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Robert Z'Dar was born Robert James Zdarsky on June 3, 1950 in Chicago, Illinois. He caught the acting bug while attending Proviso West High School in Hillside. He received a BFA from Arizona State University. Prior to acting Z'Dar was a singer/keyboardist/guitar player for the Chicago-based rock band Nova Express, which performed as an opening act for such groups as Jefferson Airplane, The Who, and The Electric Prunes. Other early jobs included a jingle writer for the Leo Burnett and J. Walter Thompson ad agencies, a Chicago police officer, and even a brief stint as a Chippendales dancer.

Big, brawny and imposing, with an enormous face, gigantic jaw, and a massive, muscular physique, the hulking 6'2" Z'Dar projected a strong, aggressive, and intimidating screen presence that was ideally suited for the steady succession of mean, nasty, and extremely scary larger-than-life villains he often portrayed throughout a career that spanned over three decades. Z'Dar acted in his film debut in the mid-1980's. He achieved his greatest and most enduring cult movie fame as the vengeful, relentless, and seemingly indestructible undead New York City police officer Matt Cordell in the immensely entertaining "Maniac Cop" pictures. Among Z'Dar's other memorable roles were a prison guard in the enjoyably sleazy "Hellhole," a crazed prostitute-murdering serial killer in "The Night Stalker" (this part directly led to Z'Dar being cast as Matt Cordell), a vicious criminal who savagely beats up Sylvestor Stallone in "Tango and Cash," the Angel of Death in "Soultaker," a smooth drug dealer in the delightfully outrageous "The Divine Enforcer," and Linnea Quigley's abusive husband in "The Rockville Slayer."

A popular frequent guest at horror film conventions, Z'Dar also produced several movies and continued to act with pleasing regularity in a slew of features up until his death from cardiac arrest at age 64 on March 30, 2015.

Helmut Dietl was born on 22 June 1944 in Bad Wiessee, Bavaria, Germany. He was a writer and director, known for Schtonk (1992), Rossini (1997) and Monaco Franze - Der ewige Stenz (1983). He was married to Tamara Dietl, Barbara Valentin and Karin Dietl-Wichmann. He died on 30 March 2015 in Munich, Bavaria, Germany.

Sheila McLaglen was born on 1 March 1923 in England. She was an actress, known for Return from the River Kwai (1989). She died on 30 March 2015 in Washington, USA.

Roger Slifer was an American comic book writer, screenwriter and producer from Indiana. He is known for co-creating Lobo, who first appeared in Omega Men. Lobo was adapted into an animated series in 2000 starring Greg Eagles and Kevin Michael Richardson. He passed away in March 2015 after being a victim of a hit and run.

Tony Pantanella was born on 18 March 1933. He was an actor, known for Night of the Living Dead (1968), The Crazies (1973) and Martin (1977). He died on 30 March 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.

Paul Soulignac was born on 12 September 1914 in Bordeaux, France. He was a cinematographer, known for The Aeronauts (1967), Edward and Caroline (1951) and Jusqu'au bout du monde (1963). He died on 30 March 2015 in Boulogne-Billancourt, France.

Maya Merkel was born on 11 May 1927. Maya was a writer and director, known for Vechnoe dvizhenie (1967), Dlinnyy den (1961) and Tramvay idyot po gorodu (1973). Maya died on 30 March 2015.

Mamie Gee was born on 1 January 1919 in Frederiksberg, Denmark. She was an actress, known for Champagnegaloppen (1938). She died on 30 March 2015.

Vasiliy Gerasimov was born on 11 September 1955 in Leningrad, USSR. Vasiliy was a writer, known for Streets of Broken Lights (1998) and Pushcha (1987). Vasiliy died on 30 March 2015.

John Makin was born in 1943. John is known for Carmen by Georges Bizet (1991) and Close Up (1998). John died on 30 March 2015 in New York City, New York, USA.

Preston Ritter was born on 24 April 1949 in San Joaquin, California, USA. He was an actor and producer, known for Capes: The Series (2012), Obliquity: Imagery of the Unknown and Trust Company (2011). He died on 30 March 2015 in Los Angeles, California, USA.

Aniceto Molina was born on 17 June 1939 in El Campano, Cordoba, Colombia. Aniceto is known for La realidad onirica (2004). Aniceto died on 30 March 2015 in San Antonio, Texas, USA.

Betty Churcher was born on 11 January 1931 in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. She was married to Roy Wilfred Clarence Churcher. She died on 30 March 2015 in Wamboin, New South Wales, Australia.

Lannis Temple was born on 22 August 1952 in Bexar County, Texas, USA. He was an actor, known for Hard Reset (2016), The Sauce (2015) and Indulgence of a Coward (2015). He died on 30 March 2015.

Gilbert Moreau was born on 30 October 1916 in Châtellerault, Vienne, France. He was an actor, known for Le pays d'où je viens (1956), Sombre dimanche (1948) and La vérité tient à un fil (1976). He died on 30 March 2015 in Châtellerault, Vienne, France.

Shmulik Rozen was born on 1 April 1925 in Jerusalem, British Mandate of Palestine. Shmulik died on 30 March 2015 in Ra'anana, Israel.