Velma Williams Smith obit

Groundbreaking Guitarist Velma Smith Dies

 

She was not on the list.

Pioneering guitar player Velma Smith has died. The 87-year-old Musicians Hall of Famer is best known for being one of the first women to work as a session player in Nashville. Hank Snow, Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings and Eddy Arnold were among the legends the Kentucky native recorded with.

It was Chet Atkins that discovered Smith, however. According to the Musicians Hall of Fame website, the singer saw her and her older sister at the Grand Ole Opry and quickly hired her for another project. Her sister left music to raise a family, but Smith would go on back Roy Acuff, Jim Reeves, Porter Wagoner and more. Most of her credits at AllMusic are for her guitar playing, but she did write at least one song for a hitmaker -- ‘Shoes’ for Patsy Cline.

Smith’s death comes six month after she was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in Nashville. The Hall credits her as the first female rhythm studio guitarist in Music City. For 60 years, she was married to Hal Smith, a fiddle player who would go on to become a prominent producer and publisher alongside Ray Price. Hal Smith was 84 when he died in September 2008.

Velma Williams Smith was 87 when she passed away on July 31, 2014. Her services will be held at 11AM on Aug. 2 at Forest Lawn Memorial Gardens in Goodlettsville, Tenn. According to her obituary, she died at Alive Hospice Skyline in Madison.

James Shigeta obit

James Shigeta Dead: Die Hard, Mulan, Flower Drum Song Actor Dies at 81

He was not on the list.




Top Asian-American actor James Shigeta, who rose to fame in the '60s after starring in Rodgers & Hammerstein's Flower Drum Song, died Monday, July 28, in L.A., his publicist announced. He was 81.

The Hawaiian native's nearly 50-year film and TV career spanned from the late 1950s into the new millennium. Shigeta received a Golden Globe Award for Best Male Newcomer in 1960, after starring as a young detective in the 1959 movie, The Crimson Kimono.

He co-starred with Donald O'Connor and Glenn Ford in the 1961 movie, Cry for Happy, and played a Japanese diplomat married to Carroll Baker's character in Bridge to the Sun. Shigeta's musical Flower Drum Song went on to score five Oscar nominations in 1961.


He later starred with Elvis Presley in the 1966 movie Hawaiian Style, and lent his voice as General Li in Disney's animated hit Mulan. In 1988, Shigeta starred opposite Bruce Willis in the action flick Die Hard, as Nakatomi Trading Corp. president Joe Takegi, who eventually met a gruesome end.





Shigeta also raked in the TV credits in the '70s, when he starred on shows like Kung Fu, Mission: Impossible, and Emergency! He had recurring roles on CBS' Medical Center, Hawaii Five-O, The Love Boat, and Murder, She Wrote, and Shigeta additionally starred on three episodes of Beverly Hills, 90210 back in 1999, as Ben Sosna.

As illustrious as Shigeta's Hollywood career was, his actual life story was even more colorful. The Japanese-American actor, who was born in Honolulu in 1933, studied at NYU and fought in the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Marine Corps.



Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Director Notes

1959 The Crimson Kimono Det. Joe Kojaku Samuel Fuller Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Newcomer - Male

