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- His five brothers all became policemen, encouraged on by their father, but Hartford-born Irish-American Michael O'Shea defied family tradition and turned to acting. Born on March 17, 1906, Michael dropped out of school at age 12 and went the vaudeville route, touring with his boxing idol Jack Johnson's show. He tried everything. During the Prohibition years, he became a comedian and emcee at speakeasies. He put together his own dance band, "Michael O'Shea and His Stationary Gypsies", and later broke into radio.
His career advanced with the legit stage, where he was billed for a time as "Eddie O'Shea". His noticeable performance in "The Eve of St. Mark" in 1942 led to a string of '40s films, notably as Barbara Stanwyck's boyfriend comic in Lady of Burlesque (1943). He also managed great reviews repeating his stage role in the film The Eve of St. Mark (1944). Other WWII-era films included the leading role opposite Anne Shirley in the romantic drama Man from Frisco (1944); a military man lead in the musical Something for the Boys (1944) in which he managed to show off a little of his Irish tenor in the song "Wouldn't It Be Nice?" with Vivian Blaine, Phil Silvers and Carmen Miranda; the male co-star in the Sonja Henie skating vehicle It's a Pleasure (1945); and lead and support roles in a string of crime dramas including Circumstantial Evidence (1945), Mr. District Attorney (1947), Violence (1947), Parole, Inc. (1948) and The Underworld Story (1950).
The father of two, Michael met his second wife, the beautiful actress Virginia Mayo, during the time he was filming the title role of Jack London (1943). They married four years later and had one daughter. The couple subsequently appeared on the stock stage together in such productions as "George Washington Slept Here", "Tunnel of Love" and Fiorello! One of those fine talents who did not make a big name for himself, Michael was out of films by 1952, but revitalized on TV and starred in the mild TV sitcom It's a Great Life (1954) also starring James Dunn, William Bishop, Frances Bavier and Barbara Bates playing a former GI trying to find a civilian job.
Interestingly, Michael became a plainclothes operative for the CIA after retiring from show business in the 1960s. He died suddenly of a heart attack in 1973. - Nell Harrison was born on 28 September 1880 in Lebanon, Missouri, USA. She was an actress, known for The Producers (1967), Tales of Tomorrow (1951) and Suspense (1949). She died on 4 December 1973 in Haverstraw, New York, USA.
- Music Department
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Composer, conductor, author and record executive Eddie Lund was educated in high school and in music study with Alfred Cortot. He began as a pianist in film theaters and later in radio and night clubs, finally becoming a partner in a Tahiti night club where he organized an orchestra with native musicians. He recorded under his own label. Joining ASCAP in 1952, his popular-song compositions include "Farewell (For Just Awhile)", "Tangi Tika", "Tahitian Cowboy", "Far Lands", "E Piko", "Na Te Moana", and "Oriori Cha Cha".- DeForrest Lawrence was born on 1 February 1911 in Flint, Michigan, USA. He was an actor. He died on 4 December 1973 in Los Angeles, California, USA.
- Angus Menzies was born on 26 January 1911 in Chelsea, London, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Tuppence Coloured (1949), Oranges and Lemons (1949) and Re-View (1937). He died on 4 December 1973 in Basingstoke, Hampshire, England, UK.