Erich Anderson obit

Venerable Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter Actor Erich Anderson Passes Away 

He was not on the list.

Really sad news from late Friday night as one of my favorite actors from the franchise, Erich Anderson, has passed away from a long battle with cancer. His wife Saxon Trainor posted about his passing on Instagram.

I had the pleasure of talking to Erich on a few occasions, in person and over the phone. He was a very kind man who came from a military family and was a dedicated husband as well as an exceptional author. You can find his work at www.erich-anderson.com. He joined this site’s short lived podcast for an episode to talk about his experiences on the set of Friday The 13th: The Final Chapter portraying Rob Dier as well as other life experiences. You can listen to that episode now.

I was very lucky to get to know a great actor and human being who not only left an indelible mark on the Friday The 13th franchise, but also the plethora of movies and tv shows he was a part of.

Cancer is terrible, and I sympathize with his family and loved ones while they mourn this great man. We will all miss you Erich.

 

Actor

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The Big Lie

7.3

Podcast Series

Henry Reed

2022

 

Those Who Wait (2020)

Those Who Wait

Short

Man

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2020

 

Interrogation (2020)

Interrogation

7.3

TV Series

D.A. Phillip Eckert

2020

2 episodes

 

William Fichtner and Kim Coates in Cold Brook (2018)

Cold Brook

6.3

Meisenger

2018

 

Titus Welliver in Bosch (2014)

Bosch

8.5

TV Series

Phil Gentry

2017–2018

6 episodes

 

Matthew Lillard and Blythe Danner in Halfway There (2018)

Halfway There

7.3

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Curt Morgan

2018

 

William Fichtner and Jessica McNamee in The Neighbor (2017)

The Neighbor

4.8

Brian

2017

 

Threadbare (2017)

Threadbare

TV Series

Quentin

2017

1 episode

 

Kim Coates and Sona Eyambe in Officer Downe (2016)

Officer Downe

4.2

Bartender

2016

 

Mary McDonnell, G.W. Bailey, Michael Paul Chan, Raymond Cruz, Tony Denison, Robert Gossett, Jon Tenney, Phillip P. Keene, and Kearran Giovanni in Major Crimes (2012)

Major Crimes

7.8

TV Series

James Corbett

2012–2016

4 episodes

 

Hi, Dad (2014)

Hi, Dad

Short

Ricky

2014

 

Ethan Erickson and Kellie Martin in I Married Who? (2012)

I Married Who?

6.0

TV Movie

Alan

2012

 

Heather Locklear, Mark-Paul Gosselaar, and Breckin Meyer in Franklin & Bash (2011)

Franklin & Bash

7.6

TV Series

Roger

2012

2 episodes

 

Simon Baker in The Mentalist (2008)

The Mentalist

8.2

TV Series

Hopper Banks

2010

1 episode

 

Tony Shalhoub in Monk (2002)

Monk

8.1

TV Series

John Buxton

2009

1 episode

 

Ghost Whisperer (2005)

Ghost Whisperer

6.5

TV Series

Ray Westen

2009

1 episode

 

Cold Case (2003)

Cold Case

7.6

TV Series

Dr. Jack Galton

2009

1 episode

 

Justin Bruening in Knight Rider (2008)

Knight Rider

5.6

TV Series

Walter Axe

2008

1 episode

 

The Riches (2007)

The Riches

7.8

TV Series

2008

1 episode

 

Level 9 (2000)

Level 9

6.7

TV Series

Crane Edwards

2008

1 episode

 

Patricia Arquette in Medium (2005)

Medium

7.1

TV Series

Cyrus

2008

1 episode

 

Journeyman (2007)

Journeyman

8.0

TV Series

Paul Vogel

2007

1 episode

 

Vanessa Marcil, Tom Selleck, Josh Duhamel, Camille Guaty, James Lesure, and Molly Sims in Las Vegas (2003)

Las Vegas

7.4

TV Series

2007

1 episode

 

David Boreanaz and Emily Deschanel in Bones (2005)

Bones

7.8

TV Series

Jeremy Nash

2007

1 episode

 

Hugh Laurie in House (2004)

House

8.7

TV Series

Deran

2007

1 episode

 

Garcelle Beauvais, Tim Daly, A.J. Langer, Laura Leighton, Eric Mabius, Rick Worthy, and Natalie Zea in Eyes (2005)

Eyes

7.6

TV Series

Mason Gardner

2007

1 episode

 

Kimberly Elise and Jennifer Finnigan in Close to Home (2005)

Close to Home

6.6

TV Series

Detective George Branch

2005–2006

5 episodes

 

