Oliver Stone William Oliver Stone (born September 15, 1946) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer and military veteran. Stone came to public prominence between the mid-1980s and the early 1990s for writing and directing a series of films about the Vietnam War, in which he had participated as an infantry soldier. Many of Stone's films focus on contemporary and controversial American political and cultural issues during the late 20th century. Early life[edit] Writing and directing career[edit] 1970s[edit] 1980s[edit] Platoon brought Stone's name to a much wider audience. 1990s[edit] I make my films like you're going to die if you miss the next minute. 1994 saw the release of Stone's satire of the modern media, Natural Born Killers. 2000s[edit] Oliver Stone with Rino Barillari in "Piazza dé Ricci" exit of the restaurant "Pierluigi" in Rome – September 25, 2012 2010s[edit] Documentaries[edit]
Dean Martin - Dean Martin (born Dino Paul Crocetti; June 7, 1917 – December 25, 1995) was an Italian American singer, actor, comedian, and film producer. One of the most popular and enduring American entertainers of the mid-20th century, Martin was nicknamed the "King of Cool" for his seemingly effortless charisma and self-assuredness.[1][2] He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and a star in concert stage/nightclubs, recordings, motion pictures, and television. He was the host of the television variety program The Dean Martin Show (1965–1974) and The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast (1974–1985). Early life[edit] Martin was born in Steubenville, Ohio, to an Italian father, Gaetano, and an Italian-American mother, Angela Crocetti (née Barra). In October 1941 Martin married Elizabeth ("Betty") Anne McDonald, they had four children, and the marriage ended in 1949. By 1946 Martin was doing well, but he was little more than an East Coast nightclub singer with a common style, similar to that of Bing Crosby.
Tom Hiddleston Takashi Miike Takashi Miike (三池 崇史, Miike Takashi?, born August 24, 1960) is a highly prolific and controversial Japanese filmmaker. He has directed over ninety theatrical, video, and television productions since his debut in 1991. Miike is credited with directing fifteen productions in the years 2001 and 2002 alone. Biography[edit] Early life[edit] Miike was born in Yao, Osaka, Japan, an area inhabited by the working class and immigrants. Career[edit] Miike's first films were television productions, but he also began directing several direct-to-video V-Cinema releases. Themes of his work[edit] Miike has garnered international notoriety for depicting shocking scenes of extreme violence and sexual perversions. Controversies[edit] However, the British Board of Film Classification refused to allow the release of the film uncut in Britain, citing its extreme levels of sexual violence towards women. Filmography[edit] Director[edit] Actor[edit] Producer[edit] Other work[edit] References[edit] Further reading[edit]
Peter Lawford Peter Sydney Ernest Lawford (born Peter Sydney Ernest Aylen;[1][2] September 7, 1923 – December 24, 1984) was an English-born American actor.[3] He was a member of the "Rat Pack" and brother-in-law to President John F. Kennedy, and more noted in later years for his off-screen activities as a celebrity than for his acting. From the 1940s to the 1960s, he had a strong presence in popular culture and starred in a number of highly acclaimed films. Early life[edit] Born in London in 1923, he was the only child of Lieutenant General Sir Sydney Turing Barlow Lawford, KBE (1865-1953) and May Sommerville Bunny (1883-1972). He spent his early childhood in France, and owing to his family's travels, was never formally educated. Career[edit] Films[edit] Prior to World War II, Lawford had gained a contract position with the MGM studios. MGM career[edit] With actors such as Clark Gable and James Stewart away at war, Lawford was recognized as the romantic lead on the MGM lot. Post-MGM[edit] Television[edit]
Zachary Quinto Alex Proyas Early life[edit] Proyas was born to Greek parents in Egypt and moved to Sydney when he was 3.[1] At 17 he attended the Australian Film, Television, and Radio School, and began directing music videos shortly after.[1] He moved to Los Angeles in the United States to further his career, working on MTV music videos and TV commercials.[1] Career[edit] His next project was meant to be an action-oriented adaptation of John Milton's 17th-century Christian epic poem Paradise Lost, starring Bradley Cooper.[9] Both Proyas and Cooper were on hand to debut concept art at ComicCon 2011,[10] but the project was ultimately cancelled over budgetary concerns related to the effects.[11] Proyas also worked with John Foxx on the creation of Parallel Lives, a joint project. Awards[edit] At the 1994 Cannes Film Festival, Proyas was nominated for a Golden Palm award for his short film, Book of Dreams: 'Welcome to Crateland '. Filmography[edit] Short films[edit] Feature films[edit] Music videos[edit] References[edit]
John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), commonly known as "Jack" or by his initials JFK, was an American politician who served as the 35th President of the United States from January 1961 until he was assassinated in November 1963. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas on November 22, 1963. Lee Harvey Oswald was accused of the crime and arrested that evening. Jack Ruby shot and killed Oswald two days later, before a trial could take place. The FBI and the Warren Commission officially concluded that Oswald was the lone assassin. The United States House Select Committee on Assassinations (HSCA) agreed with the conclusion that Oswald fired the shots which killed the president, but also concluded that Kennedy was probably assassinated as the result of a conspiracy.[5] Since the 1960s, information concerning Kennedy's private life has come to light. Early life and education The Kennedy family at Hyannisport in 1931 with Jack at top left in white shirt. In 1946, U.S.