1960 Walk Like a Dragon Cheng Lu James Clavell

1961 Cry for Happy Suzuki George Marshall

Bridge to the Sun Hidenari Terasaki Étienne Périer

Flower Drum Song Wang Ta Henry Koster

1966 Paradise, Hawaiian Style Danny Kohana Mickey Moore

Death Walks in Laredo Lester Koto Enzo Peri

1968 Nobody's Perfect Toshi O'Hara Alan Rafkin

Manila, Open City Captain Murakami Eddie Romero

1973 Lost Horizon To Len Charles Jarrott

1975 The Yakuza Goro Tanaka Sydney Pollack

1976 Midway   Vice Adm. Chūichi Nagumo Jack Smight

1988 Die Hard Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi John McTiernan

1989 Cage Tin Lum Yin Lang Elliott

1990 China Cry: A True Story Dr. Sung James F. Collier

1994 Cage II: The Arena of Death Tim Lum Yin Lang Elliott

1995 Midnight Man Mao Mak John Weidner

1996 Space Marines Ambassador Nakamura

1997 Drive Mr. Lau Steve Wang

1998 Mulan General Li Barry Cook

Tony Bancroft Voice

2000 Brother Sugimoto Takeshi Kitano

2002 A Ribbon of Dreams Jimmy Chan Philip W. Chung

2009 The People I've Slept With Charles Yang Quentin Lee Final film role


Television

Year Title Role Notes

1961 Alcoa Premiere Captain Episode: "The Fortress"

Playdate Major Ri Episode: "The Cell 5 Experience"

1962 Naked City James Kam Episode: "The Contract"

1963 Dr. Kildare Dr. Roy Shigera Episode: "One Clear Bright Thursday Morning"

1963-1964 The Outer Limits Major Jong / Captain Newa 2 episodes

1964 Burke's Law Sidney Ying Episode: "Who Killed the Paper Dragon?"

The Lieutenant Captain Myang Lee Episode: "To Kill a Man"

A Carol for Another Christmas The Doctor Television film

1965 The Bing Crosby Show Joe Episode: "That's the Way the Suki Yakies"

Perry Mason Ward Toyama Episode: "The Case of the Wrongful Writ"

I Spy Tommy Episode: "Three Hours on a Sunday Night"

Ben Casey Dr. Harvey Lee / Father Michael Hsueh 3 episodes

1967 The Mystery of the Chinese Junk George Ti Ming Television film

1968 It Takes a Thief Fong Sing Episode: "When Good Friends Get Together"

Escape to Mindanao Lt. Takahashi Television film

Hawaii Five-O Joseph Matsukino Episode: "Deathwatch"

1969-1971 Ironside Toshio Watari / Il Pak Soong 2 episodes

1970 Mission: Impossible Shiki Episode: "Butterfly

1969-1972 Medical Center Dr. Osaka Recurring role; Seasons 1-3

1974 The Questor Tapes Dr. Chen Television film

Emergency! Mr. O'Brien Episode: "Foreign Trade"

1975 Matt Helm Tom McCauley Episode: "Pilot"

Kung Fu Master Kwan Li / Col. Lin Pei 2 episodes

1976 Ellery Queen Stephen Yang Episode: "The Adventure of the Judas Tree"

S.W.A.T. Lt. Eddie Chew Episode: "The Chinese Connection"

The Killer Who Wouldn't Die David Lao Television film

The Streets of San Francisco Prosecutor 2 episodes

Once an Eagle Lin Tso-Han Miniseries

The Moneychangers Wizard Wong

1977 Little House on the Prairie Sam Wing Episode: "To Live with Fear, Part 2"

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries Kapala Episode: "Wipe-Out"

1978 Police Woman Bernie Kim Episode: "The Human Rights of Tiki Kim"

The Rockford Files Clement Chin Episode: "Heartaches of a Fool"

Fantasy Island General Lin Sun Episode: "Spending Spree/The Hunted"

1979 Samurai Takeo Chisato Television film

1980 Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb Field Marshal Abehata

1982 The Greatest American Hero Colonel Shawn Liang Episode: "The Hand-Painted Thai"

Tomorrow's Child Donald Shibura Television film

The Renegades Jimmy Lee

Strike Force Leong Episode: "Chinatown"

1983 T. J. Hooker Chow Duc Khan Episode: "Chinatown"

Masquerade Makko Episode: "Girls for Sale"

1984 The Love Boat M. Yasamoto 2 episodes

Matt Houston Lin Ha Episode: "Blood Money"

1985 Airwolf Colonel Tranh Van Zung Episode: "The American Dream"

1986 The Family Martinez Judge Yamamoto Television film

1986 Magnum, P.I. Mr. Obotu Episode: "Paper War"

Dr. Richard Enoka Episode: "Forty Years from Sand Island"

