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Carl Weathers was born on January 14, 1948, in New Orleans, Louisiana. A famous and successful football star at San Diego State, he played with the Oakland Raiders and retired from the sport in 1974, in order to give full attention to his goal: to be a real actor.

Weathers first played small parts in two blaxploitation flicks, Friday Foster (1975) (in which he played "Yarbro") and Bucktown (1975) (playing "Hambone"), both made in 1975 and directed by Arthur Marks. However, his big break came the following year when producers Irwin Winkler and Robert Chartoff chose him to play "Apollo Creed" in the blockbuster "sleeper" Rocky (1976) (real-life boxing legend Ken Norton was originally signed for the part, but it eventually went to Weathers). He went on to play "Creed" in three other "Rocky" movies, and the characters' adversarial relationship eventually evolved into a warm friendship. After Creed's death in Rocky IV (1985), Weathers met with producer Joel Silver and agreed to play an important supporting role in Predator (1987), an action film starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The following year, Silver produced Action Jackson (1988), a first starring role for Weathers, but it performed poorly at the box office and was panned by the critics.

During the 1990s, Weathers starred in four In the Heat of the Night (1988) two-hour TV specials that were much better received by critics and viewers alike. In 1996, he played the part of "Chubbs Peterson" in the blockbuster Adam Sandler comedy Happy Gilmore (1996). He returned to his "action roots" in two TV-movies with Hulk Hogan: Assault on Devil's Island (1997) and Assault on Death Mountain (1999).

In addition to his acting career, Weathers is also a member of the Big Brothers Association and the U.S. Olympic Committee, handling the career of athletes of various sports such as gymnastics, wrestling, swimming and judo.

Don Murray was an American actor, possibly best known for playing Governor Breck, the authoritarian ruler in the science fiction film "Conquest of the Planet of the Apes" (1972).

Murray was born in 1929 to Dennis Aloisius Murray and his wife Ethel Cook. Dennis worked as a dance director and stage manager, while Ethel was a singer. Ethel Cook served as a performer for the Ziegfeld Follies (1907-1931), an elaborate theatrical revue production in Broadway.

Murray attended the East Rockaway High School in East Rockaway, a village of Nassau County, New York. During his high school years, Murray served as a member of the school's football team, its track team, and its glee club. He graduated in 1947, at the age of 18. He later attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Manhattan, New York. He graduated in 1951.

Murray made his Broadway debut in 1951, when cast as Jack Hunter in a stage version of the play "The Rose Tattoo" (1951) by Tennessee Williams (1911-1983). In the play, Hunter is a sailor and the boyfriend of Rosa Delle Rose, the daughter of the play's female protagonist.

Murray's stage career was interrupted when he was drafted into the United States military. He registered as a conscientious objector during the Korean War (1950-1953), as he was a member of the Brethren Church. The Brethren Church is an Anabaptist Christian denomination, which strictly adheres to pacifism and non-violence. Murray was assigned to alternative service in Europe. He was honorably discharged from the military in 1954, and resumed his acting career.

In 1956, Murray made his film debut in the romantic drama film "Bus Stop". The film was an adaptation of a 1955 theatrical play by William Inge (1913-1973). Murray was cast in the role of Beauregard "Beau" Decker, a naive, overly enthusiastic, and socially inept cowboy from Montana. The film depicts Beau's infatuation with young singer Cherie (played by Marylin Monroe), which causes him to first kidnap her and then coerce her into marrying him. He is tragically unaware that Cherie barely knows him, and that his love is unrequited. The film was a box office success, and Murray was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1956, however the Oscar for that year was won by rival actor Anthony Quinn (1915-2001) for his role in Lust for LIfe.

His successful debut helped him receive offers for more film roles. He was cast as Charlie Samson in the drama film "The Bachelor Party" (1957). Samson is the film's main character, a hard-working bookkeeper who struggles with the temptation to cheat on his wife. He was then cast as morphine-addict Johnny Pope in "A Hatful of Rain" (1957), a film about the then-innovative topic of drug addiction.

In 1958, Murray played in his first Western film, "From Hell to Texas". In the film, he was cast as Tod Lohman, an impoverished ranch hand who is suspected of murdering the son of a powerful cattle baron. The film deals with Lohman being hunted by the cattle baron's other son and his mercenaries, who seek revenge.