James Mangold Life and career[edit] James Mangold was born in New York City and is the son of artists Robert Mangold and Sylvia Plimack Mangold.[1] He was raised in New York State's Hudson River Valley.[1] After graduating from Washingtonville High School, Mangold was accepted into and later attended the California Institute of the Arts film/video program.[2] While there, he mentored under Alexander Mackendrick. During his third year, Mackendrick suggested that Mangold should study at CalArts School of Theater as an actor alongside his regular film studies.[citation needed] In 1985 Mangold secured a writer/director deal at Disney.[2] He wrote a television movie and co-wrote the animated feature Oliver and Company.[2] A few years later, Mangold moved to New York and applied to Columbia University's film school,[2] where he graduated with an MFA in film. [3] While there, he studied under Miloš Forman and developed both Heavy and Cop Land. Filmography (director)[edit] References[edit] External links[edit]
Sammy Davis, Jr. - After reuniting with Sinatra and Dean Martin in 1987, Davis toured with them and Liza Minnelli internationally, before he died of throat cancer in 1990. He died in debt to the Internal Revenue Service, and his estate was the subject of legal battles.[8] Davis was awarded the Spingarn Medal by the NAACP and was nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for his television performances. He was the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors in 1987, and in 2001, he was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. Early life[edit] Samuel George Davis, Jr. was born in the Harlem section of Manhattan in New York City, as an only child, to Sammy Davis, Sr., an African-American entertainer, and Elvera Sanchez,[9] a tap dancer of Afro-Cuban descent. Davis's parents were vaudeville dancers. Will Mastin Trio: (L–R) Sammy Davis Sr., Sammy Davis Jr., and Will Mastin Davis learned to dance from his father and his "uncle" Will Mastin, who led the dance troupe his father worked for.
Vincent Ward (director) Vincent Ward, ONZM (born 16 February 1956)[1] is a New Zealand film director, screenwriter and artist. While in the United States, Ward wrote the story for Alien 3.[3][4] He also developed the material that was the basis of The Last Samurai, selecting its director, and acting as executive producer on that project before writing and directing River Queen[5] starring Kiefer Sutherland and Samantha Morton. Voted by the audience from 250 feature films Rain of the Children won the Grand Prix at Era New Horizons Film Festival. The film was nominated for best director and won best composer at the Qantas Film and TV Awards in New Zealand. Vincent Ward was also nominated for best director at the Australian Directors Guild Awards[6] for Rain of the Children. In 2010 he published Vincent Ward: The Past Awaits, part mid career chronicle and part large format film photo book.[7] Vincent Ward at the Internet Movie Database Vincent Ward Films
Johnny Cash John R. "Johnny" Cash (February 26, 1932 – September 12, 2003) was a singer-songwriter, actor, and author,[2] widely considered one of the most influential American musicians of the 20th century.[3] Although primarily remembered as a country icon, his genre-spanning songs and sound embraced rock and roll, rockabilly, blues, folk, and gospel. This crossover appeal won Cash the rare honor of multiple induction in the Country Music, Rock and Roll, and Gospel Music Halls of Fame. Cash was known for his deep bass-baritone voice,[a] distinctive sound of his Tennessee Three backing band, a rebelliousness[6][7] coupled with an increasingly somber and humble demeanor, free prison concerts,[8][page needed] and trademark look, which earned him the nickname "The Man in Black". Personal life[edit] Early life[edit] The Cash children were: Roy, Margaret Louise, Jack, J. In March 1935, when Cash was three years old, the family settled in Dyess, Arkansas. Marriages and family[edit] Heritage[edit]