1987 The Hitchhiker Nishi Episode: "Perfect Order"

1987-1988 Simon & Simon Musashi Sato / Chen / Daniel Yoshiro 3 episodes

1989 Mission: Impossible Ki Episode: "The Lions"

Dragnet Mr. Minn Episode: "The Payback"

A Peaceable Kingdom Dr Okawa Episode: "Snake Bite"

Jake and the Fatman Koso Nakasone Episode: "The Way You Look Tonight"

1992 Murder, She Wrote Luc Lee / John Sukahara 2 episodes

1994 seaQuest DSV President Hoy Chi

Hart to Hart: Old Friends Never Die Det. Whoo Television film

Babylon 5 Taro Isogi Episode: "Spider in the Web"

1994 Renegade Mr. Ota/Hideo Maruyama Episodes: "Samurai" & "Black Wind"

1996 Cybill Mr. Matsuzaki Episode: "Cybill and Maryann Go to Japan"

1997 The Real Adventures of Jonny Quest Inspector Mantjur / Mr. Yamashiro / Japanese Prime Minister 2 episodes

1999 Beverly Hills, 90210 Ben Sosna Recurring role; Seasons 9-10

2004 Threat Matrix Kang Sok-Joo Episode: "PPX"

2005 Avatar: The Last Airbender Old Wanderer Episode: "The Spirit World-Winter Solstice, Part 1"

Robert Halmi obit

Robert Halmi, 90, Producer of TV Films, Dies

 

 He was not on the list.

Robert Halmi was born in Budapest on January 22, 1924. His father, Béla Halmi, was a photographer and brought up his son after he divorced while Robert was young. He had photographic commissions with the Habsburg royal family and the Vatican. Consequently, Robert was familiar with photographic processes from an early age.

A freedom fighter for Hungary during the Second World War, Halmi was jailed by the Nazis. After the war, in 1946, he graduated in economics from the University of Budapest and, with his knowledge of English, got work assisting and translating for a Time-Life reporter in Budapest. He took up photography, freelancing for American newspapers, but this brought him under suspicion from the Communist government and was briefly jailed again. On release he worked for Radio Free Europe in Austria as a broadcaster. There, he photographed black-shrouded women mourners, a picture later selected by Edward Steichen for MoMA's world-touring The Family of Man exhibition.

Halmi went to the United States in 1950, arriving in New York, and after establishing himself as a commercial photographer he approached LIFE and other magazines, including Sports Illustrated, and was commissioned for adventure and travel stories, often participating in the events he would document, including an African road rally for a story "The Wildest Auto Ride on Earth", for True magazine, he photographed Sam Snead and the Shah of Iran.

After Life ceased weekly publication, Halmi made documentaries for television. From his experience covering a LIFE story on a 1962 visit with his 9-year-old stepson Kevin Gorman to a Masai tribe in Kenya, he conceived his first feature film, Visit to a Chief’s Son (1974), starring Richard Mulligan.

In 1979 with his son Robert, Halmi started a production company, RHI Entertainment, (later Sonar Entertainment), and adapted literary classics for television including The Odyssey (1997), Alice in Wonderland (1999), Moby Dick (1997) and Gulliver's Travels (1996)[4] and continued as a producer of television movies and miniseries.

The father-son team of Robert Halmi Sr. and Robert Halmi, Jr. also are known for many Hallmark Productions which they co-produced or co-directed, including films like "You Lucky Dog" in 2010.

