Ben Cross Passes On

Ben Cross, who starred in the movie Chariots of Fire (1981) and starred as Barnabas Collins in the 1991 revival of Dark Shadows, died on August 18 2020 at the age of 72. The cause was cancer.

Ben Cross was born Harry Bernard Cross on December 16 1947 in London. His father died of tuberculosis when he was eight years old. After leaving school, Mr. Cross worked as a window cleaner, waiter, and joiner. He also worked at the Welsh National Opera, and was the Property Master at The Alexandra theatre in Birmingham. When he was 22 Ben Cross enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After graduating from RADA, he performed at The Dukes in Lancaster and later joined the Prospect Theatre Company.

Ben Cross made his television debut in the mini-series Wessex Tales in 1973. In the Seventies he appeared on the television shows Strangers, ITV Playhouse, and The Professionals. He appeared in the TV movie Great Expectations. He made his film debut in 1977 in A Bridge Too Far (1977).

In the Eighties Mr. Cross appeared in the television mini-series The Flame Trees of Thika, The Citadel, The Far Pavilions, and Pursuit. He appeared on the TV shows Play for Today and The Twilight Zone. He appeared in the TV movies Coming Out of the Ice, Strong Medicine, Steal the Sky, and Nightlife. He appeared in the movies Chariots of Fire (1981), L'attenzione (1985), The Assisi Underground (1985), The Unholy (1988), Paperhouse (1988), and La bottega dell'orefice (1988).

In the Nineties he starred as Barnabas Collins in the short-lived revival of the supernatural soap opera Dark Shadows. He appeared on the TV shows The Ray Bradbury Theatre, Tales from the Crypt, and Poltergeist: The Legacy. He appeared in the mini-series The Potato Factory. He appeared in such TV movies as The Diamond Fleece, Hellfire, 20000 Leagues Under the Sea, and Solomon. He appeared in the movies Eye of Widow (1991), Cold Sweat (1993), The Criminal Mind (1993), The Ascent (1994), Honey Sweet Love (1994), Temptress (1995), First Knight (1995), El último viaje de Robert Rylands (1996), Turbulence (1997), The Corporate Ladder (1997), The Invader (1997), and The Venice Project (1999).

In the Naughts Mr. Cross appeared in the movies Young Blades (2001), The Order (2001), She Me and Her (2002), Exorcist: The Beginning (2004), The Mechanik (2005), Wicked Little Things (2006), When Nietzsche Wept (2007), Finding Rin Tin Tin (2007), Hero Wanted (2008), War, Inc. (2008), and Star Trek (2009). He appeared on the TV show Trial & Retribution. He appeared in the mini-series Spartacus, Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Ben Hur. He appeared in such TV movies as S.S. Doomtrooper, Hannibal, and Grendel.

In the Teens he appeared in such movies as Jack the Giant Killer (1991), A Common Man (2003), The Hurricane Heist (2018), Wildlings (2019), and The Rest is Ashes (2020). He was a regular on the television series Banshee and Pandora. He was a regular voice on the animated series Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja. He appeared on the TV show 12 Monkeys.

Ben Cross was an extremely talented actor and over the years he played a wide variety of remarkable roles. He was Harold Abrahams in the movie Chariots of Fire, Barnabas Collins on Dark Shadows, King Solomon in the TV movie Solomon, Rudolf Hess in the mini-series Nuremberg: Nazis on Trial, and Spock's father Sarek on Star Trek. What is more Ben Cross, never gave a bad performance. While it is likely he will always be remembered best for Chariots of Fire, he gave a number of great performances throughout his career.

"Mo'reen" by Paul Revere & The Raiders

Okay, those of you who know me know that August is not an easy month for me, particularly as it gets close to the 30th. That is why I haven't been posting as often as I usually do. It's for that reason that tonight I am taking the easy way out and simply sharing one of my favourite songs with you.