Murray's second Western film was "These Thousand Hills" (1959). The film depicts the rags-to-riches story of Albert Gallatin "Lat" Evans (played by Murray). But as Lat grows richer, he becomes a colder and harsher man. Leading him to betray his own lover, to alienate his only friend, and to marry a banker's daughter for her money.

Murray was also cast in a lead role in the war film "Shake Hands with the Devil" (1959), which depicts the Irish War of Independence (1919-1921). During the 1960s, Murray continued to appear regularly in films, often cast in period dramas. He played Wild Bill Hickok in the The Plainsman (1966), and ambitious ruler Justinian in "The Viking Queen" (1967).

In 1968, Murray gained a co-starring role in the Western television series "The Outcasts" (1968-1969). He played the character Earl Corey, an American Civil War veteran and formerly wealthy slave owner. In the series, Corey was cheated out of his wealth by a treasonous brother, and started making a living as a bounty hunter. He teams up with fellow bounty hunter Jemal David (played by Otis Young), an African-American freedman. The two men are not friends, but they are both social outcasts and need each other's skills to gain a profit. The series was considered groundbreaking for featuring an interracial team of characters, but was criticized for being overly violent. The series lasted only 26 episodes.

In 1972, Murray played the major role of Governor Breck in"Conquest of the Planet of the Apes". Breck is the authoritarian ruler of a human civilization using apes as a slave force, and he is the owner of the film's heroic protagonist Caesar. He eventually fails to defeat a slave revolt, and gets captured alive by his own slave. The film earned 9.7 million dollars in theatrical rentals at the North American box office.

Murray was offered the role of Breck in the film's immediate sequel, "Battle for the Planet of the Apes" (1973), but he refused to return. He reportedly felt that there was no fun in playing the tyrant twice. A character called Governor Kolp (played by Severn Darden) was introduced in the film as Breck's replacement.

In 1975, Murray starred in the thriller film "Deadly Hero", as the villainous protagonist Officer Lacy. In the film, Lacy is a veteran police officer of the New York City Police Department (NYPD) who has been demoted for violent tendencies and being overly trigger-happy. While on duty, Lacy kills the common mugger "Rabbit" (played by James Earl Jones) and briefly gains a heroic reputation. But a female witness to the death has seen that Lacy is a cold-blooded murderer, and that Rabbit was killed after disarming himself and surrendering to Lacy. Lacy decides to kill the witness in order to protect his reputation. The film was a box-office flop as film critics blamed its overly pessimistic attitude toward law enforcement. Among the few critics who actually liked the film was Gene Siskel (1946-1999), writing for the newspaper "Chicago Tribune".

In the late 1970s, Murray was reduced to mostly appearing in television films. In 1979, Murray had a career comeback when cast in the major role of Sid Fairgate in the soap opera "Knots Landing" (1979-1993). Fairgate was depicted as the owner of used car dealership Knots Landing Motors, and pater familias to a large family. Murray played this role until 1981, when he left the series due to a salary dispute. His character was written out as having died during a surgery.

During the 1980s, Murray had few appearances in theatrical films. They included the romantic drama "Endless Love" (1981), the mystery film "I Am the Cheese" (1983), the post-apocalyptic science fiction film "Radioactive Dreams" (1985), the time-travel film "Peggy Sue Got Married" (1986), the spy film "Scorpion" (1986), the reincarnation-themed fantasy film "Made in Heaven" (1987), and the ghost film "Ghosts Can't Do It" (1989).

In 1989, Murray gained a new co-starring role in the comedy-drama television series "Brand New Life" (1989-1990), playing the character of wealthy lawyer Roger Gibbons. In the series Gibbons marries novice court reporter Barbara McCray (played by Barbara Eden). Each of them has three children from previous marriages, and they now struggle to raise 6 kids. The series' creator and show-runner was young screenwriter Chris Carter (1956-), and its themes were mostly based on the old sitcom "The Brady Bunch" (1969-1974). The series was not successful, and only a pilot and 5 regular episodes were broadcast. Murray next had a recurring role in the short-lived comedy-drama television series "Sons and Daughters" (1991), concerning the struggles of a single mother who tries to maintain the peace between the members of a large extended family. The series only lasted for 13 episodes, but 6 of them remained unaired at the time of its cancellation.