Michael Rapaport in Special (2006)

Special

6.8

Newscaster

2006

 

Medical Investigation (2004)

Medical Investigation

7.0

TV Series

Landsbury

2005

1 episode

 

Rachael Leigh Cook, Eric Balfour, Bianca Lawson, and Ian Somerhalder in Fearless (2004)

Fearless

6.0

TV Movie

Gaia's godfather

2004

 

Ethan Embry and Ed O'Neill in Dragnet (2003)

Dragnet

7.0

TV Series

Paul Dowd

2004

1 episode

 

David Caruso, Eva LaRue, Rex Linn, Omar Benson Miller, Emily Procter, Adam Rodriguez, and Jonathan Togo in CSI: Miami (2002)

CSI: Miami

6.5

TV Series

Nathaniel Putnam

2004

1 episode

 

Stockard Channing, Ron Silver, and Anton Yelchin in Jack (2004)

Jack

6.6

TV Movie

Steve Burka

2004

 

Wilmer Valderrama, Rocky Carroll, Gary Cole, Katrina Law, Sean Murray, Brian Dietzen, and Diona Reasonover in NCIS (2003)

NCIS

7.8

TV Series

Agent Jack Canton

2003

1 episode

 

Dana Delany and Doris Roberts in A Time to Remember (2003)

A Time to Remember

6.2

TV Movie

Julian Proctor

2003

 

The Guardian (2001)

The Guardian

7.4

TV Series

Hal Lewicki

2003

1 episode

 

Jason Gedrick, Donnie Wahlberg, Gary Basaraba, Neal McDonough, Lana Parrilla, and Mykelti Williamson in Boomtown (2002)

Boomtown

8.1

TV Series

Ben Fisher

2002–2003

5 episodes

 

Marianne Jean-Baptiste, Anthony LaPaglia, Josh Hopkins, Enrique Murciano, Eric Close, Poppy Montgomery, and Roselyn Sanchez in Without a Trace (2002)

Without a Trace

7.0

TV Series

Patrick Kent

2002

1 episode

 

For the People (2002)

For the People

6.0

TV Series

Nick Metterling

2002

1 episode

 

Kate Capshaw, Robert Forster, and Cybill Shepherd in Due East (2002)

Due East

5.8

TV Movie

Jack Purdue Sr.

2002

 

Diane Lane in Unfaithful (2002)

Unfaithful

6.7

Bob Gaylord

2002

 

The District (2000)

The District

7.2

TV Series

Braxton

2002

1 episode

 

Scott Foley, Keri Russell, and Scott Speedman in Felicity (1998)

Felicity

6.9

TV Series

Dr. Edward Porter

1998–2002

9 episodes

 

Bonnie Bedelia, Nancy McKeon, Lela Rochon, Lisa Vidal, and Tracey Needham in The Division (2001)

The Division

6.6

TV Series

Max Harwood

2002

1 episode

 

Catherine Bell, David James Elliott, and Tracey Needham in JAG (1995)

JAG

6.7

TV Series

Commmander Gilfry

2001

1 episode

 

Kathleen Quinlan, Julie Warner, Tony Danza, Christopher McDonald, and Dixie Carter in Family Law (1999)

Family Law

6.6

TV Series

Nick Larson

2001

1 episode

 

Michael Rapaport and Jeri Ryan in Boston Public (2000)

Boston Public

7.3

TV Series

Douglas Barnes

2001

1 episode

 

The Outer Limits (1995)

The Outer Limits

7.7

TV Series

Dr. Deanston

Evan Robert Cooper

1996–2001

2 episodes

 

Gillian Anderson and David Duchovny in The X-Files (1993)

The X-Files

8.6

TV Series

Doug Underwood

2000

1 episode

 

Ted Danson, Marg Helgenberger, Paul Guilfoyle, Robert David Hall, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Eric Szmanda, and David Berman in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000)

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

7.7

TV Series

Jack Garris

2000

1 episode

 

Blood Money (2000)

Blood Money

4.2

TV Movie

Fisch

2000

 

NYPD Blue (1993)

NYPD Blue

7.7

TV Series

Don Kirkendall

2000

7 episodes

 

Beyond Suspicion (2000)

Beyond Suspicion

6.3

Paul

2000

 

George Clooney, Anthony Edwards, Julianna Margulies, Ming-Na Wen, Noah Wyle, Laura Innes, Alex Kingston, Eriq La Salle, Kellie Martin, Paul McCrane, Michael Michele, Erik Palladino, Maura Tierney, and Goran Visnjic in ER (1994)

