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1-8 of 8
- One of Japan's most distinctive character actors, Eisei Amamoto is one of their cinema's few personalities who is easily recognizable to Western movie buffs. Tall (six feet) and skeletal of build, bony-faced and wild-haired (when not ensconced in a vast silver wig), Amamoto's persona inspired Woody Allen to dub him with an imitation Peter Lorre voice in What's Up Tiger Lily? (1966). He was better served by Paul Frees' menacing tones in King Kong Escapes (Kingukongu no gyakushu, 1967). But neither voice matches Amamoto's own, surprisingly deep and resonant for his scrawny, sunken-chested frame. It might have served him well had he pursued his original career choice: politics. He barely managed to dodge the draft into Japan's Pacific War, through acceptance to Tokyo University, his nation's most prestigious school. He studied law, for he wished to become a diplomat, but he soon grew disillusioned in his studies, his world view darkened by the mire into which his country was plunging through its disastrous war. A sympathetic older sister rescued him from his self-confessed nihilism by introducing him to friends in the entertainment field who encouraged Amamoto to become an actor. Through these connections, Amamoto landed a place in the highly regarded Hayuza group of stage actors, where in an early bit of what would become typecasting, he portrayed a knife-wielding madman in the play "Dojinkai". There he was spotted by director Keisuke Kinoshita, who observed "THERE'S an interesting-looking guy", and promptly cast him in a small but pivotal role in his classic Twenty-Four Eyes (1954). Amamoto later joined Toho Studios, where he was at first nothing more than a background player in the likes of Nippon Tanjo (1959). His parts grew steadily larger and more showy in the likes of Denso ningen (The Secret of the Telegian, 1960) and Yojinbo (1961). By the late 1960s he was equally recognized for samurai films like Sword of Doom and science fiction/fantasy projects like Kingukongu no gyakushu (1967). Though he could hardly be less similar to Peter Lorre, he is at least as big a cult figure in present-day Japan, lending his name and presence to any number of films, TV shows and animated productions. As well, he has cultivated a reputation as an eccentric TV talkshow presence. Always fascinated by the country of Spain, he has also played flamenco guitar on the stage, sometimes in collaboration with his friend and fellow actor Yoshio Tsuchiya. He has written several books about Spain, and spends as much time living there as he can.
- Adrian Cairns was born on 12 October 1924 in Finchley, Middlesex [now in Barnet, London], England, UK. He was an actor, known for The Vise (1954), Diagnosis: Murder (1974) and A Stranger on the Hills (1970). He was married to Laura Cairns and Pamela Wingfield. He died on 23 March 2003 in Bristol, England, UK.
- Vjeran Miladinovic was an actress, known for Pretty Women Walking Through the City (1986) and Marble Ass (1995). She died on 23 March 2003 in Belgrade, Serbia.
- Animation Department
- Visual Effects
- Art Department
Nelda Ridley was born on 1 May 1937 in the USA. She is known for The Lord of the Rings (1978), Samurai Jack (2001) and Wizards (1977). She died on 23 March 2003 in Wagner, California, USA.- Music Department
- Actor
- Additional Crew
Fritz Spiegl was born on 27 January 1926 in Zurndorf, Burgenland, Austria. He was an actor, known for Softly Softly: Task Force (1969), ABC Stage 67 (1966) and Z Cars (1962). He was married to Romnes, Ingrid and Bridget Fry. He died on 23 March 2003 in Liverpool, England, UK.- Danuta Morawska was born on 3 April 1924. She was an actress, known for Television Theater (1953). She died on 23 March 2003 in Katowice, Slaskie, Poland.
- Producer
- Director
American film and television producer/director. Producer of award-winning classical and contemporary music and documentary programs for BBC Television UK, American and European Broadcasters. BAFTA Award recipient. Education Director of The Los Angeles Philharmonic,contributor to "The Cambridge Campanion to the Orchestra" and lecturer renown for her knowledge of music. Married composer Oliver Knussen with whom she has a daughter. Died in hospital in London, England after contracting a fungal blood infection, age 53.- Vladimir Seleznyov was born on 4 July 1931. He was an actor, known for They Met on the Road (1957), Shestoe iyulya (1968) and Solntse svetit vsem (1959). He died on 23 March 2003.