Ever since childhood one of my all-time favourite bands has been Paul Revere & The Raiders. My sister, who is 17 years older than I am, had a few of their albums and I listened to them often growing up. I am particularly a fan of their classic line-up, which consisted of lead vocalist Mark Lindsay, keyboardist Paul Revere, lead guitarist Jim "Harpo" Valley (and before him lead guitarist Drake Levin), bassist Phil "Fang" Volk, and drummer Mike "Smitty" Smith. In the mid-Sixties they released what I consider three of the greatest garage rock/proto-power pop albums of all time: Midnight Ride, Spirit of '67, and Revolution!.

Revolution! features one of my all time favourite Paul Revere & The Raiders songs, "Mo'reen." It is one of Paul Revere & The Raiders' heavier songs,  complete with fuzz bass. Although not as well known, I think it ranks along with "Just Like Me," "Kicks," "Hungry," and "Him Or Me – What's It Gonna Be?" as one of their best songs. Anyway, without further ado, here is "Mo'reen."

The Late Great Trini Lopez

Trini Lopez, the musician and singer known for such hits as "If I Had a Hammer" and "Lemon Tree," died on August 11 2020 at the age of 83. The cause was complications from COVID-19.

Trini Lopez was born Trinidad Lopez III on May 13 1937 in Dallas, Texas. His father, Trinidad Lopez II, had been a singer, dancer, and actor in his native Mexico, but earned a living as a manual labourer. He was a teenager when he married Petra Gonzalez in their hometown of  Moroleón, Guanajuato. They later moved to Dallas and would have six children, including Trinidad Lopez III. Trini Lopez grew up in the area of Dallas known as Little Mexico. He was eleven years old when his father bought him a guitar and taught him how to play it. Young Mr. Lopez began playing on street corners for a few coins. He played tradition Mexican songs, as well as songs by such artists as T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Elvis Presley, and Buddy Holly. He formed his first band, The Big Beats, when he was 15. The band played at the upscale Cipango Club in Dallas.

In 1958 Trini Lopez met Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly introduced Trini Lopez to his producer, Norman Petty. Unfortunately, both Mr. Lopez's relationship with Norman Petty, as well as his own band, were strained at the time. They released two instrumentals for Columbia Records before Trini Lopez left the band.

Trini Lopez recorded this first single, "The Right to Rock," as a solo artist for Volk Records in Dallas. The label tried to persuade Trini Lopez to change his last name in order to hide the fact that he was Mexican American, but Mr. Lopez refused to do so. It was the next year that he signed with King Records. Trini Lopez recorded around a dozen songs for King Records for the next three years including "Rock On" and "Sweet Thing," but none of them charted.

It was a few months after Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens were killed in a plane crash five miles northwest of Mason City, Iowa on February 3 1959 that The Crickets asked Trini Lopez to be their new lead singer. Mr. Lopez went to Hollywood to join The Crickets, but ultimately it did not work out.

Trini Lopez's big break came when he started playing at P.J.'s, a club frequented by many dignitaries, among them Frank Sinatra. Mr. Sinatra had Trini Lopez signed to his own label, Reprise Records. His first album on Reprise Records, Trini Lopez at PJ's, proved to be a hit, going to no. 2 on the Billboard album chart. Taken from the album was the single "If I Had a Hammer," which peaked at no. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100. It would be followed by further hits in the Sixties, including "Kansas City" (which went to no. 23 on Billboard Hot 100), "Lemon Tree" (which went to no. 20 on the Billboard Hot 100), and "I'm Comin' Home, Cindy" (which went to no. 39 on the Billboard Hot 100. His albums did better than his singles, regularly charting throughout the Sixties. Some even broke the top twenty of the Billboard album chart, including More Trini Lopez at PJ's (which peaked at no. 11), The Latin Album (which peaked at no. 18), and The Folk Album (which peaked at no. 18).

Trini Lopez's last single to chart was "Don't Let the Sun Catch You Crying", which peaked at no. 113 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1969. He continued to release singles until 1978. Trini Lopez continued to release albums until the Teens, with his last album, Into the Future, being released in 2011. He continued performing well into the Teens.