ER

7.9

TV Series

Mr. Bradley

1999

1 episode

 

Matt Craven, Sheryl Lee, and Rick Roberts in L.A. Doctors (1998)

L.A. Doctors

5.8

TV Series

Charlie Dorland

1999

1 episode

 

Hector Elizondo, Mandy Patinkin, Roma Maffia, Adam Arkin, Roxanne Hart, and E.G. Marshall in Chicago Hope (1994)

Chicago Hope

6.9

TV Series

Rick Maple

1999

1 episode

 

Alec Baldwin, Rebecca De Mornay, and Andre Braugher in Thick as Thieves (1999)

Thick as Thieves

5.9

Tenesco

1999

 

Roma Downey, John Dye, and Della Reese in Touched by an Angel (1994)

Touched by an Angel

6.0

TV Series

Billy Hamstead

1998

1 episode

 

Miguel Ferrer in Where's Marlowe? (1998)

Where's Marlowe?

5.9

Det. Simmons

1998

 

Billy Crudup and Monica Potter in Without Limits (1998)

Without Limits

7.2

Collin Pounder (uncredited)

1998

 

Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal (1996)

Sports Theater with Shaquille O'Neal

7.3

TV Series

1998

1 episode

 

Mitzi Kapture and Rob Estes in Silk Stalkings (1991)

Silk Stalkings

6.5

TV Series

Alan McGrath

1997

1 episode

 

Susan Walters in The Big Easy (1996)

The Big Easy

7.2

TV Series

Eddie Delmarc

1997

1 episode

 

Patricia Arquette, Ewan McGregor, and Nick Nolte in Nightwatch (1997)

Nightwatch

6.2

Newscaster

1997

 

Parking

8.5

Short

Gene

1996

 

Jessica Biel, Beverley Mitchell, Barry Watson, David Gallagher, Catherine Hicks, Mackenzie Rosman, and Happy in 7th Heaven (1996)

7th Heaven

5.3

TV Series

Jake Morris

1996

1 episode

 

Patricia Arquette and Matthew Broderick in Infinity (1996)

Infinity

6.1

Gil

1996

 

Antonio Sabato Jr. and John Walsh in If Looks Could Kill (1996)

If Looks Could Kill

5.6

TV Movie

1996

 

Sam Elliott and Anne Ramsay in The Final Cut (1995)

The Final Cut

5.5

Talberg

1995

 

Gramps (1995)

Gramps

5.5

TV Movie

Simon

1995

 

Sela Ward, Swoosie Kurtz, Patricia Kalember, and Sheila Kelley in Sisters (1991)

Sisters

7.5

TV Series

Greg LeMott

1995

2 episodes

 

Jeff Fahey in The Marshal (1995)

The Marshal

7.2

TV Series

Neikrong

1995

1 episode

 

Andy Griffith in Matlock (1986)

Matlock

7.1

TV Series

Tom McGuire

1994

1 episode

 

Ice Cube, Lori Petty, and Michael Boatman in The Glass Shield (1994)

The Glass Shield

6.1

District Attorney Ira Kern

1994

 

Melrose Place (1992)

Melrose Place

6.0

TV Series

Dr. Daniel 'Dan' Miller

1994

2 episodes

 

Jennifer Lopez in Second Chances (1993)

Second Chances

6.8

TV Series

Bruce Christianson #1

1993

2 episodes

 

Civil Wars (1991)

Civil Wars

6.9

TV Series

Paul Griffith

1993

1 episode

 

Class of '96 (1993)

Class of '96

7.6

TV Series

Michael

1993

1 episode

 

Jack's Place (1992)

Jack's Place

6.9

TV Series

George

1993

1 episode

 

Jean Smart in Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story (1992)

Overkill: The Aileen Wuornos Story

5.3

TV Movie

1992

 

The Witches of Eastwick

6.5

TV Movie

Coach Mullen

1992

 

Michael Dorn, Jonathan Frakes, Gates McFadden, Marina Sirtis, Brent Spiner, LeVar Burton, and Patrick Stewart in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987)

Star Trek: The Next Generation

8.7

TV Series

Cmdr. Keiran MacDuff

1992

1 episode

 

James Remar in Session Man (1991)

Session Man

6.5

Short

Peter Goffigon

1991

 

Love Kills (1991)

Love Kills

4.5

TV Movie

Brooks

1991

 

Thirtysomething (1987)

Thirtysomething

7.5

TV Series

Billy Sidel

1990–1991

7 episodes

 

Baby Talk (1991)