Still working at 90, he died on July 30, 2014, in Manhattan, survived by son Robert Jr., and his fifth wife, Caroline Gray. Robert Halmi, Sr.'s other survivors included another son, Bill; his stepson, Kevin Gorman; a step-daughter, Kim Sampson; and two sisters, Julie Costello and Jorgie Lask

Filmography

 

    The Night They Saved Christmas (1984)

    The Yearling (1994)

    Scarlett (1994)

    Kidnapped (1995)

    Gulliver's Travels (1996)

    Moby Dick (1998)

    Merlin (1998)

    Alice in Wonderland (1999)

    Animal Farm (1999)

    A Christmas Carol (1999)

    Cleopatra (1999)

    Don Quixote (2000)

    Arabian Nights (2000)

    The Prince and the Pauper (2000)

    A Christmas Carol (2004)

    The Ten Commandments (2006)

    Terry Pratchett's Hogfather (2006)

    Tin Man (2007)

    The Colour of Magic (2008)

    Neverland (2011)

    Treasure Island (2012)

 

Books written and/or illustrated by Robert Halmi

Haimi, Robert (1956), Guide to photographing women, Greenberg, retrieved 20 December 2015

Halmi, Robert (1959), Sports cars of the world, Sports Car Pr, retrieved 20 December 2015

Halmi, Robert (1969). In the wilds of Africa. Scholastic Book Services, New York.

Halmi, Robert (1969), Into your hand are they delivered, Scholastic-Tab Publications, retrieved 20 December 2015

Halmi, Robert (1975), Zoos of the world, Four Winds Press, ISBN 978-0-590-07247-2

Halmi, Robert (2015), American dreamer: my story of survival, adventure, and success, Lyons Press Guilford, Connecticut, ISBN 978-1-4930-0908-4

Dennis Lipscomb obit

Dennis Lipscomb has died

 He was not on the list.

Dennis was born Andrew Dennis Lipscomb to Marion and Andy Lipscomb, an Army General. He attended Westbury High School in N.Y., attained an engineering degree from Clarkson University and went to the Iowa Workshop to study writing but fell in love with acting. After training as a Shakespearean actor in London at LAMDA, he moved to New York to pursue theatre, his true love always. He acted in 33 productions of Shakespeare and starred as Hamlet¿ twice. He moved to Los Angeles in 1983 and booked his first audition, a guest-starring role on "CHiPs," and never looked back. He appeared in both television and film, most notably "A Soldiers Story," and became one of the most sought-after character actors of the 1980s and 1990s. He adored bluegrass music and specifically anything featuring the banjo. He played a bit himself, but delighted in a raucous banjo solo or really anything he called "the Happy Music." Dennis was also an animal lover and donated monthly to animal charities like the Humane Society and ASPCA. His basset hound Katie and his cat Banjo miss him terribly. He is survived by his loving wife Pat, his sisters Jeannie and Lori, his brother Bob and his Aunt Ardith, along with many nieces and nephews, and countless friends. "Good Night, Sweet Prince."

Actor (81 credits)

 2002 The Guardian (TV Series)

Judge

- The Innocent (2002) ... Judge

 2001 The Medicine Show

Dr. Votkiff

 2001 Firetrap

Mr. Reed

 2000 Roswell (TV Series)

Congressman

- Skin and Bones (2000) ... Congressman

 2000 The Invisible Man (TV Series)

Dr. Mick Callahan

- The Value of Secrets (2000) ... Dr. Mick Callahan

 2000 Sabrina the Teenage Witch (TV Series)

Mirror Man

- The End of an Era (2000) ... Mirror Man

 2000 Felicity (TV Series)

Doctor

- Help for the Lovelorn (2000) ... Doctor

 2000 Finding Kelly

Book Collector

 1993-1998 Diagnosis Murder (TV Series)

Malcolm Trainor / IA Det. Lloyd Schroeder

- Retribution: Part 2 (1998) ... Malcolm Trainor

- Retribution: Part 1 (1998) ... Malcolm Trainor (uncredited)

- Vanishing Act: Part 1 (1993) ... IA Det. Lloyd Schroeder

 1997 Fired Up (TV Series)

Donnie Rhymer

- Truth and Consequences (1997) ... Donnie Rhymer

 1996 Spycraft: The Great Game (Video Game)

DCI Peter Sterling

 1996 Apollo 11 (TV Movie)

George Low

 1996 Party of Five (TV Series)

Mr. Conklin

- Going, Going, Gone (1996) ... Mr. Conklin

 1995 Melrose Place (TV Series)

Court-Appointed Doctor

- Melrose Is Like a Box of Chocolates (1995) ... Court-Appointed Doctor

 1995 Automatic

Raymond Hammer

 1995 Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (TV Series)