Trini Lopez was a talented guitarist and in 1964 designed two guitars for the Gibson Guitar Corporation. He designed the Trini Lopez Standard, a guitar for rock and roll, and the Lopez Deluxe, a guitar for jazz.

Trini Lopez also had an acting career. He made his acting debut playing himself in Marriage on the Rocks (1965). He again appeared as himself in Poppies Are Also Flowers (1966). He played Pedro Jiminez in the classic The Dirty Dozen (1967). He also appeared in The Phynx (1970) and Antonio (1973). Mr. Lopez also appeared on television, guest starring on Adam-12 and The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries and the TV movie The Reluctant Heroes. In addition to numerous variety shows and talk shows, he also appeared in his own TV special, The Trini Lopez Show, in 1969.

Trini Lopez was truly a force to be reckoned with. He blended such diverse styles as folk, blues, rockabilly and Mexican music. He provided upbeat arrangements for songs that usually aren't upbeat, such as "If I Had a Hammer." He was a virtuoso with the guitar. In addition to his talent as a guitarist and singer, Mr. Lopez also displayed talent as an actor. He shined as Pedro Jiminez in a cast full of stars in The Dirty Dozen. In the Adam-12 episode "Log 115: Gang War," he was impressive as Father Xavier Rojas. Here it must also be mentioned that Trini Lopez was a pioneer with regards to Mexican Americans in popular culture. He refused to change his name, telling the Dallas Morning News in 2017, "You know how many [Latino] artists in America that changed their name? Vikki Carr and Freddy Fender. I insisted on keeping my name Lopez. I'm proud to be a Lopez. I'm proud to be a Mexicano." At a time when images of Mexicans in American pop culture were usually stereotypes, Trini Lopez refused to be anything but himself, paving the way for other artists of Mexican descent. He was a true pioneer and an enormous talent.

Raymond Allen Passes On

Raymond Allen, who played Aunt Esther's alcoholic husband Woodrow on the classic sitcom Sanford and Son, died on August 10 at the age of 91.

Raymond Allen was born March 5 1929 in Kansas City, Kansas. He made his film debut in 1946 in a small part in the film Fight That Ghost. In the Seventies he appeared in the movies Mean Mother (1973) and Darktown Strutters (1975). He first appeared on Sanford and Son as Uncle Woodrow in 1974 and continued to appear on the show until it went off the air in 1977. He reprised his role of Woodrow on the spinoff Sanford Arms. While he was on Sanford and Son, he also appeared in the recurring role of Ned the Wino on Good Times. In 1976 he began appearing on Starsky and Hutch as mechanic Merl the Earl. He guest starred on Insight, The Love Boat and The Jeffresons. He appeared in the TV movie Gus Brown and Midnight Brewster in 1985.

Mr. Allen retired from acting in 1985, although he continued to make personal appearances.

Raymond Allen was a wonderful actor with a real talent for comedy. He stood out as Uncle Woodrow in a cast that included Redd Foxx and LaWanda Page. He stood out on other shows as well, and remains memorable as Ned on Good Times and Merl the Earl on Good Times.

Wayne Fontana Passes On

Wayne Fontana, the British singer who had hits with both The Mindbenders and as a solo artist, died on August 6 2020 at the age of 74.

Wayne Fontana was born Glyn Ellis in Manchester on October 28 1945. He took his stage name from Elvis Preley's drummer D. J. Fontana. In 1962 he formed his backing band The Jets. After various line-up changes to The Jets, in 1963 Wayne Fontana signed to the label named, by total coincidence, Fontana Records. Mr. Fontana's backing band was then renamed The Mindbenders, after the Dirk Bogarde movie The Mind Benders (1963).

Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' first single, "Hello Josephine," peaked at no. 46 on the British single chart. Their next two singles did not chart. Their first album, the eponymous Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders, was released in 1964. Their next single, "Stop Look and Listen," peaked at no. 37. It was followed by their first major British hit, "Um, Um, Um, Um, Um, Um," which peaked at no. 5 on the British singles chart. It would be their next single that would prove to be Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' biggest hit. "The Game of Love" peaked at no. 2 on the British singles chart and at no. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.  The success of the single would lead to their first American album, The Game of Love.

Unfortunately, Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders were unable to capitalize on the success of "The Game of Love." "It's Just a Little Bit Too Late" did relatively well in Britain, peaking at no. 20, but only went to no. 46 on the Billboard Hot 100. "She Needs Love," Wayne Fontana and The Mindbenders' final single together, only went to no. 32 on the British singles chart. One last album, Eric, Rick, Wayne and Bob – It's Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders was released in 1965.

Wayne Fontana left The Mindbenders in October 1965, reportedly in the middle of a concert. Still under contract to Fontana Records, his first single as a solo artist, "It Was Easier To Hurt Her," was released in 1965. It went to no. 36 on the British singles chart. Wayne Fontana had a few hits in 1966. "Come On Home" went to no. 16 on the British singles chart, while "Pamela Pamela" went to no. 11. Despite the success of "Pamela Pamela," continuing to release singles through 1969, "Pamela Pamela" would be his last single to chart. Wayne Fontana was one of the first performers to play at the now legendary Glastonbury Festival in 1970.

After the Glastonbury Festival, Wayne Fontana took a break from music. He signed to Warner Bros. and released the single "Together" in 1973, but it failed to chart. After signing to Polydor, his final single "The Last Bus Home," was released in 1976.  Afterwards he retired from the music industry. He would later perform on the Sixties revival circuit.

Wayne Fontana had his share of problems ever since the Seventies, but that does not erase his contribution to popular music. Both with The Mindbenders and as a solo artist, he recorded a number of memorable songs. In the United States, "The Game of Love" remains one of the best known British songs from the Sixties and still receives a good deal of radio airplay. His contemporaries certainly respected him. Among the tributes to Wayne Fontana were ones from Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits and Terry Sylvester of The Swinging Blue Jeans and The Hollies.

Wilford Brimley and Reni Santoni Pass On

Wilford Brimley

Wilford Brimley, who had a recurring role on the TV show The Waltons and a regular role on Our House, and appeared in such movies as The Thing (1982) and Cocoon (1985), died on August 1 2020 at the age of 85. 

Wilford Brimley was born on September 27 1934 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mr. Brimley dropped out of school at age 14 and worked as a cowboy in Idaho, Nevada, and Arizona. During the Korean War he joined the United States Marines and served in the Aleutian Islands. After his service he worked as a ranch hand, wrangler, and blacksmith. For a short time he was a bodyguard for Howard Hughes. He started shoeing horses for both movies and television series.

Wilford Brimley appeared in bit parts in the movies True Grit (1969) and Lawman (1971) before he was cast in the recurring role of Horace Brimley on seasons 2 through 6 of The Waltons. He guest starred on the TV shows Kung Fu, The Oregon Trail, and How the West Was Won. He appeared in the mini-series The Awakening Land and the TV movie The Wild Wild West Revisited. Mr. Brimley appeared in the movies The China Syndrome (1979), The Electric Horseman (1979), Brubaker (1980), and Borderline (1980).

In the Eighties Wilford Brimley had the regular role of grandfather Gus Witherspoon on the television show Our House. He guest starred on the TV show The Firm and appeared in several TV movies. Mr. Brimley appeared in the movies Absence of Malice (1981), Death Valley (1982), The Thing (1982), High Road to China (1983), Tender Mercies (1983), 10 to Midnight (1983), Tough Enough (1983) Harry & Son (1984), The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), The Stone Boy (1984), The Natural (1984), Country (1984), Cocoon (1985), Remo Williams: The Adventure Begins (1985), Jackals (1986), Shadows on the Wall (1986), End of the Line (1987), Cocoon: The Return (1988), and Eternity (1990).