Baby Talk

3.9

TV Series

Gary

1991

1 episode

 

The Antagonists (1991)

The Antagonists

5.6

TV Series

Philip Van Petton

1991

1 episode

 

Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell in Quantum Leap (1989)

Quantum Leap

8.2

TV Series

Steve Slater

1990

1 episode

 

Pair of Aces (1990)

Pair of Aces

5.2

TV Movie

Captain Hansen

1990

 

Stephen Caffrey in Tour of Duty (1987)

Tour of Duty

8.3

TV Series

1989

1 episode

 

Police Story: Monster Manor (1988)

Police Story: Monster Manor

5.9

TV Movie

1988

 

Bat*21 (1988)

Bat*21

6.5

Major Jake Scott

1988

 

Natasha Richardson in Patty Hearst (1988)

Patty Hearst

6.3

1st Male

1988

 

Victoria Principal, Barbara Bel Geddes, Patrick Duffy, Larry Hagman, Charlene Tilton, Jim Davis, Linda Gray, and Steve Kanaly in Dallas (1978)

Dallas

7.1

TV Series

Sal Lombardi

1988

2 episodes

 

Hard Copy (1987)

Hard Copy

4.1

TV Series

Det. Packer

1987

3 episodes

 

Mariska Hargitay, Courtney Thorne-Smith, Cristen Kauffman, and JoAnn Willette in Welcome to 18 (1986)

Welcome to 18

5.7

Roscoe (as E. Erich Anderson)

1986

 

Angela Lansbury in Murder, She Wrote (1984)

Murder, She Wrote

7.2

TV Series

Gary Roberts (as E. Erich Anderson)

1986

1 episode

 

Richard Chamberlain, Alice Krige, and F. Murray Abraham in Dream West (1986)

Dream West

6.6

TV Mini Series

1986

2 episodes

 

The Paper Chase (1973)

The Paper Chase

8.1

TV Series

Mr. Williamson

1985

1 episode

 

Chuck Norris in Missing in Action (1984)

Missing in Action

5.4

Masucci (as E. Erich Anderson)

1984

 

Sharon Stone, Dennis Franz, Julius Carry, Bernie Casey, Patrick Cassidy, Pat Corley, Michele Greene, Peter Jurasik, Perry Lang, Michael Nouri, Ken Olin, Marco Rodríguez, and Mykelti Williamson in Bay City Blues (1983)

Bay City Blues

6.8

TV Series

Bobby Stang (as E. Erich Anderson)

1983–1984

6 episodes

 

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984)

Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter

6.0

Rob (as E. Erich Anderson)

1984

 

Yaphet Kotto, Gary Grubbs, Cliff Potts, and Shelley Smith in For Love and Honor (1983)

For Love and Honor

6.6

TV Series

Soldier #1

1983

1 episode

 

Writer

Jeff Fahey in The Marshal (1995)

The Marshal

7.2

TV Series

written by

1995

1 episode

Martin Starger obit

 

Martin Starger, ‘Nashville’ and ‘Mask’ Producer, Dies at 92

He also served in the 1970s as the first president of ABC Entertainment, home of ‘Roots,’ ‘Happy Days’ and ‘Rich Man, Poor Man.’ 

He was not on the list.

Martin Starger, who shepherded Roots, Happy Days and Rich Man, Poor Man as the first president of ABC Entertainment before producing such films as Robert Altman’s Nashville and Peter Bogdanovich’s Mask, has died. He was 92.

Starger died Friday at his home in Los Angeles, his niece, New York-based casting director Ilene Starger, announced. “He was a brilliant, elegant, remarkable man and had wonderful taste in projects,” she noted.

As an executive producer, Starger worked on films including Stanley Donen’s Movie Movie (1978), Ingmar Bergman’s Autumn Sonata, The Muppet Movie (1979) and The Great Muppet Caper (1981), Mark Rydell’s On Golden Pond (1981), The Last Unicorn (1982) and Alan J. Pakula’s Sophie’s Choice (1982).

He received Tony nominations in 1987 and 1989 for producing the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Starlight Express and the comedy Lend Me a Tenor, respectively,

Starger was born on May 8, 1932, in the Bronx, New York. After graduating from City College, he was drafted into the U.S. Army in 1953 and assigned to the Signal Corps motion picture division. In Honolulu, he wrote, directed, photographed and edited documentaries and features for television, for the U.S. Department of Defense and for newsreels.

After the Army, Starger joined the advertising agency BBDO in New York, then jumped to ABC as vice president of programs in 1969. Three years later, he was promoted to president of ABC Entertainment, a new position.