For the rest of the 1990s, Murray had guest star roles in various television series, and appeared in a hand full of television films. During the early 2000s, he had roles in three theatrical films: the romantic comedy "Internet Love" (2000), the stalker-themed thriller "Island Pray" (2001), and the comedy film "Elvis is Alive" (2001). In 2001, the 72-year-old Murray went into retirement.

Murray returned to acting in 2017, when offered the recurring role of insurance-company executive Bushnell Mullins in the third season of the mystery series "Twin Peaks" (1990-1991, 2017). Mullins was the boss of insurance agent Douglas "Dougie" Jones, one of several doppelgangers to FBI agent Dale Cooper (the series' main protagonist). The season was critically praised but there were no plans for a fourth season.

In 2019, Murray reached his 90th year and was still appearing in some films and on television into 2021. He died in 2024.

Ian Lavender attended Bournville Technical College in the West Midlands, and then studied at the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. He graduated in 1967. Acting on the stage at Canterbury followed, and his first television work was the ATV play "Flowers At My Feet" in 1968. He then became the youngest cast member of Dad's Army (1968), working with veterans Arthur Lowe, John Le Mesurier and John Laurie.

Much of Lavender's subsequent television work came in the form of comedy roles. He was also an accomplished stage actor, having performed in repertory and at the West End. He loved cricket, golf and gardening. He died in a nursing home in the village of Stowlangtoft, Suffolk after a battle with bladder cancer.

Wilhelmenia Fernandez was born on 5 January 1949 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. She was an actress, known for Diva (1981), Someone to Watch Over Me (1987) and La Bohème (1980). She was married to Ormon Fernandez and Andrew William Smith . She died on 2 February 2024 in Lexington, Kentucky, USA.

Christopher Priest was born on 14 July 1943 in Cheadle, Cheshire, England, UK. He was a writer, known for The Prestige (2006), Futouristic and One Million Times (2017). He was married to Leigh Kennedy and Lisa Tuttle. He died on 2 February 2024 in England.

Claudio Rissi was born in Monte Grande, Buenos Aires. Moved to Coghlan at 17, the proximity to River Plate took him to the club's theater school, where he became a "clandestine actor", hidden from his father, Rafael. Then he spent a year at the School of Dramatic Arts, but the most powerful master had already completed it, that of the street wanderings. He has worked on more than 30 films, among which we will mention Plata Quemada by Marcelo Piñeyro; Nine Queens, by Fabian Bielinsky; Lugares Comunes by Adolfo Aristarain; El Fondo Del Mar by Damián Szifron, and Juan y Eva by Paula de Luque. He has been awarded two Awards for Best Supporting Actor of the Argentine Critics Association, the first in 2001 by 76-89-03, by Cristian Bernard and Flavio Nardini, and the second in 2012 by Aballay, El hombe sin miedo of Fernando Spiner.

He has worked in numerous series, including Okupas and Epitafios. In 2016 he played Mario Borges, a boss of the underworld, in El marginal, winner of eleven Tatos (Argentine television awards) and the Grand Prix at the Séries Mania Festival in Paris, in 2016. Canal + broadcasts the series in France.

Between 2014 and 2016 he gave life to the character of El Tatita in Terrenal, a play written and directed by Mauricio Kartun.

Jonnie Irwin was born on 18 November 1973 in Bitteswell, Harborough, Leicestershire, England, UK. He was married to Jessica Holmes. He died on 2 February 2024 in the UK.

Steve Brown was born on 25 October 1954 in London, England, UK. He was a composer and actor, known for Planes, Trains & Automobiles (1987), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) and Spitting Image (1984). He was married to Deborah Cornelius and Jan Ravens. He died on 2 February 2024 in England.

Esther Lucille Brown is a trained actor based in Los Angeles, California. Most recently she was nominated for Best Actress for her work in Out of Love at Toronto's International Nollywood Film Festival 2022.

Out of Love received multiple nominations and awards, including nominations for Best Actress, Best Actor, and Best Director. Wins were secured for Best African Female Filmmaker and Best Student Film.