In the Nineties Wilford Brimley appeared in the movies The Firm (1993), Hard Target (1993), Heaven Sent (1994), Mutant Species (1995), A Place to Grow (1995), My Fellow Americans (1996), Chapter Perfect (1997), In & Out (1998), Progeny (1998), Summer of the Monkeys (1998), Lunker Lake (1998), All My Friends Are Cowboys (1998), and Comanche (2000). He appeared on the TV shows The Boys of Twilight; Homicide: Life on the Street;  Walker, Texas Ranger; and Seinfeld. He appeared on the mini-series OP Center. 

In the Naughts Mr. Brimley appeared in the movies Brigham City (2001), The Round and Round (2002), The Road Home (2003), and The Path of the Wind (2009). He appeared in the TV movies Crossfire Trail and The Ballad of Lucy Whipple. In the Teens he appeared in the movies Masque (2012), Timber the Treasure Dog (2016), and I Believe (2017).

Wilford Brimley was known for playing gruff, rustic, older, yet congenial characters. As hard as it is to believe, he was only 51 years old when he played Ben Luckett in Cocoon, a character who was portrayed as a contemporary of characters played by Don Ameche and Hume Cronen, actors who around a quarter of a century older than Mr. Brimley. So convincing was Wilford Brimley playing older characters that many people honestly thought he was older than he really was. Of course, this is not to say that Wilford Brimley did not play other sorts of roles. He played Blair, the biologist in The Thing (1982) and President Grover Cleveland in The Wild Wild West Revisited. In most of his movies Wilford Brimley was a trustworthy, reassuring presence, which is probably why he appeared in commercials for Quaker Oats, Liberty Medical, and the American Diabetes Association. He certainly will be missed.

Reni Santoni

Reni Santoni, who played David Kolowitz in Carl Reiner's movie Enter Laughing (1967), Harry Callahan's partner in Dirty Harry (1971), and had recurring roles on several TV shows, died on August 1 2020 at the age of 82. The cause was complications from throat and lung cancer.

Reni Santoni was born on April 21 1938 in New York City. He began his career off-Broadway. In 1962 he wrote the play Raisin' Hell in the Son. He also appeared off-Broadway in The Mad Show, a revue based on Mad Magazine that began in 1966. He had bit parts in Strangers in the City (1962) and The Pawnbroker (1966) before playing the lead in Enter Laughing  (1967). For the remainder of the Sixties he appeared in such films as A Great Big Thing (1968), Lo sbarco di Anzio (1968), Guns of the Magnificent Seven (1969), and The Student Nurses (1970). He guest starred on the TV shows East Side/West Side; The Trials of O'Brien; Look Up and Live; Hawk; and Love, American Style.

In the Seventies Reni Santoni had a recurring role on the TV show Owen Marshall, Counsellor at Law. He guest starred on such shows as The Odd Couple, The Bold Ones: The Senator; The Psychiatrist; Bearcats!, The F.B.I., Barnaby Jones, The Rookies, Jigsaw John, Delvecchio, Lou Grant, Hawaii Five-O, The Rockford Files, and Charlie's Angels. He appeared in the movies Dirty Harry (1971), I Never Promised You a Rose Garden (1977), and They Went That-A-Way & That-A-Way (1978).

In the Eighties Reni Santoni was a regular on the TV show Manimal. He played the lead role on the short lived show Sanchez of Bel Air. He had a recurring role on Midnight Caller. He guest starred on the shows CHiPs, Lottery!, Scarecrow and Mrs. King, 227, Hardcastle and McCormick, Joe Bash, Hill Street Blues, Moonlighting, Miami Vice, Murphy Brown, Life Goes On, and Equal Justice. He appeared in the movies Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid (1982), Bad Boys (1983), Brewster's Millions (1985), Radioactive Dreams (1985), Summer Rental (1985), Cobra (1986), The Pick-Up Artist (1987), and The Package (1989).