Under his stewardship, the third-place network found success with its Movie of the Week franchise, its acclaimed miniseries Roots and Rich Man, Poor Man, and such hit series as Marcus Welby, M.D. and Happy Days. Barry Diller and Michael Eisner were among the up-and-coming creative executives who worked for him.

While still at ABC, he championed Nashville (1975), which he executive produced with Jerry Weintraub, who had brought the project to him.

Starger went on to partner with British legend Lew Grade at Marble Arch Productions — they produced the Cher-starring Mask (1985) — and launched his own company, Marstar Productions. There, he produced or executive produced the telefilms Friendly Fire, All Quiet on the Western Front, The Merchant of Venice, The Elephant Man and Escape From Sobibor.

He got into Broadway by producing, with Grade, the 1976-78 comedy Sly Fox, written by Larry Gelbart, and Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, which premiered in 1981.

Starger divided his time between New York and L.A., his niece said.

Producer

Love Letters (1999)

Love Letters

6.7

TV Movie

executive producer

1999

 

Diana Muldaur in The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards (1990)

The 42nd Annual Primetime Emmy Awards

6.2

TV Special

executive producer

1990

 

Robert Young in Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair (1988)

Marcus Welby, M.D.: A Holiday Affair

6.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1988

 

The Magical World of Disney (1954)

The Magical World of Disney

8.4

TV Series

executive producer

1988

2 episodes

 

Alan Arkin, Rutger Hauer, and Joanna Pacula in Escape from Sobibor (1987)

Escape from Sobibor

7.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1987

 

Code Name: Emerald (1985)

Code Name: Emerald

5.9

producer

1985

 

Eric Stoltz in Mask (1985)

Mask

7.2

producer (produced by)

1985

 

Martin Sheen, Marlo Thomas, and Barry Tubb in Consenting Adult (1985)

Consenting Adult

7.3

TV Movie

executive producer

1985

 

Robert Young and Morgan Stevens in The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D. (1984)

The Return of Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Movie

executive producer

1984

 

Kevin Kline and Meryl Streep in Sophie's Choice (1982)

Sophie's Choice

7.5

executive producer

1982

 

Mia Farrow in The Last Unicorn (1982)

The Last Unicorn

7.3

executive producer

1982

 

Gary Busey and Willie Nelson in Barbarosa (1982)

Barbarosa

6.4

executive producer

1982

 

The Elephant Man (1982)

The Elephant Man

7.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1982

 

Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (1981)

Red Flag: The Ultimate Game

5.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1981

 

Frank Oz, Charles Grodin, Jim Henson, Diana Rigg, and Dave Goelz in The Great Muppet Caper (1981)

The Great Muppet Caper

7.1

executive producer

1981

 

Harry's Battles (1981)

Harry's Battles

7.6

TV Movie

executive producer

1981

 

Klinton Spilsbury in The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981)

The Legend of the Lone Ranger

4.9

executive producer

1981

 

Kim Basinger, Jan-Michael Vincent, and Tanya Tucker in Hard Country (1981)

Hard Country

5.6

executive producer

1981

 

Oliver Clark, Peter Cook, Dana Hill, and Mimi Kennedy in The Two of Us (1981)

The Two of Us

7.3

TV Series

executive producer

1981

1 episode

 

Rodeo Girl (1980)

Rodeo Girl

6.2

TV Movie

delegate producer

1980

 

Raise the Titanic (1980)

Raise the Titanic

5.2

executive producer

1980

 

From the Life of the Marionettes (1980)

From the Life of the Marionettes

7.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1980

 

Omnibus (1980)

Omnibus

7.0

TV Series

producer

1980

 

The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd (1980)

The Ordeal of Dr. Mudd

7.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1980

 

Kirk Douglas, Harvey Keitel, and Farrah Fawcett in Saturn 3 (1980)

Saturn 3

5.1

executive producer

1980

 

All Quiet on the Western Front (1979)

All Quiet on the Western Front

7.1

TV Movie

executive producer

1979

 

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Muppet Movie

7.6

executive producer

1979

 

Frank Oz, Jim Henson, Dave Goelz, Richard Hunt, and Jerry Nelson in The Muppets Go Hollywood (1979)

The Muppets Go Hollywood

6.9

TV Special

executive producer

1979

 

Sanctuary of Fear (1979)

Sanctuary of Fear

5.5

TV Movie

executive producer

1979

 

Friendly Fire (1979)

Friendly Fire

7.2

TV Movie

executive producer

1979

 

Whodunnit?