Esther grew up on stage in Lincoln, Nebraska. For eight years throughout elementary, middle, and high school she performed in over a dozen productions including musicals, plays, and one acts, playing roles such as Belle in Beauty and the Beast, Lorraine in Hairspray! the Musical, and Marion Hollander in Don't Drink the Water by Woody Allen. She competed in One Act competitions for three years and received the Outstanding Actress Award each year before moving to San Francisco to continue her training in film and television.

Once in San Francisco, Esther studied Sanford Meisner's technique under teachers Peter Lewis and Anthony Montes at the Academy of Art University, along with singing classes with Cynthia Baggot and Deb Eubanks, and Improvisation with Second City's Karen Hirst. There she landed the role of Margot in Legally Blonde: The Musical, directed by Clark Lewis at Sutter Theatre, along with various films around the city. Freekick, one of the short films she worked on directed by JP Diaz, was selected to be an official Cannes Film Festival short film selection. Upon moving to San Diego, she continued honing her craft after finding Andrew Benne and Irene Muzzy, and made her way to Los Angeles. There she studied with Fran Montano and Peter Wise, and is currently working on a variety of films, shorts, and music videos.

Esther is signed with Penny Middlemiss at MPM Models and Talent Agency. She looks to inspirations like Viola Davis, Meryl Streep, and Angelina Jolie for their incredible range and ability in their craft, and would like to thank parents Catherine and James Brown for their support and words of encouragement along her journey, as well as her talented teachers, colleagues, and close ones. In her free time she loves staying fit with yoga and pilates, catching up on an ever-growing pile of new books, and spending time with friends and family.

Wayne Kramer is a songwriter, producer and composer whose reputation writing music for television and film risks supplanting his legend as one of music's stellar guitarists. Rolling Stone Magazine recognizes him as one of the top 100 guitarists of all time and highlights from recent composing and playing can be heard in the upcoming Will Ferrell comedy "Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby" for Sony Pictures. His signature song "Edge of the Switchblade" runs at the end title credits for the film.

On television, Wayne's 2003 title theme for Fox Sports Network's extreme sports program 5-4-3-2-1 was a bona fide hit and he now has three others running there - Spotlight, In My Own Words and Under the Lights. He has been building a catalog of cues for their network library throughout 2005 and 2006.

Wayne's songs have been featured in a wide array of shows, including MTV's Jackass series, Judging Amy for 20th Century Fox TV and Chris Carter's Fox series Millenium. Additionally, his songs are regularly heard in NFL, NBA and MLB Playoff events, as well as BMX extreme videos and many Food Network productions.

Wayne's songs can be heard in various feature films including Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, the Ramones' Rock 'n' Roll High School, October Films' action film Detour, Mary Harron's I Shot Andy Warhol and Pump Up the Volume starring Christian Slater. His current film scoring work includes composing a jazz score for the full-length feature documentaries "The Narcotics Farm" and "Votergate."

Wayne founded the MC5, widely recognized as the prototype for punk rock and heavy metal. In 1969, they released the ridiculously controversial album Kick Out The Jams on Elektra Records, which included the hit of the same name. After leaving Elektra, they released two albums on Atlantic Records, Back In The USA, produced by Bruce Springsteen's manager Jon Landau, and the critically hailed High Time. Between world tours, Wayne wrote scores for the Caroline Films feature Gold and The Living Theatre's film production of Paradise Now.

Wayne spent the'80s in New York City, where he teamed up with the infamous Johnny Thunders for a short-lived, but headline grabbing, punk rock supergroup Gang War. Soon after, Wayne co-wrote the acclaimed R&B musical The Last Words of Dutch Schultz with Mick Farren, then he co-founded the revolutionary acid funk outfit Was (Not Was) with David and Don Was.

Wayne moved to Los Angeles in 1994, signed with Epitaph Records and recorded four records in as many years: The Hard Stuff (1995), followed by Dangerous Madness (1996), Citizen Wayne (1997) and a live album LLMF (1998). He also produced and co-wrote the album Full Circle with John Sinclair and His Blues Scholars and produced a retrospective collection for Rhino Records entitled The Big Bang: Best of the MC5 as well as the punk compilation Wayne Kramer Presents: Beyond Cyberpunk for MusicBlitz.