Stanley Gables

- Resurrection (1995) ... Stanley Gables

 1995 ER (TV Series)

Dr. Wilson

- Love's Labor Lost (1995) ... Dr. Wilson

 1994 Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman (TV Series)

President Ulysses S. Grant

- The Washington Affair: Part 2 (1994) ... President Ulysses S. Grant

- The Washington Affair: Part 1 (1994) ... President Ulysses S. Grant

 1994 Without Warning (TV Movie)

Dr. Robert Pearlman

 1994 Renegade (TV Series)

Mickey

- Dutch on the Run (1994) ... Mickey

 1994 The Force (Video)

Sykes

 1994 L.A. Law (TV Series)

Attorney Belknap

- Tunnel of Love (1994) ... Attorney Belknap

 1994 The X-Files (TV Series)

Leonard Vance

- Miracle Man (1994) ... Leonard Vance

 1994 SeaQuest 2032 (TV Series)

Martin Tucker

- The Stinger (1994) ... Martin Tucker

 1993 Nick's Game (TV Movie)

Joe 'Little Joe' Diaco

 1993 Undercover Blues

Foster

 1993 Curacao (TV Movie)

Henry Rawlings

 1992 Under Siege

Trenton

 1992 Death Ring (Video)

Jessup (as Jessup)

 1992 Jack's Place (TV Series)

Ogden Lake

- I See Cupid, I See France (1992) ... Ogden Lake

 1991 Rewrite for Murder (TV Movie)

Lt. Reiderman

 1991 Perry Mason: The Case of the Glass Coffin (TV Movie)

Max LeMar

 1989-1991 Midnight Caller (TV Series)

Nick Clemente

- The Leopard (1991) ... Nick Clemente

- That's Amoré (1991) ... Nick Clemente

- Do You Believe in Miracles? (1989) ... Nick Clemente

 1990 Cop Rock (TV Series)

Sidney Weitz

- Bang the Potts Slowly (1990) ... Sidney Weitz

- No Noose Is Good Noose (1990) ... Sidney Weitz

- Marital Blitz (1990) ... Sidney Weitz

- Potts Don't Fail Me Now (1990) ... Sidney Weitz

- Cop-a-Felliac (1990) ... Sidney Weitz

Show all 8 episodes

 1990 Ferris Bueller (TV Series)

Janitor Lou

- Custodian of the People (1990) ... Janitor Lou

 1990 Anna (TV Movie)

Al Lubinski

 1989-1990 The Famous Teddy Z (TV Series)

Harland Keyvo

- Teddy Goes to the Awards (1990) ... Harland Keyvo

- Loyalty (1990) ... Harland Keyvo

- A Case of Murder (1989) ... Harland Keyvo

- The Dark Closet (1989) ... Harland Keyvo

- Pilot (1989) ... Harland Keyvo

 1990 The First Power

Commander Perkins

 1987-1990 Wiseguy (TV Series)

Sidney 'Sid' Royce / Elvis Prim

- To Die in Bettendorf (1990) ... Sidney 'Sid' Royce / Elvis Prim

- No One Gets Out of Here Alive (1987) ... Sidney 'Sid' Royce

- The Marriage of Heaven & Hell (1987) ... Sidney 'Sid' Royce

- One on One (1987) ... Sidney 'Sid' Royce

- The Birthday Surprise (1987) ... Sidney 'Sid' Royce

Show all 7 episodes

 1989 Falcon Crest (TV Series)

Forrest Murdy

- Payback (1989) ... Forrest Murdy

 1989 Prime Target (TV Movie)

 1989 Highway to Heaven (TV Series)

Tobias Bennett

- The Silent Bell (1989) ... Tobias Bennett

 1989 She Knows Too Much (TV Movie)

Ivan Fletcher

 1988 In the Heat of the Night (TV Series)

Mayor Jim Findlay

- Blind Spot: Part 2 (1988) ... Mayor Jim Findlay

- Blind Spot: Part 1 (1988) ... Mayor Jim Findlay

- Road Kill (1988) ... Mayor Jim Findlay

- Pilot: Part 2 (1988) ... Mayor Jim Findlay

- Pilot: Part 1 (1988) ... Mayor Jim Findlay

 1987 Sister, Sister

Cleve Doucet

 1987 Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (TV Movie)