In the Nineties Mr. Santoni had a recurring role on the TV series Murder One and Seinfeld. He guest starred on the shows Quantum Leap; Dream On; The New WKRP in Cincinnati; Murder, She Wrote; Dave's World; Hudson Street; Renegade; Walker, Texas Ranger; NYPD Blue; Dangerous Minds; The Practice; The Tony Danza Show; Jesse; Love Boat: The Next Wave; and Judging Amy. He appeared in the movies Only You (1992), The Brady Bunch Movie (1995), Private Parts (1997), Can't Hardly Wait (1998), and 28 Days (2000).

In the Naughts he guest starred on the TV shows V.I.P., According to Jim, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Grey's Anatomy, Four Kings, and Raising the Bar. He appeared in the movies Gang Warz (2004) and Irene in Time (2009). In the Teens he guest starred on the TV show Franklin & Bash.

Reni Santori was an incredible actor with a very wide range. He was the movie loving delivery boy and machine shop assistant in Enter Laughing. He was the right-wing, unhygienic  restaurant owner Poppie on Seinfeld. He was Dirty Harry's rookie partner Chico Gonzalez. On Sanchez of Bel Air he played clothing company owner Ricardo Sanchez. Over the course of his career Mr. Santori played everything from legal assistants to police officers to priests to medical doctors. What is more, he always gave a good performance.

Godspeed Jacqueline Scott and Alan Parker

Jacqueline Scott

Jacqueline Scott, a frequent guest star on American television from the Fifties to the Naughts, who played Richard Kimble's sister Donna on The Fugitive, died on July 23 2020 at the age of 89.  The cause was lung cancer.

Jacqueline Scott was born on June 25 1931 in Sikeston, Missouri. Because her father worked for the State of Missouri, her family moved frequently before finally settling down in Neosho, Missouri. Miss Scott took to performing while very young. She won a tap dancing contest when she was three years old. When she was five years old she performed with a travelling tent show. As a child she attended movies frequently. Her first professional work on stage occurred when she was 17 years old in St. Louis. There she worked for a local theatre company before she moved to New York City to pursue acting there. 

Jacqueline Scott made her debut on Broadway in 1955 in The Wooden Dish. She made her television debut in an episode of Armstrong Circle Theatre in 1956. That same year she appeared in an episode of Omnibus.  In 1957 she appeared on Broadway in Inherit the Wind. In 1958 she made her film debut in the William Castle movie Macabre. In the late Fifties she appeared on such TV shows as Robert Montgomery Presents; The Kaiser Aluminum Hour; Mike Hammer; The Loretta Young Show; Matinee Theatre; State Trooper; Steve Canyon; 77 Sunset Strip; Perry Mason; Zane Grey Theatre; Schlitz Playhouse of Stars; Bat Masterson; Have Gun--Will Travel, Richard Diamond, Private Detective; Goodyear Theatre; Gunsmoke; and U.S. Marshal. 

In the Sixties Jacqueline Scott appeared on the TV show The Fugitive as title character Richard Kimble's sister Donna. She guest starred on such shows as Dante, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, The Detectives, Route 66, Alcoa Premiere, Bonanza, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Have Gun--Will Travel, Ben Casey, The Twilight Zone, Laramie, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, The Outer Limits, Run for Your Life, Lassie, Insight, The Guns of Will Sonnett, Judd for the Defense, Mission: Impossible and The Immortal. Miss Scott appeared in the movies House of Women (1962), Firecreek (1968), and Death of a Gunfighter (1969).

In the Seventies Jacqueline Scott appeared on such TV shows as The New Dick Van Dyke Show, Gunsmoke; Cannon; Insight; Owen Marshal, Counsellor at Law; The Rookies; Ironside; The F.B.I.; The Streets of San Francisco; Medical Center; Planet of the Apes; Marcus Welby, M.D.; Starsky and Hutch; The Wonderful World of Disney; Barnaby Jones; CHiPs; Police Woman; How the West Was Won; and Salvage 1. Miss Scott also appeared in the famous TV movie Duel. She appeared in the movies Charley Varrick (1973), Empire of the Ants (1977), and Telefon (1977). 