6.1

TV Series

executive producer

1979

1 episode

 

Jennifer: A Woman's Story (1979)

Jennifer: A Woman's Story

6.4

TV Movie

executive producer

1979

 

Movie Movie (1978)

Movie Movie

6.4

executive producer

1978

 

Susan Bigelow, Louisa Flaningam, and Ellen Greene in The Rock Rainbow (1978)

The Rock Rainbow

TV Movie

executive producer

1978

 

Candice Bergen and Gene Hackman in The Domino Principle (1977)

The Domino Principle

5.7

executive producer

1977

 

Westside Medical (1977)

Westside Medical

6.7

TV Series

executive producer

1977

1 episode

 

Nashville (1975)

Nashville

7.6

executive producer

1975

 

Writer

Broadway: The American Musical (2004)

Broadway: The American Musical

8.8

TV Mini Series

conceived by

developed in association with

2004

6 episodes

 

Additional Crew

The Muppet Movie (1979)

The Muppet Movie

7.6

presenter

1979

Marian Robinson obit

Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama's mother, dies at 86

Robinson became a fixture of the White House when she moved from her hometown of Chicago to help take care of her granddaughters during the Obama administration.

 She was not on the list.

WASHINGTON — Former First Lady Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, has died, according to a family statement shared with NBC News. Robinson was 86 years old.

“She passed peacefully this morning, and right now, none of us are quite sure how exactly we’ll move on without her,” the family statement said.

The family statement is from Michelle and Barack Obama; Craig Robinson and his wife, Kelly; and Marian Robinson’s grandchildren, Avery, Leslie, Malia, Sasha, Austin and Aaron.

Robinson became known to Americans as the country’s first grandmother after her son-in-law, Barack Obama, won the 2008 presidential election. She was a fixture in the White House during his eight years in office, though she kept a low profile. She attended holiday events, the occasional overseas trip and concerts in the East Room. But most often she was with her granddaughters, Sasha and Malia.

Having lived in Chicago her entire life, Robinson agreed to move to Washington, D.C., in 2009 to live in the White House residence and help take care of her granddaughters, who were seven and 10 years old at the time.

“I felt like this was going to be a very hard life for both of them,” she later said in a CBS interview, referring to her daughter and son-in-law. “And I was worried about their safety, and I was worried about my grandkids. That’s what got me to move to D.C.”

In their statement Friday, Robinson's family members said she agreed to leave Chicago with "a healthy nudge."

"We needed her. The girls needed her. And she ended up being our rock through it all," they said.

"She relished her role as a grandmother. ... And although she enforced whatever household rules we’d set for bedtime, watching TV, or eating candy, she made clear that she sided with her 'grandbabies' in thinking that their parents were too darn strict," they added. 

Robinson was born in Chicago in 1937 and grew up in the city’s South Side, where she raised her daughter and son, Craig Robinson. She was married to Fraser Robinson, who died in 1991 from multiple sclerosis.

The former president once called his mother-in-law “the least pretentious person I know.” Indeed, Robinson said in the CBS interview that it was a “huge adjustment” being waited on by White House residence staff, whom she said she convinced to let her do her own laundry.

"Rather than hobnobbing with Oscar winners or Nobel laureates, she preferred spending her time upstairs with a TV tray, in the room outside her bedroom with big windows that looked out at the Washington Monument," the family said in its statement Friday. "The only guest she made a point of asking to meet was the Pope."

The former president credited Robinson with keeping his daughters grounded while they grew up in the White House.

“She’s down to Earth and she doesn’t understand all the fuss,” he said in an interview on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

Michelle Obama was deeply close to her mother. It was Robinson who narrated the biographical video introducing her daughter at the Democratic National Convention in 2008. And after leaving the White House, Robinson said, “My saying is when I grow up, I would like to be like Michelle Obama.”

Just a few weeks ago, Michelle Obama paid tribute to her mother on Mother’s Day by announcing that an exhibit at the Obama Presidential Center Museum in Chicago will be named after her.

“In so many ways she fostered in me a deep sense of confidence in who I was and who I could be by teaching me how to think for myself, how to use my own voice, and how to understand my own worth,” the former first lady said in a video announcement. “I simply wouldn’t be who I am today without my mom.”

The family statement released Friday said "there was and will be only one Marian Robinson," adding, "In our sadness, we are lifted up by the extraordinary gift of her life. And we will spend the rest of ours trying to live up to her example."

Brian Phelan obit

Brian Phelan obituary

 

He was not on the list.