Michael Light

 1987 Amazing Stories (TV Series)

Val Webster

- Moving Day (1987) ... Val Webster

 1987 Retribution

George Miller

 1987 Amazing Grace and Chuck

Johnny B. Goode

 1987 Guilty of Innocence: The Lenell Geter Story (TV Movie)

Lieutenant Hutchison

 1986 Slow Burn (TV Movie)

Ron McDonald

 1986 Crossroads

Lloyd

 1986 Matlock (TV Series)

Les McCall

- Diary of a Perfect Murder (1986) ... Les McCall

 1985 The Blue Yonder (TV Movie)

Finch

 1985 Our Family Honor (TV Series)

Carl Martin

- Everybody Is a Star (1985) ... Carl Martin

 1985 Moonlighting (TV Series)

Simon

- Moonlighting (Pilot) (1985) ... Simon

 1985 Scarecrow and Mrs. King (TV Series)

Gordon Redding

- Odds on a Dead Pigeon (1985) ... Gordon Redding

 1984 Jessie (TV Series)

Calvin Tanner

- Trick of Fate (1984) ... Calvin Tanner

 1984 A Soldier's Story

Captain Taylor

 1984 Call to Glory (TV Series)

Child Psychologist

- Call to Glory (1984) ... Child Psychologist

 1984 T.J. Hooker (TV Series)

Rollins

- Deadlock (1984) ... Rollins

 1984 Benson (TV Series)

Tom McMullen

- Take My Life, Please (1984) ... Tom McMullen

 1982-1984 Hill Street Blues (TV Series)

Freddie / Mr. Vosca

- Fuchs Me? Fuchs You! (1984) ... Freddie

- The Young, the Beautiful and the Degraded (1982) ... Mr. Vosca

 1983 The Day After (TV Movie)

Reverend Walker

 1983 Eyes of Fire

Will Smythe

 1983 The A-Team (TV Series)

Prince

- Bad Time on the Border (1983) ... Prince

 1983 WarGames

Watson

 1983 The Powers of Matthew Star (TV Series)

Deke Griffin

- The Quadrian Caper (1983) ... Deke Griffin

 1982-1983 The Greatest American Hero (TV Series)

Tom Gardener / Dave Tanner

- Heaven Is in Your Genes (1983) ... Tom Gardener

- The Good Samaritan (1982) ... Dave Tanner

 1982 Gavilan (TV Series)

Harry August

- The Guns of Harry August (1982) ... Harry August

 1982 Farrell for the People (TV Movie)

Jed Carter

 1982 Dallas (TV Series)

Nelson Harding

- Billion Dollar Question (1982) ... Nelson Harding

 1982 Love Child

Arthur Brady

 1982 Penitentiary II

Announcer

 1982 Little House on the Prairie (TV Series)

Sherman Andruss

- A Faraway Cry (1982) ... Sherman Andruss

 1982 Barney Miller (TV Series)

Lawrence Pryne

- The Tontine (1982) ... Lawrence Pryne

 1981 WKRP in Cincinnati (TV Series)

Pat Perillo

- Who's on First? (1981) ... Pat Perillo

 1981 CHiPs (TV Series)

Wally Bartell

- Anything But the Truth (1981) ... Wally Bartell

 1980 Union City

Harlan

 1978 Wings of Ash: A Dramatization of the Life of Antonin Artaud (Short)

Dr. Rene Allende

 1977 Le grand silence (Video short)

Benny Lansing