Showbiz History: Paul in prison, Olivia in leather, Dolph in the altogether
Tuesday, November 3, 2020 at 9:31AM To be honest, apart from get out the vote phone calls we have no idea how we're going to concentrate on anything today, election day. GO VOTE!
But if you're looking to disassociate from the here and now after you've voted or if you aren't a US citizen and don't want to watch us struggle -- and who can blame you after four years of this bullshit? -- here are 7 random things that happened on this day, November 3rd, in showbiz history to distract yourself.
1930 Lois Smith born in Topeka, Kansas. A very happy 90th birthday to this great character actress who is still churning out fine performances on stage and television and in the movies. She's currently a Tony nominee for a performance in The Inheritance that made me cry my eyes out. Get that Tony, girl...
1956 Speaking of Kansas, The Wizard of Oz first aired on television on this day. It went from being an expensive 1939 flop to the most beloved movie of all time via repeated TV airings
1967 It was opening weekend for Cool Hand Luke which netted Paul Newman his fourth Best Actor nomination and won the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for George Kennedy.
2017 All star remake Murder on the Orient Express opens. It's #1 at the box office that weekend which is why we're getting Death on the Nile sometimes soon
2019 Olivia Newton John's black leather outfit from the finale of Grease (1978) goes for over $400,000 at an auction. She's the one that that rich person wanted!
Today's Birthday Suit
Happy 63rd birthday to that prime slab of Swedish beef Dolph Lundgren today. Pictured here in the 1980s when he did many wonderful black and white photoshoots with top celebrity photographers like Herb Ritts and Greg Gorman (though we're not sure who took this one).
Other actors celebrating birthdays today: Diana Silvers (23), Trevor Einhorn (32), Paprika Steen (56), Brigitte Lin (66), Kate Capshaw (67), Roseann Barr (68), and Monica Vitti (89).
Mmmmmm Monica Vitti
Other showbiz people born today: Model Gemma Ward (33), composer Daniel Pemberton (43), producer/director Davis Guggenheim (57), screenwriter William Monahan (60), director Hal Hartley (61), rock star Adam Ant (66), and singer Lulu (72)
Gone but not forgotten: Actor Charles Bronson (Death Wish) born on this day in 1921, Actor Zbigniew Cybulski (Ashes and Diamonds) born on this day in 1927, Actors Jeremy Brett (My Fair Lady, Sherlock Holmes) and Ken Berry (The Cat From Outer Space, Mama's Family) and Aneta Coursaut (The Blob, The Andy Griffith Show), and composer John Barry (Out of Africa) all born on this day in 1933, playwright Terrence McNally (Frankie & johnny) born on this day in 1938, actress Eva Renzi (Funeral in Berlin, The Bird with the Crystal Plumage) born on this day in 1944
Reader Comments (9)
I was fortunate enough to see Lois Smith give a brief acting seminar and slight history of her career. She is so funny and humble. I really hope she wins this year.
As a Brit I sure as hell wishing you a peaceful election and a result that is going to bring harmony to your country.
I just happened upon Lois Smith's performance in Twister last night. She's been a utility player for so long, and she was even Michael Douglas's secretary in Fatal Attraction, fitting the 1987 theme for TFE!
I love Lois Smith so much, and such a span to her film career from East of Eden to Next Stop Greenwich Village to Lady Bird and Marjorie Prime. Very jealous of those who saw her in The Inheritance.
And mmmmm Monica Vitti indeed.
There is an excellent compilation of John Barry's work called "Moviola" available on CD. It has "Out of Africa" plus "Body Heat", "Somewhere in Time", "Dances with Wolves" and "Chaplin". It's a fantastic CD.
I think the only part of Sandy's bad girl outfit ($405,700, to be precise) actually made of leather was the quickly removed jacket (not pictured above). The rest looks pretty Span(dex)tastic to me.
Monica Vitti... oh yeah...
Lois Smith should’ve joined Karen Black as a nominee for Five Easy Pieces - she’s also the acting MVP of Minority Report (apologies to Samantha Morton).
I was fortunate enough to attend Lois Smith's mini-workshop on acting, where she also gave a quick overview of her career. She has such a sweet, modest spirit. Please let her win this time around. mini crossword