In the Eighties Jacqueline Scott appeared on the shows Trapper John, M.D.; Vega$; Code Red; Lottery!; Riptide; Crazy Like a Fox; The Bold and the Beautiful; and L.A. Law. She appeared in the movie Jinxed! (1982). In the Nineties she appeared on the TV shows Equal Justice and Switched at Birth. In the Naughts she appeared on the TV show Cold Case and in the movie Sugar Boxx (2009).

Jacqueline Scott was an enormous talent. In her career she played everything from a saloon girl to a nun. It was because she could play nearly anything that she was a favourite of television director Leo Penn, who directed many of the TV shows in which she appeared. She told Rick Armstrong of the blog Classic Film & TV Café, "Once I'd be the good girl and once I'd be the bad girl. … One director, Leo Penn — who is Sean Penn's father — would call me for anything. We had worked together when we were kids in New York, and he was fabulous." Jacqueline Scott was very much a chameleon and played a wide variety of roles throughout her career. She was, quite simply, one of the best character actors to work in television in the late 20th Century.

Alan Parker

Sir Alan Parker, who directed such movies as Midnight Express (1978), Fame (1980), and Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982), died July 31 2020 at the age of 76 following a lengthy illness.

Alan Parker was born on February 14 1944 in Islington, London. He left school when he was 18 to pursue a career in advertising. He worked as a copywriter at various agencies, including Collett Dickenson Pearce in London. By 1968 he had moved to being a copywriter to directing television commercials. In 1970 Mr. Parker founded Alan Parker Film Co., a company that created commercials for various companies. His first screenplay was for the movie Melody in 1971. In 1975 he directed the BBC television movie The Evacuees, which won a BAFTA Award. The following year he directed another TV movie, No Hard Feelings.

It was that same year that Alan Parker made his feature film directorial debut with Bugsy Malone (1976). The spoof of gangster movies was also written by Mr. Parker and starred an all-child cast. Although it did poorly at the box office, it has since become a cult film. Alan Parker followed Bugsy Malone with Midnight Express (1978). The film received positive notices and did well at the box office. It was also nominated for several Academy Awards and won the Oscar for Best Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. He ended the Seventies with the highly successful film Fame (1980).

The Eighties would see the release of Pink Floyd: The Wall (1982). Based on Pink Floyd's 1979 concept album The Wall, the film had modest success at the box office. It has since become a cult film. It was during the decade that he also directed Mississippi Burning (1988). The film received mixed reviews and and been criticised for its fictionalizing historical events. Regardless, it was nominated for several Academy Awards and won the Oscar for Best Cinematography. In the Eighties Alan Parker also directed the movies Shoot the Moon (1982), Birdy (1984), Angel Heart (1987), and Come See the Paradise (1990). 

Alan Parker opened the decade of the Nineties with The Commitments (1991), which won the BAFTA Awards for Best Film, Best Direction, Best Adapted Screenplay, and Best Editing. It also did modestly well at the box office and has since become a cult film. In the Nineties Alan Parker also directed The Road to Wellsville (1994), Evita (1996), and Angela's Ashes (1999). His last film was The Life of David Gale (2003). 

As a director Alan Parker's output was certainly diverse. He directed everything from musicals to psychological horror movies to comedies to thrillers. A recurring theme in his movies was music, which played a big role in Bugsy Malone, Fame, Pink Floyd: The Wall, The Commitments, and Evita. Alan Parker was also not afraid to push the envelope creatively. Pink Floyd: The Wall contained a good deal of surreal, often disturbing imagery, including animated sequences. Angel Heart proved controversial for its sexual content. Not only was Alan Parker capable of directing movies in a diverse array of genres, but most of his movies were of a high quality. While Alan Parker did direct his share of bad movies, they are few and far between. He certainly directed several films that continued to be enjoyed to this day.