Wayne launched MuscleTone Records in 2001. Its flagship release for 2002 was his own album Adult World. In 2003, he music-directed a performance for the DVD entitled Sonic Revolution: A Celebration of the MC5. A 30-minute documentary of that reunion performance was produced by MuscleTone Records in partnership with Levi's Vintage Clothing and was broadcast on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom in 2004. The hour-long edit of the concert is now a broadcast staple for Trio Networks in the USA.

Wayne runs the label, tours the world as a musician, speaker and activist. He regularly writes with, and produces, upstart rock `n' roll bands.

Sadhu Meher was born in 1939 in Orissa Province, British India. He was an actor and director, known for Ankur: The Seedling (1974), Abhilasha (1983) and Byomkesh Bakshi (1993). He died on 2 February 2024 in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.

Gülbin Eray was born on 5 April 1936 in Istanbul, Turkey. She was an actress, known for Kan gövdeyi götürdü (1965), Ölüm saçan dudaklar (1965) and Kahreden kursun (1965). She died on 2 February 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey.

László Vitézy was born on 17 May 1940 in Budapest, Hungary. He was a director and writer, known for Békeidö (1980), Red Earth (1982) and Érzékeny búcsú a fejedelemtöl (1987). He was married to Ágnes Hankiss, Katalin Szegvári and Sipos, Katalin. He died on 2 February 2024 in Hungary.

Karel Hábl was born on 6 July 1936 in Pelhrimov, Czechoslovakia [now Czech Republic]. He was an actor, known for Amadeus (1984), Stalingrad (1993) and Tomorrow I'll Wake Up and Scald Myself with Tea (1977). He was married to Hana Jirotková. He died on 2 February 2024 in the Czech Republic.

Gregory Charles Rivers was born on 30 April 1965 in Gympie, Australia. He was an actor, known for Man on the Edge (2022), Mission Dynamo (1989) and High Sky Mission (1987). He died on 2 February 2024 in Tai Au Mun, Sai Kung, Hong Kong.

Tom McDonough was born on 16 August 1939 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA. He was a cinematographer and director, known for Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983), The Gospel Road: A Story of Jesus (1973) and The National Flower of Brooklyn (1969). He was married to Wendy Ewald. He died on 2 February 2024 in Rhinebeck, New York, USA.

Oskar Negt was born on 1 August 1934 in Kapkeim, Wehlau, East Prussia, Germany [now Vishnyovoye, Kaliningrad Oblast, Russia]. He was an actor, known for 'Surplus Value' & Its Images (2005), Thinking for Oneself (2005) and Was war links? (2003). He was married to Christine Morgenroth. He died on 2 February 2024 in Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany.

Mark Mulvehill was an actor, known for Bedazzled (2000), Garfield: The Movie (2004) and Havenhurst (2016). He died on 2 February 2024 in the USA.

Richard Michael Miller was born on 24 June 1953 in Wellington, Kansas, USA. He is known for Falling in Love (1984) and Shadows and Fog (1991). He died on 2 February 2024 in Ellensburg, Washington, USA.

Marian Pilot was born on 6 December 1936 in Siedlików, Poland. Marian was a writer, known for Pan na Zulawach (1984). Marian died on 2 February 2024 in Warsaw, Poland.

Derrick McIntyre is known for Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown (2013) and Roy Ayers at New Morning 2004 (2004). He died on 2 February 2024 in Bushey, Hertfordshire, England, UK.

Alev Alatli was born on 16 September 1944 in Izmir, Turkey. She was a writer, known for Kurt Kanunu (2012), Culpa Innata (2007) and Yol Ayrimi (2012). She was married to Alper Orhon. She died on 2 February 2024 in Istanbul, Turkey.

Per Jalkenius was born on 4 March 1938 in Malmö, Skåne län, Sweden. He was an actor, known for Tvingad att leva (1980). He died on 2 February 2024.

Rich Caster was born on 16 October 1948 in Mobile, Alabama, USA. He died on 2 February 2024 in Garden City, New York, USA.

Jean-Pierre Babelon was born on 17 November 1931 in Paris, France. He died on 2 February 2024 in Paris, France.