My friend Brian Phelan, who has died aged 90, was an actor turned playwright whose work was performed on television and on stage between the mid-1970s and early-2000s.

Over that period he produced works such as Woman’s Estate (1974) and Holding On (1977), both for LWT; The Russian Soldier (1986), directed by Gavin Millar for the BBC; Murphy’s Stroke (Thames Television, 1980); Knockback (1987 for the BBC) and Coded Hostile for Granada in 1989.

His many stage plays included Article 5 (1975), The Signalman’s Apprentice (1974), which was perhaps his best known creation, Paddy (1977) and Himself (1993), the last of which starred Timothy West at the Nuffield theatre in Southampton, the Theatre Royal in Bath and Richmond theatre, London.

Later on, No Tears, which he wrote for RTÉ in 2002, won the best miniseries award at the Monte Carlo television festival.

Brian was born in Dublin to Micheal, a builder, and Theresa (nee Fogerty), a housewife. Educated by the Christian Brothers, Brian was apprenticed as a carpenter before emigrating at the age of 18 with his family to Canada, where he began acting in theatre and television.

In his early 20s he returned to Ireland, and in 1956 landed his first notable stage role there at the Abbey theatre in Dublin, in Brendan Behan’s The Quare Fellow. Moving to the UK shortly afterwards, he met the young Canadian actor Donald Sutherland, resulting in a long-lasting friendship, and appeared in Miss Julie at the Arts theatre, as well as in a number of films, including The Kitchen (1961), HMS Defiant (1962) and three movies for Joseph Losey – The Criminal (1960), The Servant (1963) and Accident (1967). I met Brian in London in the late 60s when I was working at the BBC, and we discovered that we had mutual friends and shared cultural interests.

While still acting Brian delivered his first television script to ATV – The Tormentors (1966) – which became an ITV Play of the Week starring James Mason and Stanley Baker. Its success prompted him to turn away from acting to concentrate on his writing.

Both in his work environment and outside, Brian was a man of great loyalty and simpatico, and his many friends were a vital part of his life.

His first marriage, to Jan Heppell in 1960, ended in divorce in 1964, and he spent the rest of his life with his partner, Dorothy Bromiley, an actor who predeceased him by only a few days.

He is survived by their daughter, Kate, and by Josh, Dorothy’s son from a previous marriage.

 

Actor

Cathy Come Home (1966)

Days of Hope

8.0

TV Mini Series

Solicitor

1975

1 episode

 

Armchair Theatre (1956)

Armchair Theatre

7.6

TV Series

Jeremy Leeds

Steve Mathews

1961–1974

2 episodes

 

Honeybaby, Honeybaby (1974)

Honeybaby, Honeybaby

4.3

Harry

1974

 

The Fellows (1967)

The Fellows

6.6

TV Series

Harris

1967

1 episode

 

Phillip Manikum and Christopher Matthews in Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1967)

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

TV Series

Ian Lambert

1967

1 episode

 

The Wednesday Play (1964)

The Wednesday Play

7.5

TV Series

The Interviewing Doctor

1967

1 episode

 

Accident (1967)

Accident

6.8

Police Sergeant

1967

 

Patrick Hatfield and Nicolette Robinson in Jemima and Johnny (1966)

Jemima and Johnny

7.6

Short

Johnny's Father

1966

 

Dr. Finlay's Casebook (1962)

Dr. Finlay's Casebook

7.7

TV Series

Father Kelly

1966

1 episode

 

Steve Forrest in The Baron (1966)

The Baron

7.1

TV Series

Ernst Rishner

1966

1 episode

 

No Hiding Place (1959)

No Hiding Place

7.7

TV Series

Paddy Harrigan

1966

1 episode

 

Bradford Dillman and Peter Graves in Court Martial (1965)

Court Martial

7.4

TV Series

Lt. Charles Braun

1965

1 episode

 

Emergency-Ward 10 (1957)

Emergency-Ward 10

6.4

TV Series

Ronald Casey

1965

1 episode

 

Judi Dench in Four in the Morning (1965)

Four in the Morning

6.1

Boy

1965

 

Anthony Quinn and James Coburn in A High Wind in Jamaica (1965)

A High Wind in Jamaica

6.5

Curtis

1965

 

Patrick McGoohan in Secret Agent (1964)

Secret Agent

8.2

TV Series

Donald McKinnon

1965

1 episode

 

Gideon C.I.D. (1964)

Gideon C.I.D.

