, with a special love of the underdog. The supporting players.

I recall at the age of about eight telling my mother, "Someday I'm gonna win the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!" She looked at me with a mixture of amusement and mild confusion and asked, "Wouldn't you rather win Best Actor?" To which I promptly responded, "No. Supporting actors get all the best roles."

To this day I uphold that opinion.

But the real point of this entry as well as the ones I plan to post continually in the future is more about addressing that unending question "Who is that?" I've grown weary of people making a wide array of excuses as to why they know nothing and don't care to know anything.

So here is the first of many planned posts dedicated to an individual whom I especially admire, whose work I thoroughly enjoy, and about whom I have been specifically asked: "Who is that???"
__________________________________________________________________

Name: Charlotte Greenwood

Occupation: Actress
Genre: Stage / Film
Born: June 25, 1890
Died: December 28, 1977


Starting her career in a series of comedic solo performances and musicals in New York (creating a well-loved character known as Long Legged Letty), Greenwood's comedic skills went on to make a big splash in Hollywood musicals and comedies between 1929-1956. She appeared in relatively few films for the era (thirty-four) but was still awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

She is best remembered for her roles in the film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Oklahoma!, appearing alongside Shirley Temple in Young People, as well as a slew of films she starred in with Betty Grable including Springtime in the Rockies, Moon Over Miami, and Down Argentine Way.

Below is not only a display of Greenwood's famous high-kicks (from the 1943 film The Gang's All Here), but also of her unique charm and comedic style.