8.1

TV Series

Dandy Johnson

1964

1 episode

 

The Soldier's Tale (1964)

The Soldier's Tale

7.0

The Soldier

1964

 

Colin Campbell and Rita Tushingham in The Leather Boys (1964)

The Leather Boys

7.1

Man in Jeans

1964

 

Keith Barron and William Mervyn in It's Dark Outside (1964)

It's Dark Outside

8.0

TV Series

Scooty Williams

1964

1 episode

 

The Sentimental Agent (1963)

The Sentimental Agent

7.2

TV Series

Sylvester O'Toole

1963

1 episode

 

Dirk Bogarde, James Fox, and Sarah Miles in The Servant (1963)

The Servant

7.8

Man in Pub

1963

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.9

TV Series

Noah

Tracy

Owen Brown

1959–1963

3 episodes

 

Bob Dylan, David Warner, Ursula Howells, Reg Lye, and Maureen Pryor in The Madhouse on Castle Street (1963)

BBC Sunday-Night Play

8.8

TV Series

Eddie

1963

1 episode

 

Reginald Marsh, Barbara Murray, and Patrick Wymark in The Plane Makers (1963)

The Plane Makers

8.1

TV Series

Joe Seeley

1963

1 episode

 

James Ellis and John Slater in Z Cars (1962)

Z Cars

7.0

TV Series

Geraghty

1962

1 episode

 

Probation Officer (1959)

Probation Officer

7.4

TV Series

Len

1962

1 episode

 

Damn the Defiant! (1962)

Damn the Defiant!

7.1

Grimshaw

1962

 

The Kitchen (1961)

The Kitchen

6.4

Kevin

1961

 

Jackpot (1960)

Jackpot

5.9

Taffy

1960

 

The Concrete Jungle (1960)

The Concrete Jungle

6.8

Pauly Larkin

1960

 

On Trial

TV Series

John Cronin

1960

1 episode

 

Inside Story

TV Series

Mike Steele

1960

13 episodes

 

Writer

Brenda Fricker, Tina Kellegher, and Maria Doyle Kennedy in No Tears (2002)

No Tears

7.5

TV Mini Series

Writer

2002

4 episodes

 

The Treaty (1991)

The Treaty

7.9

TV Movie

Writer

1991

 

Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy (1989)

Tailspin: Behind the Korean Airliner Tragedy

6.2

TV Movie

Writer

1989

 

Manika, une vie plus tard (1989)

Manika, une vie plus tard

6.8

writer

1989

 

Screen Two (1985)

Screen Two

6.3

TV Series

writer

screenplay

screenwriter

1985–1986

4 episodes

 

Die Andere Seite der Welt

Writer

1984

 

Being Normal

TV Movie

play

1983

 

ITV Playhouse (1967)

ITV Playhouse

6.9

TV Series

writer

1969–1981

2 episodes

 

Les aiguilleurs

TV Movie

play

1980

 

Pierce Brosnan and Niall Toibin in Murphy's Stroke (1980)

Murphy's Stroke

7.2

TV Movie

by

1980

 

Caravans (1978)

Caravans

5.9

screenplay (uncredited)

1978

 

Tony Britton and Paul Freeman in Scorpion Tales (1978)

Scorpion Tales

7.4

TV Series

writer

1978

1 episode

 

Das Doppelleben des Wilfried E.

TV Movie

teleplay

1978

 

Michael Elphick in Holding On (1977)

Holding On

TV Series

writer

1977

6 episodes

 

Frauensiedlung

TV Movie

teleplay

1976

 

Michael Craig in The Emigrants (1976)

The Emigrants

TV Series

writer

1976

1 episode

 

Das Anhängsel

TV Movie

teleplay

1975

 

The Compliment

TV Movie

Writer

1974

 

Julie Peasgood in Seven Faces of Woman (1974)

Seven Faces of Woman

8.2

TV Series

writer

1974

1 episode

 

Honeybaby, Honeybaby (1974)

Honeybaby, Honeybaby

4.3

Writer

1974

 

Christiane Krüger in Woman of the Year (1973)

Woman of the Year

5.4

writer

1973

 

Geoffrey Bayldon and Gillian Bailey in The Frighteners (1972)

The Frighteners

7.3

TV Series

Writer

1972

1 episode

 

ITV Saturday Night Theatre (1969)

ITV Saturday Night Theatre

6.3

TV Series

writer

1971

1 episode

 

Speaking of Murder

TV Movie

adaptation

1971

 

Thirty-Minute Theatre (1965)

Thirty-Minute Theatre

7.4

TV Series

writer

1967

1 episode

 

ITV Play of the Week (1955)

ITV Play of the Week

6.9

TV Series

teleplay

1966

1 episode